Is Brazil-Argentina the biggest/best classic in the World??? (I don't know how to do a poll) - This classic has been played since 1914-16 - They've played 88 games - Both teams have won 33 times and tied 25 times. - This 2 teams have won 7 of the 16 WCs played (almost 1/2 of them) - The 2 best soccer/football players ever are from Brazil and Argentina - When it comes to soccer, this 2 countries seem to really hate each other - Both teams think that they are the best in the World This has vote as the biggest/best classic in the World. I put England-France 2nd because of their long history of wars, but England is not even 1 of the best 5 teams in the World.
Yeah, you've probably nailed it if you consider the facts that you've listed. France and England is nothing of a rivalry. In France, football has only really become the national sport in the last 10 years, before that it was Rugby and cycling. Obviously Germany and Italy are the most successful nations in Europe but because of the way European qualifying pans out they rarely have to play eachother. I'm thinking that Euro '96 was the last time they played in a meaningful game. Besides, they blow hot and cold and other teams in Europe often exceed them, Holland late '80s, France right now. Whereas Brazil and Argentina are always going to be the big dogs in South America.
quality wise you certainly have a point, though i can't really comment on the level of hatred. but no way is england-france second. holland-germany and england-germany are certainly bigger classics in terms of hatred. though the english at least respect the germans, whereas the arrogant dutch simply can not come to terms with germany being the most successful football nation in europe... if you include club football, nothing can beat the real-barca relationship. all the history and politics behind it
Another reason, Argentina and Brazil have always been the big dogs in Conmebol. Meanwhile in Europe they rotate. My personnal favorite in Europe is Holland-Germany.
Well, to me, Brazil vs Germany is the most spectacular game match there is in the world but it is not a rivalry. In the CONMEBOL its Brazil vs Argentina In the former CONCACAF is Mexico vs USA In EUFA its Italy vs Germany (but England vs Germany is another) In Oceana its Australia vs New Zealand In Asia ? In Africa ? Yes, I do agree that the best 2 players in the world are from Brazil and Argentina. (the best HAS to be Pele) In this new millenium, the US is going big and is going to stay in the top 10 for a good time. Good soccer developement going around in the good USA. We have every ethnicity which means that we have the most variations of natural skills: speed, agility, etc. (I don't like to use the word skill but I couldn't think of any other). I can bet my soul that the US is going to be winning much more games over Mexico and will become permanent King of the CONCACAF (and I'm a Mexico fan).
El Salvador vs Honduras is very heated, but they aren't really that great of teams so that probably drops the ranking of the rivalry. They did start a war once because of a soccer game, how many other rivalries can claim that? Hehe.
Clarifying the hatred: - Since both are the big dogs of Southamerica, both want to be the best. - Since Fifa gave Brazil the "Jules Rimet" trophy in 1970 both countries have won the WC twice. - I watch Copa Libertadores (Southamerican "Champions League") and the narrators are argentinians, they always cheer for "the other team" that the brazilians are playing and critizice the anything about the brazilian teams (call them skinny, slow, little kids, etc,etc) - Both claim to have "The best soccer player ever" (Pele & Maradona) - Both countries always do good in Copa Libertadores I'm sure a Brazilian and an Argentinian can expand on this
No, much as it pains me to say Badreligion is correct. Though I'm sure there are some 'exciting' rivlaries with the 'new' Balkan countries.
It realy depends from which side you look at it England vs Scotland means more to the Scots than the English,still means a lot but to the English England vs Germany is bigger.Holland vs Germany is clearly the biggest for the Dutch prob is for the Germans aswell though im not certain,still think it means more to the Dutch any Germans wana clear that up for me. Brazil vs Argentina is clearly the biggest rival for each side
Should add Although England vs whoever might not be the biggest rivalry,England must figure in more rivalrys than any other country
i read a good story some months back on the hated and heated algeria-egypt rivalry... that's hate... dig it up. it's an interestin one. another i like to get into is peru vs chile...that's pure hate although players and officials deny it up and down..
Although it lacks the longer history, Cameroon-Nigeria is good. And in the longer history of African football, Ghana has been in the middle of the classics on the continent-matches with Nigeria get things going.
In recent history, the Germans do not get to meet Italy, but they always seemed to group with Holland and England.
Personally, I (and a lot of others) couldn't give a toss about international football so while I wouldn't argue that you may well be right that Brazil vs Argentina is the biggest international rivalry, it's far from the biggest game of all. For that, there are dozens of candidates: Real-Barca, Rangers-Celtic, Sutton Utd-Carshalton Athletic to name but three.
We are talking about countries, when it comes to clubs it would take forever to come up with the biggest rivalries, it would take forever to decide "the rules" to decide the biggest rivalries in clubs. Do you go by years of rivalries? Deaths? injuries? In SouthAmerica it would be RiverPlate-BocaJuniors, this classic started about 100 years ago. Other good ones: Nacional-Peñarol(Uruguay), America-Medellin(Colombia), Universitario-AlianzaLima(Peru), Brazil(???). And from my country, Venezuela: CaracasFC-Dep.Tachira. This is why we hate Tachira
my God we talking about National teams not clubs Brazil vs Argentina is the biggest international rivalry in the world if you like it or not and you can't do nothing about its!
For me it’s going to be Scotland v England. They may claim it does not mean much to them but it must really get on there nerves that over the many years it has been played it’s pretty 50/50. Obviously at club football it’s the old firm game.
Great question. Does anyone know what Asia's biggest rivarlries are? Japan - S. Korea? N. Korea - China? India? - somebody else? Then again, when India's national soccer team plays, I wonder how many people bother to make it to the stadium, I know cricket is huge there. Anyone who knows the region please enlighten us.