Irreconcilable teams in European football. Twenty biggest football derbies
In football, there are many rivalries between great clubs, where the fans of the rivals hate each other. But the tension at these matches is nothing compared to the madness that goes on during the derby, when teams from the same city converge on the field, and the fans live in neighboring areas of the city. Usually on the day of the derby, the city streets resemble a theater of operations, in which there are incessant skirmishes between the fans of the opposing sides, and people far from football prefer not to lie on the streets near the stadium. Meet the ten most incredible, crazy, fantastic, bloody and great football derbies in the world.
10. Sevilla - Real Betis
IN Spanish championship the Seville derby stands apart, where Sevilla and Real Betis converge on the field. Seville is traditionally supported by urban aristocrats and the middle class, while Betis is wholeheartedly supported by poor people from working-class neighborhoods. The most interesting thing is that the latter received the prefix Real, that is, the "royal club", earlier than the famous Real Madrid. But Sevilla has the oldest fan group in Spain, Biris Norte. Fans idolize their favorite teams and fiercely hate their opponents, they are ready to do anything to annoy their opponents, celebrating any of their failures on a grand scale. So at one time the teams exchanged courtesies, deliberately losing the match under severe pressure from the fans, so that the team of irreconcilable enemies flew to the lower division. Plus, Sevilla and Real Betis are in a tacit competition to see which club has the best anthem. Before each match, fans and the press heat up the atmosphere to the limit, the teams take to the field under the slogan “With a shield or on a shield! ". Of course, the teams are provided with just insane support in every match with flags, choreography and chants, plus they like to leave various objects on the field. Of course, no Seville derby is complete without fights.
9. Peñarol - Nacional
Peñarol-Nacional is the oldest derby in the world outside the UK, where some of the most titled clubs in the world converge on the field, which have become champions of Uruguay for a couple of 90 times and won 8 Libertadores Cups. British railway workers were at the origins of the creation of Peñarola, and Nacional is considered a national team founded by students of local universities. The second became the first football club South America organized without the participation of foreigners. It was national differences that caused disagreements in the early years of the existence of the clubs, which eventually turned into an irreconcilable enmity. During the derby days, Montevideo turns into a theater of war, where the ultras of the two clubs arrange grandiose battles, both on the city streets and in the stadium. What is most interesting, the players of both clubs start fights on the football field with enviable constancy. Of course, it's just real madness going on at the stadiums, the fans support their favorites from the first to the last minute, arranging colorful performances. Peñarol's matches against Nacional are especially famous for their gigantic banners on the floor of the stadium.
8. Al-Ahli - Zamalek
The great Cairo confrontation between Al-Ahli and Zamalek is literally permeated with hatred and cruelty. Al-Ahly is considered to be a national team, the origins of which were the Arabs, supporters of the independence of Egypt, and Zamalek, founded by foreigners, is supported by the middle class and people of liberal views. About half of Cairo's population supports the first team, and the second third. On the day of the game, life in the city practically stops, some shops remain closed, and politicians prefer to reschedule meetings for another day. There are continuous clashes of fans of opposing factions around the city, which even the police are not able to stop, and any inappropriately spoken word or a crooked look can turn into a large-scale fight. Due to the frenzy at the Al Ahli-Zamalek games, clubs only play derbies on a neutral ground, and matches are officiated by foreign referees. Main question in Cairo, when two people meet, “Which club do you support?”.
7. Red Star - Partizan
The best years of Serbian football are behind us, but this one did not affect the frenzied support, chaos and madness around the Belgrade derby Crvena Zvezda - Partizan. Paradoxically, there were no serious differences between Crvena Zvezda and Partizan initially, which is why the fans could hate each other fiercely. Only when the teams became leaders in Yugoslav football did the confrontation between the ardent Balkan fans of Crven Zvezda and Partizan begin to heat up. During the derby, the stadium looks like a branch of hell, filled with smoke, illuminated by fireworks, and the constant noise support of fan sectors. Of course, everything is accompanied by mass fights, where the ultras do not adhere to any unwritten rules, using any objects that come to hand, from knives to rebar and broken bottles. Regardless of the outcome of the match, the fans destroy everything that comes along the way, so on the day of the derby, few people do not risk leaving the car near the stadium.
6. Flamengo - Fluminense
The main derby in Rio de Janeiro is considered the battle of Flamengo against Fluminense, which is sometimes called "Fla Flu". Fluminense is traditionally supported by the aristocracy, offspring of wealthy families and representatives of the middle class, while Flamengo, founded by nine people from the team of an irreconcilable rival, is supported by poor neighborhoods. The atmosphere that creates in the stadium during the Flamengo game against Fluminense cannot be expressed in words. Sadly, this is a sports spectacle, accompanied by numerous fights and bloody clashes between fans, which the police are trying to brutally suppress. By the way, Flamengo fans were the first to rent a musical ensemble to support their favorites on the football field in 1942, which became a fashionable trend in Brazilian football for the next few decades.
5. Roma - Lazio
Roma's Capitoline derby against Lazio divides the people of Rome into two parts that hate each other, both inside and outside the stadium. A person who supports one or another team automatically limits the circle of his friends with whom he will communicate until the end of his days. Roma is considered a "real" urban club, supported by residents of poor working-class areas, while Lazio is supported by wealthier people from the suburbs of Rome and far-right radicals. Fans of Roma and Latsi are famous for their banners with not always personal jokes towards rivals, stunning performance and wild support of their favorites. Of course, all this is accompanied by incessant skirmishes with the use of edged weapons, not only on the day of the match, but a few days before and after it.
4. Olympiakos - Panathinaikos
Greek fans have always been famous for their violent temper, but in the Athens derby, the degree of love, hatred, passion and madness going on around each match exceeds all reasonable limits. The mutual dislike of the fans of the two clubs is based on social contradictions. Olympiakos from the port city of Piraeus, which became part of Greater Athens only in the last century, is traditionally supported by hard workers from poor neighborhoods, while Panatinkos is supported by wealthy residents of the central regions and bohemians. Usually between the fans of these clubs goes guerrilla war due to the numerical superiority of the fans of Olympiacos. Ulras Panatinkos penetrate the opponent's territory in small groups, where they try to beat opponents. But in the days of the derby, everything changes, the fans of both teams bravely defend the colors of their clubs, arranging real battles using everything that comes to hand or brought with a failure, which often ends in injuries and injuries. This is not counting such extreme antics as throwing Molotov cocktails at opponents. During the derby, the stadium looks like a red-hot volcanic crater, where fans are all the time burning fairies, waving flags, putting on colorful shows and singing, forcing their favorites to go forward. The Greeks like to run out onto the field right during the game, and leave the stands on the field with flares and other dangerous objects, so during the match, the fan sectors are covered with a net on all sides.
3. Celtic - Rangers
"Old Firm" is the name of the confrontation between the two great Scottish football clubs from Glasgow - Celtic and Rangers. This is the oldest derby in the world, with a very bloody history of more than a century, which attracts more viewers than the circulation of the most popular newspapers in Scotland. Here all the intrigue is tied to religious and political contradictions. Celtic is supported by immigrants from Ireland and Catholics who advocate the independence of Scotland. Rangers is considered to be a Protestant club whose fans are for Scotland as part of the UK. For a long time, due to religious prejudice, only Protestants played for the Rangers, and they were kicked out of the club for any connection with Catholics, an example of this is Alex Ferguson, whom the club said goodbye to after he married a Catholic. On the day of Celtic's game against Rangers, the stadium and city streets are more like a war zone, with endless fights and confrontations. The support of the fans of their favorite teams to the stadiums from the first to the last minute is something incredible, which is accompanied by songs, flags and performances.
2. Boca Juniors - River Plate
The second most important derby in the world is the confrontation between Boca Juniors and River Plate from Buenos Aires. The whole of Argentina is watching the confrontation between the two greatest clubs in the country, where 40% of the country's population supports the former, and 32% of the country's population supports the latter. Most interestingly, both clubs appeared in the same area of Buenos Aires, until in 1923 the club presidents decided that two ambitious teams could not get along in the same area, the losing side moved to River Plate. Boca Juniors is considered to be the people's team, while the more affluent segments of the population support River Plate. During Boca Juniors' game against River Plate, all life in the country comes to a standstill for 90 minutes. But the most important thing happens at the stadium, where the fans are constantly chasing their favorites forward, creating just incredible noise support, and the stadium starts, shaking, like during an earthquake, when people start to jump in sync. Also between the fans there is an absentee duel on the size of the flags hung out during the match, and the most offensive nickname of the opponent. And of course, all this is accompanied by fights both during the game and before and after.
1. Fenerbahce - Galatasaray
The craziest, bloodiest and greatest derby in the world is the Istanbul derby, where on the banks of the Bosphorus Asia vs. Europe will meet in single combat, represented by the two most famous Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. The first is based in the Asian part of the city, traditionally supported by poor people from working-class neighborhoods, and the second in the European part, supported by richer people with pro-European views. Hot Turkish fans, who are among the top three most reckless fans in Europe, are waging an all-out war, both in the stadium and on the city streets. Almost every Fenerbahce-Galatasaray game is accompanied by massive brawls with a bunch of injuries, if not fires, then a bunch of torn seats in the fan sector, and the madness that is happening at the stadium, invariably accompanied by a fire show and a colorful show, is simply impossible to put into words.
Spartak vs. Zenit, Dynamo Kyiv vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester United vs. Liverpool... we all know and love the fundamental derby, and there are a lot of such confrontations in the world. Let's remember the toughest and most important of them.
Tottenham vs Arsenal
There are a huge number of football clubs in the English capital, but there is no opposition more fundamental than this North London derby. Wherever teams play, skirmishes, screams and a little destruction are to be expected.
Inter vs Milan
It's logical to expect dislike between clubs in the same city, but what about clubs that not only play in the same stadium, but were once the same club? Milan gave rise to Inter, but there is no love between the clubs.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
The confrontation of one city is not original. In the case of the legendary El Clasico, there is not only a derby between the best clubs in Spain (and the world), but also two fundamentally different cities. Madrid - the capital - embodies traditional Spanish culture, and Barcelona - Catalonia, which has long wanted to secede from Spain.
Rangers vs Celtic
Perhaps the most important derby in the UK, despite the deplorable state of the two clubs, the so-called "old firm" remains the main football event in Scotland. Here the reasons for the derby are completely different - religion. Rangers fans are traditionally Protestant, while Celtic were usually supported by Catholics.
Kiev "Dynamo" against Donetsk "Shakhtar"
Whatever state you are in Ukrainian football, this confrontation between the east and the center will remain the hottest in the country. IN last years Shakhtar turned out to be stronger due to cash investments, but in the new economic realities, the scales were shaken.
Boca Juniors vs River Plate
Fans in Argentina have always been very passionate, and the derby between Boca Juniors and River Plate, the strongest teams in the country, gained its integrity after the very first professional match in 1931, when the River Plate players left the field, protesting against the unfair penalty from Boca Juniors, and missed the victory.
Vasco da Gama vs Flamengo
The words "Brazil" and "football" are almost synonymous, and in this football country there is no confrontation hotter than the game between Vasco da Gama and Flamengo. These meetings are played on legendary stadium"Maracana", and every year the tension and rigidity only grow.
Everything is simple here: two clubs from the same city, two principal opponents. For a long time, Manchester United was the strongest in the city, as fans liked to remind: Old Trafford even had a counter of years that had passed since the last City trophy hung. Everything changed with the purchase of City by the sheikhs, who made the team a real grand. Now the derby has become much more intense than before.
It's rare that a club is involved in two or more principled confrontations, but that's exactly what happened to Manchester United, which really dislikes neighboring Liverpool, meetings with which are always accompanied by a confrontation between fans - usually peaceful.
Germany
Germany's most famous opposition right now is Bayern against Borussia. Recently, the fact that these are two the best clubs in the country.
Another derby of Bayern against 1860 München should also be noted, although the teams are too different and the derby is little known.
Benfica vs Sporting
Portugal's top clubs Benfica and Sporting CP are all based in Lisbon, which couldn't have been reason enough for a bitter feud. From the very beginning and to this day, this is the most fundamental confrontation in the country.
Ajax vs Rotterdam
It is worth noting here that the concept of "derby" is often misunderstood. Derby is not always a game between the strongest teams fighting for the same goal. Derby is a historical confrontation, where the principle originated decades ago, but was not forgotten by the fans. So, we all know how Ajax in Holland fights against PSV or Feyenoord, but it is Rottendam that is considered the main enemy of the team.
The essence of sport is competition. To one day become the best, an athlete needs to overcome a lot. Pain and fatigue from endless workouts. Injuries that sometimes cancel out months of hard training.
If an athlete manages to do this (and has some luck), he becomes great. But between a great athlete and a big win, there is often someone who wants to win just as much and deserves a triumph no less. This is how great rivalries are born, and they are what make the sport the way we love it.
Below are the most striking sports confrontations of different years.
The confrontation between the Argentinean and the Portuguese is the most interesting thing in modern football. Messi and Ronaldo's rivalry is exacerbated by their club affiliations, with Cristiano playing for Real Madrid and Leo playing for Barcelona. The struggle of these teams has long gone beyond football, so Real Madrid and Barça (and especially their fans) can be called real enemies.
Messi and Ronaldo, of course, are not enemies, but it would never occur to anyone to consider them friends. For the past six years, they have shared the Golden Ball, the prize for the best football player in the world. Now the score is 4:2 in favor of Messi, but at the end of 2013 Ronaldo received the trophy. At the presentation of the Golden Ball, Cristiano burst into tears, and these were tears of joy of a personal victory over Leo.
At the club level, both Messi and Ronaldo have won everything they can. But their confrontation is not only victories in the Champions League or the championship of Spain, Golden Balls and scorer records. Messi is a modest guy and a positive hero, Ronaldo is a person who should always be in the spotlight and does not hesitate to behave provocatively. Someone will say that in many ways these roles are imposed by the press. But if so, then the great football players have perfectly entered the image.
Alexander Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby
The rivalry of these hockey players has been going on for almost ten years and will not end until one of them finishes playing. Crosby struck the first blow in 2005 when Team Canada knocked out Russia 6-1 in the World Youth Championship final. Then the confrontation between Alex and Sid was transferred to the NHL sites.
The debut for both was the 2005/2006 season. Ovechkin and Crosby were the first picks in the 2004 and 2005 drafts, and their fight for the title best newcomer The NHL has become a real decoration of the season. Alexander won by a clear advantage. In subsequent years, the confrontation between the Russian and the Canadian faded a little, then again came to the fore, but when Ovechkin's Washington plays Crosby's Pittsburgh, everyone is waiting for something out of the ordinary. And they often wait.
In disputes on the topic “Who is better: Crosby or Ovechkin?” fans of Sydney have one ironclad argument. The Canadian has played for his national team at two Olympics and won two gold medals. Moreover, he won both in his homeland (in Vancouver in 2010) and in the homeland of his main rival (in Sochi in 2014). Ovechkin hasn't won anything at three Olympics yet. He can present only three gold medals of less status in the hockey tournament hierarchy of world championships.
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier
If you say that most boxing fans consider Muhammad Ali to be the best boxer of all time, this is hardly a mistake. If you say that Joe Frazier was Ali's toughest and most principled rival, it will be one hundred percent true. They had three fights with each other, each of which turned out to be outstanding in its own way.
In 1970, Ali returned to the ring after three and a half years of inactivity (he was disqualified for refusing to join the army when the US fought in Vietnam) and very soon won the right to fight the world champion. That champion was Frazier, and he became the first boxer to defeat Ali. IN last round Joe sent the opponent to the floor with a terrible left hook, but Ali got up and, showing unparalleled courage, reached the final gong. But he lost on points.
In 1974, Ali won on points, and the decisive battle took place in 1975 in the capital of the Philippines and was called "The Thrilla in Manila". Rivals ironed each other for 14 rounds. In the end, the hematoma completely covered Fraser's left eye and almost completely - right. In the 15th round, Joe did not come out. He did more than was humanly possible. As did Ali.
Alexei Yagudin vs. Evgeni Plushenko
Duel Yagudin with Plushenko - the main thing that happened in figure skating at the end of the past - the beginning of the present centuries. Their decisive battle took place in 2002 at the Salt Lake City Olympics. Eugene fell into short program and failed to avoid mistakes in the free program. Alexey completed the programs "Winter" and "The Man in the Iron Mask" in such a way that they are sometimes called reference even today. And became Olympic champion.
Due to an injury, Yagudin ended his career in 2003, and for Plushenko, as it became clear years later, everything was just beginning then. In 2006, he became the Olympic champion of Turin, then left the sport to return shortly before the 2010 Games. In Vancouver, he won silver, losing just a little bit to American Evan Lysacek. And those who believe that Plushenko won are no less than those who agree with the decision of the judges.
Second big comeback Eugene took place at the home Olympics 2014. In Sochi, he became a three-time Olympic champion, winning gold in the team tournament. Plushenko withdrew from the individual competition due to injury. During the Olympics, it became clear that the skater is still worried about the defeat from Yagudin in 2002, and Alexei is haunted by Plushenko's further successes. Athletes and their entourage through the media and social networks exchanged mutual injections for a long time, so at some point it crossed all reasonable limits. And did not decorate any of the participants in the discussion.
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal
Federer and Nadal first met on the court in March 2004. Roger was already the first racket of the planet, and Rafa was a 17-year-old Spaniard who was just making his way to the top. Nadal unexpectedly won, setting off a confrontation that is deservedly called one of the greatest in the history of tennis.
A lot of beautiful matches were played, but the Wimbledon final in 2008 is considered the best of them. It became a record in duration (4 hours 48 minutes) and ended at dusk. Nadal won in five sets, ending Federer's five-year reign at Wimbledon.
Now the career of the Swiss is slowly going down, and the Serb Novak Djokovic has become the main rival of the Spaniard in the fight for the title of the first racket of the world. However, we will probably still see several matches Federer - Nadal. And these games are one of those that should not be missed.
Shaquille O'Neal vs Kobe Bryant
These outstanding basketball players played together for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004. They led this team to the NBA title three times in a row (2000-2002). The conflict between Kobe and Shaq began back in the championship years, but while the Lakers were winning, they managed to smooth out the contradictions.
Everything changed when the wins went away, and the last straw was the 2004 playoff finals, in which the Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons. O'Neal was blamed for the loss, and after several rash statements, it became clear that either he or Bryant would leave the team. Shaq had to leave, and a few days after breaking up with him, the club signed a new contract with Kobe for seven years and $ 136 million.
Shaquille was in the Miami Heat, and the first meeting of this team with the Lakers was expected like Christmas. The match took place on Christmas - December 25, 2004. On last seconds regular time Bryant could bring his team victory, but missed. Miami won in overtime.
Later, Kobe and Shaq sought big victories without each other. In 2006, O'Neal became an NBA champion with Miami, and Bryant made Lakers fans happy in 2009 and 2010. And only those who remember how Shaq scored from the top after Kobe's passes, miss the times when these guys played together a little.
Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield
The confrontation between Tyson and Holyfield is, if not the most famous, then certainly the most scandalous in history professional boxing. Even regular visitors to ballets and philharmonics know that one bit off the other's ear. Some even know who exactly bit.
The Tyson-Holyfield fight was supposed to take place back in the early 1990s, but fell through on the most different reasons. The last time this happened was because of a prison sentence Iron Mike received for a rape he may not have committed. In November 1996, they finally met in the ring. The organizers called the fight so - “Finally” (“Finally”). Holyfield was considered a hopeless outsider, but by the middle of the fight it became clear that Tyson was in a hopeless position. In the 11th round, the referee stopped the beating, announcing Evander's victory by technical knockout.
The rematch took place in June 2007. After losing the first two rounds, Tyson began the third with an attack in which he put all his power and rage. Having achieved nothing serious, in one of the clinches he bit off a piece of his opponent's right ear. Now it seems wild, but the fight was not stopped, and soon Tyson got a taste of Holyfield's left ear. Either Mike liked it less than the right one, or Evander was on the alert, but the left ear got off lightly: only teeth marks remained on it.
The fight was not stopped this time either, for which referee Mills Lane (he is familiar to many from the Star Fights to Death that once went on MTV) should still be ashamed. Reason won only after the end of the third round. The fight was stopped, Tyson was disqualified, Holyfield remained the world champion. A bitten off piece of ear was sewn on to him. In 2009, Evander forgave Mike for live Oprah Winfrey, and now former rivals almost considered friends.
Michael Schumacher vs Mika Hakkinen
Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 career has been so long and so successful that the list of great drivers he has beaten can be long. Especially fundamental was his confrontation with Mika Hakkinen. Finn was one of the few who was not afraid to fight wheel-to-wheel with Schumacher and often won such duels. Hakkinen's two championship titles, won in a direct fight with Michael, speak volumes.
Rivalry on the track did not prevent the pilots from treating each other with the deepest respect. When Schumacher fell into a coma last year after falling on ski slope, Häkkinen wrote: "You have to fight like we both did on the track." In June, Michael came out of a coma.
Jose Mourinho vs Josep Guardiola
In sports, there are fundamental confrontations not only between players, but also between coaches. An excellent example is the rivalry between the Portuguese José Mourinho and the Spaniard Josep Guardiola. Once they were at the same time: Pep with the captain's armband led Barcelona to the field, and Jose helped the team's mentor Bobby Robson. Both went on to become outstanding coaches, worked with great teams and often came face to face.
In 2010, Mourinho's Inter stopped Guardiola's seemingly invincible Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. In the summer of the same year, the Portuguese headed Real Madrid, and his confrontation with the Spaniard went to new level. There was everything in this fight: scandalous press conferences, mutual accusations, disqualifications and, of course, cool football of super teams.
But everything comes to an end. Mourinho left Real Madrid for Chelsea, Guardiola left Barcelona for Bayern. As coaches of these teams, they have met each other only once so far. In 2013, Bayern defeated Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup match. Since then, the Portuguese and the Spaniard had no reason for enmity. But in the future they will certainly appear.
Pele vs Diego Maradona
It is generally accepted that there are two kings in football - the Brazilian Pele and the Argentinean Diego Maradona. They played at different times and on the field, of course, did not intersect. However, in their mutual accusations there is always as much anger and bile as only Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi had. Sometimes it seems that one stole a woman from another, or even two.
In 2000, FIFA tried to name the only king of football, organizing a poll of fans on its website. Maradona won with a tangible margin, but the explanation for this is very simple. Many of those who remember how Diego played are confident PC and Internet users. And almost everyone who remembers Pele's game either never used the Internet or did not live to see it.
In general, the FIFA leadership was not satisfied with the results of the survey, after which a special commission was convened, which recognized best football player Pele. So both kings are still sitting on the throne, and the struggle for power between them continues.
In world football, there are a large number of derbies. This article lists the seven greatest club football rivalries.
Many of these derbies go far beyond football field. The fans just hate the players from the opposing teams. Sometimes a victory over a principal rival means even more than another championship.
7. Intercontinental Derby
Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are the most successful teams Turkey, and when they meet in the Kitalar arası Derbi (Intercontinental Derby), the fans of both teams are very hostile.
Teams from at least one city, but represent different parts of it. Fenerbahce represents the Asian, and Galatasaray the European.
Two clubs were formed in the first decade of the last century. Less than 30 years after their inception, the meeting between the teams has taken on a tinge of violence between fans and players.
It is Galatasaray and Fenerbahce that perfectly symbolize the two parts of Istanbul.
6. Eternal City Derby
The Italian Derby Della Capitale between Roma and Lazio is one of the most famous in Europe.
Other teams have been ruling the roost in Italy lately, but the match between clubs in Rome is always one of the highlights of Serie A.
This derby graced the final of the Coppa Italia last year, then the victory was celebrated by Lazio. But Roma started the season well and is among the leaders of Serie A.
5. English confrontation
The most successful teams in England, both domestically and in Europe, are really not the same. In fact, to be honest, the people of Manchester and Liverpool just don't like each other.
The two cities have a long mutual history, but it has not been without difficulties. They are only 35 miles apart. In the 19th century, after another crisis, these two cities had very close contact.
Today, both clubs have a large number of trophies, and the first duel between them took place back in 1894, which makes the North West derby one of the oldest in history.
Liverpool have not been among the contenders for the title lately, but their fight against Manchester United is always important.
4. Pyramids and pepper spray
Perhaps not the most famous derby on the planet, but the match between Alt Ahly and Zamalek deserves respect.
This derby goes far beyond the fan base. It is part of football match, part political preference, part history and generally a good excuse for the locals to throw stones at each other.
This match often takes place not at the stadiums of the teams, but at the main arena of the country, Nasr City, which can accommodate 100,000 spectators.
Lately, supporters of the two clubs, who are usually sworn enemies, have put their differences aside and joined forces to oppose the rule of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
3. Superclassic
The duel between sworn enemies “Bocoy Juniors” and “River Plate” is the main derby not only in Argentina, but throughout America.
Since the beginning of the first derby, which took place in 1913, the teams in full-time confrontation have played very brightly. From the very beginning, Boca supported the working class, and River supported the wealthy from the north of Buenos Aires.
Despite good football in this derby, far too often the action on the pitch has been overshadowed by the violence off it.
2. Gone but not forgotten
The Old Firm Derby has yet to please fans as Rangers have been relegated due to the financial situation, while Celtic have no problem heading towards the title.
Scotland's two strongest teams divide Glasgow into ideology, culture and, perhaps most importantly, religion. Fans of Celtic and Rangers on these issues have a different point of view. Therefore, clashes between fans happen very often.
Interestingly, the name of this derby comes from ancient times, but there is no exact interpretation of it.
1. El Clasico
While the rest of the derbies on this list may be disputed by some of you, El Clasico is the undisputed #1.
It's a fight between Spain's two biggest clubs, the La Liga giants, and two clubs that could realistically claim to be the most strong team peace.
In recent seasons, it is Barcelona and Real Madrid who have been up for the league crown in their own country, so the game between the teams matters more than ever before.
The presence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is another big factor in this matchup. El Clasico rightfully deserves the top spot on this list.
Bonus
Many people call the match between Shakhtar and Dynamo the main Ukrainian derby, but the derby between Metalist and Dnipro is not inferior to them in terms of intensity of passions and integrity of the match.
Fans of both teams hate each other. You can remember the year 1991, in which three teams: Pakhtakor, Metalist and Metallurg from Zaporozhye fought for survival. Dnepr hosted Pamir and Pakhtakor in the last two rounds at home, and at least a draw in one of the matches left Metalist in the elite, but Dnepropetrovsk lost twice.
Perhaps it was with this that the confrontation between the two clubs began, or maybe even earlier. However, this duel has been the main derby of Ukraine in recent times due to the intensity of passions and anticipation of the fans of both teams. Perhaps it is these teams that will play for a ticket to the Champions League or even the championship in the spring.
Football matches between the national teams of England and Argentina have long gone beyond the purely football confrontations. So where did it start and why is this irreconcilable rivalry so maintained?
Football confrontation between Argentina and England
England 3-1 Argentina
- Year: 1962.
The first official match of these teams took place at the world championship in Chile in the second round of the group stage. In the first match, the Argentines beat the Bulgarians 1:0, while the British lost to the Hungarian team 1:3.
But in the face-to-face confrontation (by the way, the Soviet referee Nikolai Latyshev judged that meeting), the England team turned out to be stronger - 3:2. In the third round, both teams played goalless draws, and in the final standings, the British became the second, ahead of the Argentina national team in terms of the best difference between goals scored and conceded.
England 1-0 Argentina
- Year: 1966.
- Match status: World Cup quarter-finals.
But this match started scandals. In the 35th minute, West German referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent off Argentina captain Antonio Rattin for allegedly swearing at him. Why supposedly? Yes, because after the match it turned out that the German did not understand the Spanish language in which Rattin addressed him.
Further more. The Argentinean refuses to leave the fields and is expelled with the help of the police, and leaving, Rattin defiantly wipes his hands on the corner flag - and this is the flag of Britain! The stands are already indignant here. In the 78th minute, the hosts put the squeeze on the bloodless opponent, and Geoffrey Hurst, the future hero of the final match, scored a goal. Moreover, according to the players of the Argentina national team, the goal was scored from offside.
It all ended with the ban of the British coach Alf Ramsey on the exchange of T-shirts with the Argentine "animals" (as he put it at the post-match conference), and a mass brawl of football players. And in Argentina, this match is still called nothing more than "theft of the century."
Argentina 2-1 England
- Year: 1986.
- Match Status: World Quarterfinal.
In 1982, the Falkland Islands war broke out between England and Argentina, and four years later these teams met on the football field.
And at the very beginning of the second half, England remained with ten men - they fouled in the center of the field against David Beckham, who, lying down, slightly hooked Simeone with his foot. The acting talents of the Argentine were enough to convince the Dane Kim Milton Nielsen to get a red card out of his pocket.
The result - the defeat of England in the penalty shootout.
England 1-0 Argentina
- Year: 2002.
- Match status: group stage world championship.
Four years later, the British personally managed to take revenge - in the second round match, the England team won, and Beckham scored the only goal from the penalty spot.
Revenge turned out to be all the more sweet because Argentina in the end could not leave the group.
This match was the last official meeting of these teams to date. If only they met again, no one would be bored.
