A number of Argentina players posed with a banner which read 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' in the aftermath of the nation's 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England, sparking outrage

The Argentinian government issued a formal note of protest to the British embassy in Buenos Aires after the nation's World Cup stars held up a controversial banner in the aftermath of their 2-1 win over England. Lionel Scaloni's men reigned supreme over Thomas Tuchel's squad in the semi-finals of the tournament on Wednesday evening.

While Anthony Gordon opened the scoring 55 minutes into play, a late comeback from Argentina saw goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez. It means that the South American nation will face Spain in Sunday's final in New Jersey, while England will battle France in a third-place play-off a day earlier.

However, in the aftermath of their win, a number of Scaloni's players made headlines for presenting a banner on the field which read: "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," which translates to 'The Falklands are Argentinian.' It's a showing of defiance to Great Britain, who claimed sovereignty of the islands in 1690.

When Argentina invaded the Falklands and tried to assume control in 1982, then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher deployed over 100 ships of troops to the islands to defend it, with a war of 74 days ensuing. As a result of the conflict, 649 Argentinians, 255 Britons and three Falkland Islanders lost their lives, as the British once more assumed control of the Falklands.

However, that claim continues to be disputed by Argentina, who believe the islands belong to them - a sentiment echoed by the national team on Wednesday. And hours after the banner was held up by a number of the nation's players at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it emerged that the Argentinian government protested the movements of the British ship HMS Medway last week.

The vessel sailed from the Falkland Islands to the Strait of Magellan last week, but Argentina's foreign ministry claim that the warship failed to properly notify the nation of the movement.

They also classed the action as a "military incursion" into areas under the jurisdiction of Argentina.

The ministry said in a statement: "By history, by law and by conviction, the Falkland Islands are Argentine," although the UK maintain that Royal Navy vessels operating from the Falklands do not need authorisation from Argentina to operate in the South Atlantic.

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It comes as Argentina players who brandished the banner in Atlanta, Georgia, are likely to be disciplined by FIFA when the World Cup is over.

FIFA has rules preventing political messages or actions at matches, and fines and potential bans could be handed out to those involved in the showing.

Business secretary, Peter Kyle, is one of the names calling for an investigation into matters by FIFA. He told the BBC: "We expect FIFA to undertake an investigation into this.

"I think it was certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football."

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