The bitter fall-out from England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina is set to spill onto the rugby pitch this weekend, as the two nations face off in the Nations Championship. The diplomatic row erupted after Lionel Messi’s men celebrated their 2-1 win by holding up a banner reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ – ‘The Falkland Islands are Argentinian’. Downing Street fired back: ‘The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.’ The tension has only added to what England’s rugby team already expected to be a fiery atmosphere in Santiago del Estero on Saturday night.
The issue of the Falklands has long marred fixtures between the two countries. Thirty-six years ago, England’s rugby squad became the first British sporting team to tour Argentina since the war ended, and were pelted with objects while violence marred the contests. More recently, a post on Los Pumas’ social media earlier this year highlighted the Falkland Islands as part of Argentinian territory on a map promoting home fixtures – despite no sign of any bordering countries. The post remains pinned to the top of the Pumas’ Instagram page.
“Falklands dispute flares as England rugby face Argentina after football banner row”
‘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 the match but head back to Buenos Aires 24 hours later, running the risk of being caught in the type of scenes witnessed in 2022 when millions descended on the Obelisk. To avoid logistical issues in the event Argentina beat Spain in the final, they have chosen a new hotel near the airport.
Meanwhile, many of the more than 260,000 British expats living in Spain are planning to cheer on La Roja in Sunday’s final. Louise Letchford, a head teacher near Benidorm, said her family is ‘very British’ but after 23 years in Spain, they will support Spain. ‘I will be very proud to support Spain,’ the 46-year-old from Stockport said. Louise Wilson, an investment consultant in Malaga who has lived in Spain for 31 years, said she was ‘gutted’ about England’s result but has a Plan B. ‘I love Spain and I love Spanish football. I think they are a brilliant team. I don’t like the way Argentina plays. They are rough,’ she said. Nick Dalby, a marketing director in Barcelona, said his two daughters would have preferred Spain to win over England. ‘As a proud Englishman I would have preferred them to be in the final, but without them we will turn our support to Spain.’
The Falkland Islands are a UK overseas territory. The England rugby team have won all five meetings with Argentina in the Steve Borthwick era, including a November clash at Allianz Stadium where flanker Tom Curry was involved in a tunnel bust-up with Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi. Saturday’s match will be played in the shadow of a diplomatic row that shows no sign of cooling.