ARGENTINA have shamelessly created a special day to mark their World Cup semi-final win over England amid outrage over their Falklands banner celebration.
Lionel Messi and Co completed a dramatic turnaround victory over Thomas Tuchel‘s men in stoppage time last month.
Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez both struck in the final seven minutes to seal a memorable 2-1 win after Anthony Gordon‘s opener.
But there were controversial scenes after the final whistle as a handful of Argentina players were seen holding up a banner that read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas.”
That translates to “The Falklands are Argentinian.”
The banner, which players said was passed down to them by fans in the stands, is a reference to the conflict between England and Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982.
It was sparked by an Argentine invasion of the islands after a sovereignty dispute and lasted 74 days, leading to the deaths of 655 Argentinians and 255 Britons.
There have been calls for Argentina players who held up the banner to face bans and Fifa have already opened an investigation.
Argentina went on to reach the final before being beaten 1-0 by Spain.
But the country savoured its win over England so much that it has created the National Football Teams Day to mark the occasion.
It will take place on July 15, which was Argentina’s first World Cup win over England since Diego Maradona‘s ‘hand of god’ goal inspired them to a 2-1 win in 1986.
The Argentine FA said: “The date was chosen to commemorate the Albiceleste’s great and historic victory over England in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup.
“The team, led by Lionel Scaloni, were trailing the English side by a single goal but, thanks to goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, managed to turn the result around and send the whole country into a frenzy, with people flooding the streets in celebration.”
Argentina stars are under fire after also brawling with Spain players after their World Cup final defeat.
Ugly scenes at the MetLife Stadium following Spain’s win saw Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala all involved.
Paredes had been seen brawling with and then grabbing the throat of Spanish star Eric Garcia.
According to Fifa’s disciplinary code, the disciplinary and ethics prosecutor had the power to enforce a global
ban.
Argentina
However, Argentina will not play a World Cup qualifier for the 2030 tournament as they are co-hosting – so a ban might not come in until the first game of the tournament.
