Argentinian players unfurled a banner reading ‘The Falklands are Argentinian’ after they knocked England out of the World Cup 2-1 in a nail-biting semi-final clash. Cristian Romero, the Tottenham captain, former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester United player Lisandro Martinez were among those celebrating on the pitch with the sign after the final whistle blew. A total of 255 British servicemen were among 907 people who died in the 1982 Falklands War which saw UK armed forces retake the islands after an Argentinian invasion. The banner, which used the Argentinians’ name for the Falklands – Las Malvinas – was held by members of the crowd and star player Lionel Messi was also seen dancing alongside it. FIFA had banned flags featuring the Falklands from the stadium due to their political significance and the incident is likely to be reported to footballing authorities – with Argentina facing the prospect of a fine. But financial sanctions have done little to deter players from displaying slogans about the Falklands in the past – and there are now calls for those who held the banner to be barred from playing in the final. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined just £20,000 after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.Tension over the ownership of the Falklands, which are located 300 miles off the coast of Argentina but owned by Britain, had been a major talking point in the build-up to the match. Giovani Lo Celso and teammate Nicolas Otamendi celebrated on the pitch with the sign after the final whistle blew – before they were joined by their fellow teammates Argentina players hold up a banner with the words ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ which translates to ‘The Malvinas are Argentine’ Argentina fans hold a banner with the words ‘The Malvinas are Argentinian’, referring to the Falkland IslandsArgentina’s players were captured singing a chant in which they claimed the Falkland Islands were theirs in the aftermath of their last-16 victory over Egypt.The country’s Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno, also claimed the people living on the islands had been ‘artificially implanted’ – and that a referendum on British sovereignty was illegitimate.After Argentina’s victory, vice-president Victoria Villarruel posted on X that ‘it wasn’t just another match’ alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentine soldiers.’The Falklands are Argentine,’ she wrote.’They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.’In the build-up to the game, Villarruel branded England as ‘usurping pirates’. She wrote: ‘Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match. ‘I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more.’Falklanders were asked in a 2013 ballot whether they wanted the islands to remain under British rule, with 99.8 per cent voting yes.Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected the referendum attack and tried to cool tensions.The animosity dates back principally to a ten-week war in 1982, when an Argentinian invasion of the Falklands was seen off by the British – at the cost of 907 lives.It spilled over into football four years later when Maradona scored his infamous ‘hand of God’ goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final clash.He used his fist to put the opening goal past England, allowing Argentina to win 2-1 and go on to claim the World Cup trophy. Captain Harry Kane comforts goal scorer Anthony Gordon after the final whistle following their 2-1 defeat to Argentina The banner, which used the Argentinians name for the Falklands – Las Malvinas – was also passed around the team’s jubilant crowd of supporters Kane looks to the skies as Argentina celebrate on the final whistle in Atlanta, Georgia Giovani Lo Celso adjusts the banner on the pitch after Argentina’s victory Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sobs at the final whistle after England came within minutes of progressing to the World Cup final History of the Falklands Fascist military leaders in Argentina invaded the British Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982. At a time of economic crisis, Argentine leaders believed recapturing the Falklands would restore support for the ruling party.The UK had ruled the islands for 150 years at the time of the invasion, which the junta justified by saying they had inherited the land from Spain in the 1800s, citing the Falklands’ proximity to South America as a further reason. But Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher deployed a task force to fight on behalf of the traditionally British residents of the Falklands.In the short war that followed, 649 Argentinians died, along with 255 British servicemen and three islanders. Following a tough sea battle, British forces made landing to the north of Stanley, before fighting their way in to the capital. The Argentinians surrendered on 14 June<!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/football/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
During tonight’s match, an impressive performance from the Three Lions at the start of the second half saw Antony Gordon put the side in front. But substitutions to send England into a defensive set-up would heartbreakingly backfire.England were just less than six minutes away from their first World Cup final for 60 years when Enzo Fernandez scored the equaliser that denied them.This was followed two minutes into injury time by a header from Lautaro Martinez, who secured Argentina’s place in Sunday night’s final against Spain in New York.England fans complained about the conduct of the Argentinian fans after the game.One supporter told the Daily Mail: ‘Obviously [we] were upset about the game, walking out the stadium, minding our own business.’Some guy, Argentina fan, comes up waving his flag, shoves it in our face, winding us up. ‘You know obviously someone’s going to retaliate, right? But luckily we didn’t retaliate but there’s a lot of animosity.’When Argentina scored, an Argentinian guy next to me took his shirt off, waving it, slapping it in my face, absolutely disgusting.’Disgusting behaviour from the Argentinian fans, absolutely disgusting.’Tonight there’s not enough cops to police all of this. I’m telling you right now it’s going to kick off later in bars and stuff for sure, 100 per cent.’It was England’s fourth-ever appearance in the final four of a World Cup, making this the most high-stakes match since 1966.But in a story familiar to long-suffering fans, they just couldn’t keep ahead at the final whistle.The royals were among those quick to congratulate the team for their impressive run to the semis, with King Charles III taking to social media and writing: ‘Commiserations to Harry and the team.’While you Three Lions may be licking your wounds today, you remain the pride of a nation – and will rise again.’ The banner, which used the Argentinians’ name for the Falklands – Las Malvinas – was passed into the crowdAnd outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to England’s ‘passion’ and ‘energy’.Writing on X, he said: ‘Gutted. Tonight wasn’t the result we all hoped for, but this England team has given it their all.’The passion and energy they’ve shown representing the badge has made us all proud.’