Argentina’s football federation has designated 15 July as “National Football Teams Day,” commemorating the national team’s hard-fought World Cup semi-final triumph over England earlier this year.
The match, played in Atlanta, appeared to be heading England’s way when Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, putting Thomas Tuchel’s men on the brink of their first World Cup final since 1966.
England then retreated into a defensive shell, but Argentina found a way through twice in stoppage time, netting in the 85th and 92nd minutes to seal a dramatic 2-1 comeback win.
It was the most significant World Cup victory Argentina had recorded against England since their infamous quarter-final clash 40 years earlier, in 1986.
The result, however, was overshadowed by controversy when several Argentine players unfurled a banner during celebrations declaring “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” – “The Falklands are Argentine.”
The remark reopened a decades-old wound between the two nations over the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory located roughly 300 miles off Argentina’s coast, whose sovereignty remains disputed.
The dispute traces back to 1982, when Argentina’s ruling military junta under General Leopoldo Galtieri launched an invasion of the islands.
The ensuing 74-day war killed 655 Argentine troops, 255 British servicemen, and three Falkland Islanders.
Decades later, a 2013 referendum saw 99.8 percent of islanders vote overwhelmingly to remain British territory.
Despite the emotional victory over England, Argentina’s World Cup run ended in heartbreak, as they fell 1-0 to Spain in the final.
England, meanwhile, salvaged a podium finish, defeating France 6-4 in the third-place playoff.
