What links the South to the Falkland Islands?

Despite Argentinian footballers waving a banner to support their claim to the Falklands Islands – something that could land them in trouble with Fifa – they definitely remain British.

So ahead of the World Cup final, what are the links to the Falkland Islands – the overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean – and the South?

Portsmouth was the main departure point for the British naval task force sent to retake the islands after the Argentinian invasion on 2 April 1982.

And then thousands gathered from across the country to see their friends, family and ships including flagship HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible sail back there after their success.

Occupying Argentinian forces had surrendered on 14 June 1982.

Many servicemen from across the South served in the conflict and following the 40th anniversary of the end of the war in 2022, all servicemen were granted the freedom of Portsmouth by its city council.

During the conflict, ocean liners SS Canberra and QE2 were requisitioned by the government and left from Southampton.

Argentina said it inherited the islands from Spain in the 1800s and wanted to reclaim sovereignty of them.

The UK, which had ruled the islands for 150 years, quickly chose to fight.

In a brief but bitter war lasting 74 days, 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen died, along with three Falkland Islanders.

At Pangbourne College in Berkshire, the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel was built to commemorate the lives and sacrifice of all of those who died.

The chapel was officially opened in 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II and has a capacity of about 580. Its library holds many books about the Falklands War.

Forty-four years on, about 3,600 people live on the islands, with the population made up from about 70 nationalities.

Oliver Thompson, who lives in the capital Stanley and attended Bournemouth University, works for Falklands Radio.

"There is that political history but it's more about the game," he told BBC Radio Solent ahead of England's defeat on Wednesday. "There are a few Argentinians who live on the islands who will be supporting Argentina and that's just the beauty of football - being able to support your country or your team.

A member of the islands' indoor bowls team, he will be heading to Glasgow to compete in the Commonwealth Games later this month.

"For the Falklands this is the pinnacle of our sporting achievements. This is the highest level we can ever compete at and it's really important to fly the flag. The first time we competed in the Commonwealth Games was in 1982, just a couple of months after the war."

Francisco Fourcade, who lives in Argentina, has supported Southampton since 2012 after playing as them on the football game Championship Manager.

On his last trip to the UK in 2023, he plotted his trip around watching a Saints game.

"I consider [Southampton] my home far away from home. It's a place that I love so much and it's not about football any more, it's about everything. It's my second home," he told BBC Radio Solent.

He said he remains "confident" Messi and his Argentinian teammates can win a successive World Cup in the final on Saturday.

But he said he watched football for the football, rather than anything else.

"I don't like to mix political with football because I don't believe in the opinions of footballers. They're footballers. They're not gods."

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