In a statement, officials said seven of the victims were from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France and another from the United States. The last victim was a Spanish citizen.

“The 13 people who died are eight women and five men, all adults,” the public body responsible for identifying the victims added.

Among the British nationals who died were couple Pete and Fran Gillam, who lived in Bédar, the village that bore the brunt of the wildfires. Their deaths were confirmed by their family.

Posting on Facebook, their daughter Danielle Gillam-Kirton, from Sheffield, said the family were “heartbroken to share that we have received confirmation from the police that Mum and Dad did not survive the fire”.

The fire, which has now been contained, burned through about 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land, authorities said.

Spain has suffered frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40C.

Police investigating Ann Widdecombe‘s murder are probing whether the suspect planned to kill other politicians.

Detectives are examining if Left-wing extremism fuelled the brutal attack on the 78-year-old who was bludgeoned to death in her remote Devon home last week.

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor announced on Tuesday that the ‘targeted’ murder of the former Tory minister had been some time in the planning.

Now a key line of inquiry for detectives is whether the 28-year-old suspected killer had looked at other political figures, from the likes of Reform UK and other parties, before the shocking murder last Wednesday.

It came as Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham warned that ‘politics has darkened in the last decade’ and said he was willing to order a ‘serious review’ into MPs’ security.

Assistant Commissioner Taylor said inquiries had established ‘some preparation and planning’ before the suspect in Ms Widdecombe’s killing allegedly travelled 270 miles from his home in Rotherham to ambush the frail pensioner, beating her to death in the kitchen of her £600,000 Dartmoor home.

Detectives are looking closely at the former MP’s TV and radio appearances in the days beforehand, including at 8am on the day of the murder when she defended Reform’s leader Nigel Farage.

Ms Widdecombe was last seen alive when she chatted to a Christian radio station some 20 minutes before police believe she was killed at around 12.30pm last Wednesday. The interview was set to be broadcast at a later date.

The prime suspect for Ms Widdecombe’s murder gets into a red hatchback on his driveway five hours before she was fatally beaten at her home

Mr Taylor said that the question of whether a TV appearance might have motivated her killing is a ‘line of inquiry’, given her forthright views including opposition to the likes of abortion, gay rights and immigration.

The accused is not thought to have known the victim, but her home had featured on a TV programme less than a week earlier which may have provided vital clues about the location of her remote address.

CCTV footage indicates the suspect left his home around 7am on Wednesday. Later that morning he is believed to have stopped at a petrol station not far from Exeter.

Mr Taylor told reporters on Tuesday: ‘It is clear that this was a targeted attack. We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack.’ 

He added: ‘We are aware that there has been some preparation and planning. I don’t want to go into the details of the extent of that at this stage.’

When asked whether the man, whom the Daily Mail is not naming, was ‘targeting other Reform politicians’, he said: ‘Clearly, part of our responsibility when investigating offences of this nature is to assure ourselves and therefore the public and others of any extent of threat. 

‘That will form a line of investigation to ensure that we are putting all appropriate measures in place to mitigate any threat should it become apparent. I’m not saying there is or there isn’t at this stage. Of course, that will be a line of inquiry for us.’

The Daily Mail understands that Left-wing extremism is a ‘leading avenue of inquiry’ for detectives.

As this newspaper revealed on Tuesday, detectives have found a number of items of varying political ideology, including Russian communist literature, during searches of the suspect’s home.

But the material found has been described as a ‘real mix’ of conflicting ideologies, so officers are keeping an open mind as new material emerges. 

Mr Taylor added: ‘There are multiple lines of inquiry that we are pursuing expeditiously, and that includes a number of digital forensic examinations.’

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor announced on Tuesday that the ‘targeted’ murder of the former Tory minister had been some time in the planning

It came as Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham, pictured on Tuesday, warned that ‘politics has darkened in the last decade’

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Officers have been granted a warrant of further detention, meaning the suspect can now be held for questioning for up to seven days under the Terrorism Act.

He has been arrested on suspicion of murder and the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Investigators are probing a theory that a self-radicalised loner may have considered Ms Widdecombe an ‘easy target’ in comparison to more prominent party figures, such as Mr Farage, who have security.

The killing has reignited fears about MPs’ safety following the murders of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox. Sir David’s killer, Ali Harbi Ali, researched more than 250 MPs and carried out surveillance on then Cabinet minister Michael Gove, Sir Keir Starmer, and Mike Freer before stabbing Sir David to death in October 2021.

On Tuesday night, speaking to reporters at Westminster, Mr Burnham said: ‘I notice quite a lot of change in the building behind me, ten years away, no more so than on the question of security.

‘I was quite shocked to see how much security now has to be in place and, even so, it may need to be increased further.

‘Politics has darkened in the last decade; there’s no getting away from that.

‘It’s obviously appalling what happened to Ann. I knew Ann over many years in the House, and you know, we would get along – and everybody would get along. But it feels as though something has changed.

‘It’s easy to blame social media, but it feels like it’s having some impact in just building that kind of toxicity that’s around the political debate.’

He added: ‘I do think we need now a serious review of MPs’ security. I certainly am prepared to do that.’

Former Tory Cabinet minister Sir Robert Buckland has been conducting such a review and on Tuesday said ‘those who would use a bullet or a bomb, rather than ballot box’ cannot be allowed to prevail.

Detectives are looking closely at Ms Widdecombe’s TV and radio appearances in the days beforehand, including at 8am on the day of the murder when she Nigel Farage, pictured

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Police have come under fire from Reform UK for misleading the public in the initial stages of their investigation into Ms Widdecombe’s murder by quickly ruling out any links to terrorism. 

Local officers waited more than 24 hours to announce a murder investigation following the discovery of her body on Thursday, before Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman announced: ‘The incident is not being treated as terrorism.’

Local Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez hit back at the criticism on Tuesday, saying: ‘There’s been some commentary about the way Devon and Cornwall Police have communicated during the early stages of this case.

‘But, as the Home Secretary said yesterday, it is not unusual that in a fast-paced investigation, more information comes to light that changes the nature or the character of what the police are dealing with.’

Steven has not been seen or heard from since July 6

Police said they are becoming ‘increasingly concerned’ about a missing man who has not been heard from for more than a week.

Steven, aged 45, whose surname was not disclosed by police, has not been heard from since July 6. He is known to have links across Greater Manchester, including the city centre, Salford and south Manchester.

He is described as a white male, 5ft 6ins tall of a slim build and with brown curly hair. A photo of Steven was circulated as part of the police’s public appeal. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to report it immediately.

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An appeal shared by Greater Manchester Police on Tuesday night (July 14), read: “Can you help police find a missing man from Manchester? Steven, 45, was last heard from on Monday 6 July 2026.

“Steven is described as a white male, approximately 5ft 6, slim built, brown bouncy curly hair and has a Manchester accent.

“He has links to South Manchester, Manchester City Centre and Salford. Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about Steven and want to make sure he is safe and well.

“Anyone with information about Steven’s whereabouts should contact police on 0161 856 8187 quoting log 1638-13.07.2026.”

Lionel Messi and Argentina stand between England and a first World Cup final appearance in 60 years.

Thomas Tuchel’s underperforming stars can raise their game against Lionel Messi’s Argentina and fire England to the World Cup final.

That’s the verdict of Michael Owen, who suffered heartache against the Argies in 1998 when he burst onto the World Cup scene as a teenager.

Owen says he nearly “fell off my chair” at some of the praise over the last-16 win against Mexico, and he added that England were lucky to squeeze past Norway in the quarter-finals.

But he believes there is better to come from Tuchel’s men as they face Argentina in the knockouts for the first time in 28 years.

“A lot of people will naturally get carried away, but it’s never been my job to get carried away,” said Owen, ambassador for Casino.org, who now helps Irish gamblers discover the best online casinos available in Ireland.

“So when everyone was saying it was the best performance they’d ever seen when we played Mexico, I nearly fell off my chair.

“Yes, it was a heroic and exciting game, and I could use another hundred words to describe it, but best? I was probably an outlier.

“I don’t think we’ve played to our potential at all. Against Norway, they were the better team, and I don’t think one of their players can get in our team.

“You can argue Haaland and Kane, but that’s down to personal preference, and I don’t think any of their players can get in our team, and yet they were the better team on the day.

“Put it this way; if England had been knocked out there’d be a massive inquest by now. How have Congo beaten us? How have Norway or Mexico beaten us?

“Mexico’s best player just about gets in the Fulham team.

“We haven’t played anyone really that should beat us, so there’s room for improvement. I think there will be improvement and I genuinely think we can go all the way to the final.”

Reigning champions Argentina haven’t impressed former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United striker Owen either.

“I think they have been reasonably fortunate to get through, they haven’t been convincing, they’ve probably had, even more so than England, a lucky path to the semi-finals,” he said.

“They haven’t had to play a top team yet, rather like England, and they have not been convincing at all.

“I certainly can see us winning. Personally I think the other semi-final is the one. I would have thought the winners of the tournament would come from that.

“But I can definitely see England having a right chance.”

Is he worried that a lot of the big refereeing decisions seem to be going the way of Lionel Messi and his Argentina side?

“I’m not really a conspiracy theorist, to be honest,” Owen replied.

“England won the other day and everyone was talking about the ball hitting the wire, which obviously it did, and normally you would expect a drop-ball

“But I don’t think referees are looking at things like that and thinking, who do I want to win, I’m going to turn a blind eye to it. But I might be wrong!”

He added: “If we are going to beat France or Spain we are going to have to string more than three passes together.”

England have been close on a number of occasions in recent years to ending the long wait for another major trophy, to sit alongside their 1966 World Cup win.

Owen believes the heartache from their semi-final defeat in the 2018 World Cup, and the two European Championship final defeats to Italy and Spain, can fire Tuchel’s men to glory.

“Those experiences, there are very few teams that come from nowhere and win a major tournament,” he said.

“It does take teams to come from second to win it. Apart from Leicester in the Premier League, nobody just comes and wins it.

“I do think the experience of going far has a massive role to play and a lot of these players have played in huge games before, so they know what it takes. I think that makes a difference.

“Semi-final of a World Cup, then the final of two Euros, we are knocking on the door and gaining experience. I think it’ll be a massive benefit.”

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There’s a growing interest in alternatives to traditional burials as well as making the process more environmentally friendly in many countries. For many people it’s about the environmental impact of the funeral industry globally.

In the US, for instance, a surface equal to the size of Hawaii (1.6 million hectares) is deforested each year for manufacturing coffins. The amount of wood used is equal to building 4.5 million homes. Other costs include approximately 1.6 million tons of cement for graves. Carbon emissions from a single cremation are equivalent to those released by a private car driven for 3,369 kilometres.

Another factor is that many countries are running out of space in graveyards.

Discussions about the environmentally friendly aspects of dealing with death often take in woodland burial sites, memorials with bird boxes and using different coffin materials.

Two methods, burial and cremation, have been used in Europe for centuries. But a much wider range of burial techniques such as composting and water cremation are now starting to be offered more widely.

Water cremation, also called alkaline hydrolysis, is where the body is treated with 170°C hot water and an alkali-based solution, the results are then dried out, and ground down into a powder. These remains are then returned to relatives in an urn. This was introduced in Scotland as an option in March 2026 and is being discussed in England and Wales. It is also allowed in other countries including Australia, South Africa, some US states, Canada and Ireland.

Scotland’s public health minister Jenni Minto described this option as an “environmentally friendly alternative”.

À lire aussi :
Water cremation: sustainable body disposal is coming to Scotland – here are the benefits

Natural organic reduction or composting is already used in Ireland and Germany as well as Australia. In this form of human composting the body is placed in dry material such as hay, straw or wood-chips in a sealed container where microbes decompose the body into soil. This is then broken up into tiny particles and buried in a wooden vessel.

Are they better for the environment?

But how environmentally friendly are these newer methods compared with the conventional ones? To determine this, one must consider several factors. These include the choice of flowers for the funeral, the coffin, shrouding and embalming.

Another factor is the working conditions for employees in the funeral industry, since traditional treatment of the dead body often includes handling toxic chemicals in embalming, for example. The greatest environmental cost comes from transport: not only of the deceased, but also the number of mourners attending the funeral and how they travel.

Other factors can complicate comparisons. Crematoria differ widely between countries, both in terms of emissions and the process itself, depending on whether biofuels or diesel are used.

Different cultures also have different burial practices. In the United States, for instance, there is a practice of perpetual grave rights, where graves are supposed to last for eternity, combined with concrete burial vaults. This leads to a significantly high environmental impact.

In a report published in 2023, research from Linnaeus University in Sweden, examined composting, cremation and burial in Sweden. The study examines a wide range of factors beyond the disposal of the body itself. The findings show that all three methods mentioned above have relatively similar levels of environmental impact. When waste heat from crematoria is recovered and used for district heating (a form of centralised heating widely used in parts of Europe), cremation emerges as the best environmental option. Once again, like every method, it is the surrounding arrangements and transport that account for the greatest environmental impact.

Other research highlights how different funeral options are attempts to appeal to people’s desire for sustainability and naturalness. But reliable data on green disposal methods is hard to find and therefore can be difficult to analyse.

The ways in which dead bodies may also be handled are strongly shaped by cultural and religious beliefs. The most environmentally friendly method, dismembering bodies and placing them in nature, still used in Buddhist Tibet for instance, is unlikely to be acceptable in most modern societies, for both practical and emotional reasons.

Freezing in Sweden

In one bid to try something different, and more green, bodies in Sweden were kept frozen while awaiting the implementation of cryomation or freeze-drying. Twelve of them remained in storage for more than ten years.

In 2013, a legal decision on this case eventually required conventional burial, and the last bodies were buried in 2016.

In this case, the desire for an environmentally friendly disposal of the bodies, resulted instead in prolonged frozen storage with considerable environmental impact.

À lire aussi :
Gin Lane by William Hogarth is a critique of 18th-century London’s growing funeral trade

Cultural considerations are often important. The promotion of cremation around the turn of the 20th century, for example, reflected a society in which it was seen as hygienic and modern.

Today’s promotion of alternative methods similarly mirrors contemporary discussions in which environment and nature have become more regular debating points.

Ultimately, the question is not simply which method is the most environmentally friendly, but how societies negotiate the balance between ecological responsibility, cultural values and respect for the dead. Any meaningful shift towards what might appear to be greener choices will depend not only on technological innovation, but also on a broader cultural willingness to rethink what constitutes a dignified and meaningful farewell.

Anne Hathaway has finally confirmed that she and her husband did in fact plan what she referred to as her ‘buzzer beater’ pregnancy.

The 43-year-old has been proudly showing off her blossoming baby bump as she whirls through the publicity rounds for Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey.

She and her husband Adam Shulman, who tied the knot in 2012, were already parents to two sons – Jonathan, 10, and Jack, six.

Fans were left in awe when she announced last month that she was expecting her third child, noting her age at the time of conception.

Now Hathaway has expressed her own astonishment at the ‘amazing’ development, in an interview this Monday on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

‘I mean, we knew what we were doing, but we were so shocked it worked!’ she said. ‘We knew, and yeah, but no, we were just – we were so shocked it went this way.’

The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Hathaway for comment. 

The 43-year-old has been proudly showing off her blossoming baby bump as she promotes Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, for which she is pictured at last week’s Paris premiere

Hathaway went public with her pregnancy with an Instagram video of herself hugging her growing belly, set to the song Baby, I’m Yours by Barbara Lewis.

She had remarked on how ‘lucky’ she felt to be a mother this April, in an interview accompanying her coronation as ‘Most Beautiful Woman’ by People.

‘I know that not everybody who wants to be a parent gets to be,’ the The Princess Diaries actress observed. ‘I’m just blown away by how fortunate I am. It went really well for me twice, and that’s really lucky.’

Hathaway raved that her husband ‘supports me completely,’ adding: ‘I’m so lucky that he’s my partner that I spend my life with.’

She added: ‘If I didn’t know that before this past year, I think I really know it now because with absolutely everything he’s just, he’s on it. He holds it down. I hope that doesn’t sound like I’m bragging, but he’s a dream partner to me.’

Hathaway has experienced a banner year professionally, including the release of her smash hit movie The Devil Wears Prada 2 in May.

The sequel reunited her with a number of her co-stars from the beloved 2006 original, including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

Now she is awaiting the release on Friday of Nolan’s The Odyssey, which has been showered with rave reviews by Hollywood’s critical fraternity.

She and her husband Adam Shulman, who tied the knot in 2012, were already parents to two sons – Jonathan, 10, and Jack, six; Hathaway and Shulman are pictured in New York in May

Hathaway went public with her pregnancy with an Instagram video of herself hugging her growing belly, set to the song Baby, I’m Yours by Barbara Lewis

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However fan backlash has been mounting over the hiring of black performers Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Travis Scott in an adaptation of a Greek epic.

Inasmuch as Scott is a rapper who had never held a major acting role before, his enlistment to play the bard was also criticized as a piece of stunt casting.

Trans actor Elliot Page has drawn brickbats as well, on account of his inclusion in the picture as an ill-fated young member of Odysseus’ crew called Elpenor.

After holding its world premiere in London this Monday, the movie is slated for a theatrical release in both the US and UK on July 17. 

Nolan’s movie of The Odyssey has been hotly anticipated for years, with an all-star cast including Matt Damon as Odysseus and Hathaway as his wife Penelope.

Tom Holland is featuring as the couple’s son Telemachus, while his wife and Spider-Man co-star Zendaya is playing the goddess Athena.

Robert Pattinson plays Penelope’s villainous suitor Antinous, with Samantha Morton and Charlize Theron respectively as the goddesses Circe and Calypso.

Jon Bernthal plays the Spartan king Menelaus and Benny Safdie has been cast as his brother Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae.

John McGovern scored in Shamrock Rovers’ 5-1 win over Floriana of Malta on Tuesday night.

Stephen Bradley believes John McGovern has what it takes to play senior international football.

The former Newry Town and Dungannon Swifts striker scored the goal that levelled Shamrock Rovers’ Champions League tie with Floriana of Malta on Tuesday night.

McGovern is a former Northern Ireland Under-21 international and Bradley reckons he can one day knock on Michael O’Neill’s door.

O’Neill was manager at Tallaght Stadium when Bradley was a player, and the Hoops boss said: “Yeah, I think he can (play for the senior international side).

“Just because of the type he is, there are not many centre-forwards to have that type of movement, how he can dip down both sides.

“I’m not saying that’s going to happen tomorrow, but I think there is potential for that down the road.”

McGovern (23) is still growing into his role at Shamrock Rovers, following his move last summer from Dungannon.

He has had to work hard to change his body shape, having come from inter-county Gaelic football with Down.

“We had to be patient and he had to be patient,” said Bradley. “We needed to change his body, he was a GAA player when we got him, in that build, and we needed to shred that.

“That takes time, it can’t happen overnight, and he had to learn how we play, and then understand what his strengths are in this team.

“He is definitely getting there, you can see he should score a couple tonight, there is no doubt he should. But that’s the bit that will come.

“As a forward, once you are brave enough to miss, you will always score. And he is.

“What I really like about him is he compliments that team well – Dylan (Watts), Jack (Byrne) and Graham (Burke). We need something different when you play those three.

“John is recognising that that’s what he gives us and he is doing it really well.”

Bradley added: “I watched the (Gaelic football) games on Sunday and they all have that type of build. That’s what John came with – big shoulders, big arms, really wide.

“But it’s a completely different game and completely different movements. I think there is more to come.”

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Emmerdale spoilers for next week tease big twists with new faces, a break-in and danger for one icon, and two characters team up to take down Dr Todd – but will it work?

It’s another big week ahead on Emmerdale, with new spoilers teasing exits, danger and twists.

Kim tasks Ross with investigating an intruder at Home Farm. Ross questions Moira, who sends him packing, before he turns his attention towards Robert. Things get heated between Ross and Aaron as a result, and Serena intervenes.

Serena takes the opportunity to tell Robert a full explanation about John and it is enough to persuade Robert to let her stay, despite Aaron’s concern. With Robert injured, Aaron offers Serena a job on the farm, but she seems preoccupied with getting Ross onside – so what is she up to, and why is she trying to get close to Ross?

Back at Home Farm, Kim realises a USB stick was taken. Elsewhere, Charity is left utterly defeated to learn the CPS won’t be pursuing Todd’s case due to a lack of evidence. Mack and Vanessa team up to ensure Todd doesn’t get away with it.

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Believing they could uncover buried complaints at the hospital, Vanessa and Jacob meet privately with the HR Rep. As Charity goes to confront Vanessa over her plan, she bumps into Helen, another of Todd’s victims.

When Charity reveals how Todd raped her, it clearly strikes a chord with Helen, but will it aid Charity’s case? Claudette encourages Kev to return to his job at the café, while Nicola tries to convince everyone that Kev quitting was for the best.

With Lewis’ birthday approaching, Kev attempts to make up for missed years with gifts, but he unsettles Lewis, leaving Ross concerned. Kev is left stressed when an old friend, Steve, rocks up.

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Gabby distracts Billy so she doesn’t have to eat the meal he’s prepared for her, while Dawn is clearly not happy about Billy and Gabby dating each other. Dawn, meanwhile, is thrilled when her wedding dress arrives.

Finally, Cain is holding onto hope for his dog Monty’s health and seeks a second vet opinion following Monty’s cancer diagnosis. Kyle is struggling at Cadets, but feels he can’t ask Cain about it due to his dad’s dismissive attitude.

As Cain learns that Monty’s tumours are inoperable, it’s too much to take in. Cain tries to avoid Moira and asks Kyle to go camping with him, only for Kyle to invite Graham.

As the trio set off, tensions escalate, resulting in Cain storming off. But as darkness draws in, Cain falls down a hillside and traps his leg. It’s another unmissable week for the show, with much more set to air.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

The heroic pilot who safely ditched a stricken airliner in a New York City river in 2009 has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger III, 75, shared the update on his personal website, writing that he was recently diagnosed and it is at an early stage.

“For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as well, but I am in the beginning of this long journey,” he wrote.

US Airways Flight 1549 came down in the Hudson River on 15 January 2009, after both its engines were disabled in a collision with a flock of geese shortly after take-off. All 155 people on board survived.

Sullenberger’s quick thinking and calm demeanour were credited with averting disaster.

The former US Air Force fighter pilot from California said in a post on his website on Tuesday that his Alzheimer’s diagnosis “has challenged what it means to be of service” and that he has found “the answer is to speak up” about the disease.

A group of Argentina fans were filmed burning the Union Jack ahead of the World Cup semi-final against England, as the footage sparked mockery online over the use of the wrong flag

A group of Argentina supporters have burnt a Union Jack flag on the eve of Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final with England. The pre-match hostility looks set to increase after a select number of Argentine fans set the Great British colours alight on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in Escobar.

The two teams meet in Atlanta on Wednesday with Thomas Tuchel’s side pushing to end the defending champions’ pursuit of retaining their crown. The history on and off the pitch between England and Argentina is threatening to spill over as they meet for the first time since the 2002 World Cup, where David Beckham’s penalty was the difference.

Cheers ring out from the gathered crowd as the flames begin to take hold. Several onlookers can also be seen leaping up and down while chanting: “He who doesn’t jump is an Englishman.”

The clip is believed to have been filmed following Argentina’s victory over Switzerland on Saturday evening, with the Three Lions having already secured their own semi-final berth earlier that day. The reigning World Cup champions haven’t faced England since a 2005 friendly.

While the two nations share considerable history on the football pitch, there is no shortage of tension off it either. The Union Jack featured prominently as a symbol carried by British troops during the Falklands War and remains part of the current flag of the Falkland Islands.

The historical narrative surrounding the game has overshadowed proceedings in the build-up to the game with the FBI, officials and local police deeming the showdown as the “highest risk” fixture at this summer’s tournament.

The footage of the burning flag drew widespread bemusement, given that England, of course, fly the St George’s Cross. On social media, one user questioned: “Are they that dumb or what?”

Another remarked: “Burning the flag of Great Britain thinking it’s England’s just proves that the biggest enemy of the Argentine isn’t the English, it’s the geography book.”

Following their 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland, Argentina’s players were captured on film singing about the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas). “For the Malvinas, for Diego [Maradona], for Leo’s [Lionel Messi] last one,” they sang inside their dressing room.

However, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni doesn’t want his squad to become swept up in the emotion of the fixture. “The ­message is this is a football game” Scaloni affirmed at a press conference.

“That is what I can say. We will be playing against a very tough opponent, they have an excellent coach, it is a football game and that is all.”

Meanwhile, Argentina forward Jose Lopez said: “Obviously, inside and outside the four lines of the pitch it’s a match that has a lot of history there, a lot of pain and a lot of things behind it.

“I think we are professionals and we’re going to play it like we play every game: until the last ­second, leaving our lives on the field.”