France's biggest rival?

[fishbiproduct]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Belgium aside from me.

For me France v Belgium is like England v Scotland.

Let's laugh at our poor backward cousins and their shite football team.

Its not a rivalry that can produce an upset or get the adrenaline going, but its a rivalry nonetheless.

Nope, never imagined it as a "football rivalry".

[jambon-beurre]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Belgium aside from me.

For me France v Belgium is like England v Scotland.

Let's laugh at our poor backward cousins and their shite football team.

Its not a rivalry that can produce an upset or get the adrenaline going, but its a rivalry nonetheless.

There's some differences : unlike Scotland, Belgium has its own government and a complete political independency, and all belgians don't talk french (it's even a minority), so I would say France-Belgium is more like England-Ireland.
Moreover, they made it to the semi-finals in the WC86, so until 98 we couldn't really laugh at them concerning football, we weren't so much better than them ...

I was actually supporting them in 2002 after we failed, they had a good team then, only eliminated by Brazil (with a disallowed goal for Wilmots when it was still 0-0). And I think I'm gonna support Switzerland too next year (go francophones !)

[MicFW]

Just a sidenote:
For the german-speaking minority, Belgium-Germany is a special match.
(They root for Belgium of course, although they're much more interested in the Bundesliga than the Jupiler League the rest of the year)

[Leto]

I'm English... :rolleyes:

We do exist in France you know. ;)

Ah. I was skimming the thread and sort of assumed that any countries named would be in relation to France. Not entirely unreasonable, methinks, but that'll teach me ;)

[Colm]

just like England and Germany. The English will tell you that their biggest rival is Germany but the Germans won't tell you it's England for them (probably Netherlands instead).
.Nah, Germany is ranked number 3, not our number 1.

[guignol]

Not meant offending but most Germans see The Netherlands as their biggest rival... On the other hand the Austrians, the Dutch, the French, England and sometimes even the Swiss see us as their main rival... it's clear that rivalries don't necessarily work both ways. the ones that do (argentina-england, germany-netherlands) are perhaps even the exception. for france, germany is the main rival (and not only for football).

italy probably feels a rivalry with us more than we do with them; and scotland with england more than vice-versa. i think belgium feels pulled in both directions, but the reverse isn't really true in either (maybe a bit in holland).

[RandyNA74]

Huh ? in the last 20 years there have been lots of bitter and intense games ... but maybe often not for the French side, ask the Portuguese for example

Anyway, I agree that France's biggest rivalry is Italy because it's the football nation against the French have (or had) the biggest complex of inferiority, although it has quite soften in the last years (you know what I mean ...). The feeling is certainly not reciprocal for the Italians, but it is there for the French, so ... it's just like England and Germany. The English will tell you that their biggest rival is Germany but the Germans won't tell you it's England for them (probably Netherlands instead).
Before 98, I would have said Germany, but they've been so disappointing since then, that the animosity is not there anymore.

Little to do with animosity but it's the team we definitely don't wanna lose against.

*edit* it's a cousin thing ya know... ;)
Hmmm. Ok. I get it. Though I would assume that the inferiority complex thing is a product of the past...as in, more distant past... :o

And yeah, I was thinking of games that were "bitter" from France's point of view, but the only really big one I could think of was the 1982 semifinal. Of course, there are many "bitter" games involving France that were bitter for the other team...hell, I could tell you a few anecdotes myself. :mad: :D

[Excape Goat]

it's clear that rivalries don't necessarily work both ways. the ones that do (argentina-england, germany-netherlands) are perhaps even the exception. for france, germany is the main rival (and not only for football).

italy probably feels a rivalry with us more than we do with them; and scotland with england more than vice-versa. i think belgium feels pulled in both directions, but the reverse isn't really true in either (maybe a bit in holland).

Good post. Rivalry does not work both way.

[Excape Goat]

Rivalry developed for various reasons.

1) Political history: Germany and England, Argentina and England, Scotland and England, Greece and Turkey. Those countries held bitter history toward each other off the field.

2) geographical reason: Mexico and USA, Argentina and Brazil. Sometimes, political history and ecomonic factors also played into it. It is hard for neigboring countries not to have some historical issues between them.

3) Purely soccer. Brazil and Italy, Mexico and USA, Argentina and Brazil. Sometimes, they are fighting for number one in the region. Sometimes, they just played many bitter games between them.

Of course, there are other reasons. Before I read this thread, I often thought Germany would be France's greatest rival due all reasons listed above.

[SUPERAJAX]

nos rosbifs adorés les Anglais

That's a funny one, I'll remember that one :D

http://www.ajaxfotoside.nl/oldlogo.gif

[AFC AJAX 425]

nos rosbifs adorés les Anglais

Hahaha that's a funny one, i will remember that one.

http://www.ajaxfotoside.nl/oldlogo.gif

[sl7vk]

Italy? Really? That's kinda surprising. For us, France has really only been a rival since...well, you know. :o



To what are you referring?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/815000/images/_816194_wiltord_goal300.jpg

[AFC AJAX 425]

To what are you referring?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/815000/images/_816194_wiltord_goal300.jpg

A great day that was :D :D

http://www.ajaxfotoside.nl/oldlogo.gif

[squadra_azzurri]

I never ever want to see that picture again, no need to rub it in

[sl7vk]

I never ever want to see that picture again, no need to rub it in

Oh, sorry, my bad.... Won't happen again.... :D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39304000/jpg/_39304823_2000trezeget_ap.jpg

http://www.inna.lt/euro2000/photo/epa60514.jpg

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/trezegeut_david000702.jpg

[RandyNA74]

Uhm, what picture are you talking about? ;) :D

[sl7vk]

Uhm, what picture are you talking about? ;) :D
LOL Randy.....

Now now, no need to start deleting photo's of our hero's in blue......

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2000/euro2000/news/2000/07/02/france_subs_ap/t1_wiltford_ap-01.jpg

[squadra_azzurri]

its a pic of wiltord putting the ball at the back of the net and Toldo holding his head because the Azzurri were now in $hit. SO Randy you wudnt want to see it

[sl7vk]

its a pic of wiltord putting the ball at the back of the net and Toldo holding his head because the Azzurri were now in $hit. SO Randy you wudnt want to see it

Good old Randy also deleted the Trezeguet missle past Toldo to put the final nail in the Azzurri coffin...... I don't know which goal I liked better, but I'm leaning towards the Wiltord goal, because he resurrected the team from the dead in 5 quick seconds.

[squadra_azzurri]

You guys didnt deserve it though in my opinion. ITaly was absolutly dominating until 15 mins to go. You guys were lucky you guys got that PK vs. Portugal . I would rather play Portugal in the final than France that year. bu whatever history is done and it cannot be changed, consider yourself lucky that time as both of our teams are being heavily critisized