Argentina keep Falklands Islands on map promoting rugby clash with England

The bitter fall-out from the England-Argentina match could rumble on through the weekend when the two nations face off again – this time on the rugby field.

Wednesday’s football World Cup semi-final erupted into a full-blown diplomatic row after the defending champions celebrated their 2-1 win with a banner about the Falkland Islands.

Lionel Messi’s men held up a makeshift sign reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, which translates as ‘The Falkland Islands are Argentinian’.

Downing Street waded into the ensuing row, taunting back: ‘The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.’

It has only added to the already fiery atmosphere England’s rugby team were anticipating when they take on Argentina in the Nations Championship on Saturday night.

The issue of the Falklands has not only marred football fixtures between the two countries.

Some 36 years ago, England’s rugby squad took part in the first tour of Argentina by a British sporting team since the end of the war.

England’s players were pelted with objects from the stands and the contests on the field were marred by violence.

The issue continues to rear its head, with a post on The Pumas’ social media accounts earlier this year highlighting the Falkland Islands as part of Argentinian territory.

The post is a graphic of a map showing the location of Argentina’s home fixtures.

But despite there being no sign of any of the countries it shares a border with, the Falkland Islands are included.

It remains pinned to the top of Los Pumas’ Instagram page, despite the controversy around the football team’s provocative banner.

England have won all five of their meetings with Argentina in the Steve Borthwick era, including their most recent clash at Allianz Stadium in November when flanker Tom Curry was involved in a tunnel bust-up with Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi.

‘It’s a big rivalry now,’ England captain Jamie George said this week.

‘We look at Argentina on the calendar whenever the fixtures come out and we know it will be a special occasion.

‘On the field we’re very aware that when we play Argentina they’re an incredibly proud nation and it’s going to be hostile.

‘They’re going to be desperate to win, especially on their own turf.’

England have been forced to change hotel in Buenos Aires on Sunday night to avoid being caught up in any celebrations should Argentina win the World Cup.

They travel to Santiago del Estero for Saturday’s clash with the Pumas but head back to Buenos Aires 24 hours later, running the risk of being caught up in the type of scenes witnessed in 2022 when millions descended on the Obelisk after Argentina won the World Cup.

To avoid any logistical issues arising in the event Argentina defeat Spain in the final, they have chosen a new hotel near the airport ahead of their return home on Monday.

The Falkland Islands are a UK overseas territory, with islanders voting overwhelmingly to remain so in 2013.

In April 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the islands but were forced to surrender by June of the same year.

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