Argentina are ridiculed by the Falkland Islands after defeat to Spain (Image: Getty Images)
The Falkland Islands dealt Argentina a brutal blow after losing to Spain in the World Cup final at the weekend. This small community made fun of their former invaders at their expense by writing poems mocking their defeat “without a fight.” And in another sharp poem, he declared that “the world of football can now breathe easier” as a result of Spain’s victory.
The sovereignty of the British Overseas Territories became a hot topic after Argentine players celebrated their semi-final victory over England by holding up a banner that read “The Falklands are Argentina”. The Falkland Islands government quickly condemned the move, emphasizing their desire to remain British. Now, after Argentina lost in the final, the residents turned the knife.
On X (formerly Twitter), the account @Falklands_Utd, which has been run for 14 years by a resident who provides commentary on world events that affect the 3,500 residents, has been unable to contain his abuse of players trying to claim ownership of the islands.
Their poem said: “In the end, they went down without a fight. There wasn’t a real effort, there wasn’t a shot in sight. Just noise and fury and heart-pounding and display. And yet there was nowhere for football skill to go.
“They chased the referee more than the ball, and in the end mistook the dark arts for greatness. With each fall, with each feign of despair, the game itself remained a little worse there.
“And when the whistle blows and the curtains close, there is no glory in the path they choose. Medals are stained and scorelines are erased, but character is measured every day.
“And they go home defeated in the end – without the pride that champions should attend. Perhaps they win a trophy, for a victory borrowed under the guise of deceit… But they can never win against the wise.
“Tonight, the world of football feels even more at ease, not out of malice, but because the spirit of the game has finally outweighed the spectacle.”
Argentina’s banner after the win over England was in breach of tournament rules that prohibit players from displaying political messages or slogans before, during or after matches.
Then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer said afterwards: “The World Cup may not be ours, but the Falkland Islands certainly are.”
Island sovereignty became a hot topic during the World Cup. (Image: Getty Images)
In 1982, the two countries engaged in a 74-day conflict over sovereignty over the island, resulting in the loss of 907 lives.
In the 2013 referendum, the majority of islanders decided to remain British, with just three voting against.
However, the Argentines continued to insist on their rights to the islands, and the issue was brought up again before the semi-finals.
This is not the only investigation FIFA is currently facing following the disgraceful scenes after Sunday’s final.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney said of Argentina’s actions:
“We saw the reaction after they eliminated England in the final round. It’s really sad. When you lose a football match, you want them to walk away gracefully. I really feel sorry for their attitude.”
Most of the Argentine athletes were observed turning their backs to the Spaniards who received their winner’s medals. Argentina committed 113 fouls, more than any other team at the World Cup.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni said: “We are generous with our wins, but we must also be patient with our losses. We accept that we lost the game, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here.”
At the post-match press conference, he could not hold back his tears and left the game.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said: “The match should have been decided sooner, but this is a World Cup final and even against 10 men we have to dig deep. And we are ready for anything.”
Express sports on FB! Get all the best sports news and more on our Facebook page.
