Every four years, the same argument returns.

England are deep into a major tournament, the pressure is building, and somewhere in Scotland someone is posting a picture of an Argentina shirt.

Cue the outrage.

“Why can’t Scots support England?”

“Imagine cheering against your own neighbours.”

“What’s wrong with them?”

But the reality is simple. Football has never worked like that.

Rivalry does not disappear just because the tournament is on a bigger stage.

For generations, Scotland and England have had one of the most unique relationships in world football. The oldest international fixture on the planet has created decades of memories, arguments, heartbreak and, perhaps most importantly, plenty of humour.

When England win, millions celebrate.

When England lose, plenty of Scots enjoy the moment.

That is not a new phenomenon. It is part of the culture.

The reason is not because Scottish fans hate England. The vast majority don’t. It is because football is tribal. It creates connections, but it also creates opponents.

Ask any football supporter if they want their biggest rivals to succeed and you already know the answer.

A Celtic fan does not suddenly become a Rangers supporter in Europe. A Rangers fan does not suddenly want Celtic lifting trophies. That competitive edge is exactly what makes sport matter.

International football simply magnifies it.

There is also an uncomfortable truth for England fans: being the biggest football nation in the UK comes with a certain amount of attention.

The build-up, the expectation, the headlines and the belief that every tournament could finally be the one creates excitement in England, but outside England it can sometimes feel overwhelming.

For Scottish supporters who have spent decades watching their own national team struggle for success, seeing England dominate the conversation can be frustrating.

Especially when Scotland’s own World Cup history has been filled with disappointment.

Yet the idea that every Scot wants England to fail is nonsense.

Plenty of Scottish supporters will back England. Some have family connections, some have English friends, and some simply want to see British football succeed on the biggest stage.

Others will support Argentina.

Not because they have suddenly become fans of Argentine football, but because rivalry is part of the entertainment.

Football without emotion is just 22 players running around a pitch.

The banter, the arguments, the jokes and the wind-ups are what make tournaments memorable.

The key is understanding where the line is.

A Scotland fan cheering against England in a football match is not a political statement. An England fan wanting Scotland to lose is not a personal attack.

It is sport.

The same thing happens around the world. Neighbours often enjoy seeing each other stumble. Smaller nations enjoy watching bigger rivals come crashing down. It is part of the story that makes international football different.

So will Scotland back England against Argentina?

Some will.

Many won’t.

And plenty will simply enjoy watching the chaos unfold.

Because after more than 150 years, one thing remains true.

The Scotland-England rivalry is not a problem to solve.

It is one of football’s greatest stories.