Top 5 International Football Rivalries Of All Time

Sporting disputes between nations are as old as the existence of organized sports. Some of the top 5 international football rivalries are simply manifestations of pre-existing inter-country conflicts. A bit of historic bad blood between adds a bit of welcome spice to what would be bland football games. 

When national pride is inflated by the prospect of trouncing a perennial foe, referees can get busy. While we watch football for the fancy dribbles and blockbuster goals, we all love a full-blooded tackle or two. Even the innocuous rivalry limited to good-natured gloating can prove highly entertaining. Here are the top 5 international football rivalries.

Germany – Netherlands

This rivalry goes back to the Second World War, making it at least 80 years old. The final of the 1974 World Cup, which the Netherlands lost despite having a stronger team, proved to be the climax of this long-standing feud. Broken Dutch hearts didn’t start healing until 14 years later, when the Oranje boys returned the favor. They won the Euro ‘88 in West Germany. An obscene gesture by Ronald Koeman using a German player’s jersey rubbed salt into German wounds. 

With time, the level of animosity has dwindled but it still bubbles to the surface, especially during tournaments. When they met at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Dutch fans attempted to shout down the German national anthem. German spectators retaliated in the same fashion. The passion from the stands was replicated on the field, with players committing whatever acts of violence they could get away with. Frank Rijkaard and Rudi Völler were sent off for some hair-pulling drama.

Argentina-Brazil 

These two South American nations share a 200-year history, which hasn’t always been harmonious. As you would expect with two countries as passionate and as successful in football as Brazil and Argentina, there has been a long-standing rivalry. Games between these two football giants back in the day, when officiating wasn’t too rigorous, were awash with sinister tackles. Fleet-footed as he was, Diego Maradona was on the receiving end of some agricultural defending from overzealous Brazilians. 

Such violent encounters have been commonplace since these South American neighbors officially started playing against each other in 1914. It reached a point where Brazil-Argentina matches were suspended for 12 good years. It’s not all about physical clashes, though. Accomplishments add extra spice to this international rivalry. Brazil has won the World Cup two more times than Argentina. But the Argentinians can take pride in winning almost twice as many Copa America titles. This is one of the top 5 international football rivalries.

Ghana-Nigeria Is One Of the Top 5 International Football Rivalries

The two West African nations have been football powerhouses for decades. Whenever the World Cup comes around, Ghana and Nigeria are invariably among Africa’s representatives. Despite their illustrious football histories and cultural similarities, these neighbors don’t always see eye-to-eye. Their rivalry may not be as violent as those in Europe or South America, but it does have its spicy moments.

During one of the early “Jollof” derbies, a qualifier for the 1960 Olympics, a Nigerian pundit claimed their rivals had hired a witch doctor. He claimed to have infiltrated the Ghanaian camp and found them sitting around a painted skull, deep in ritualistic chants.    

Rather than historical conflict, the Ghana-Nigeria rivalry is about good-humored gloating. You’ve won three African Cup of Nations, a Ghanaian will say. We’ve won four. We’ve been to the World Cup finals six times, a Nigerian will boast. But have you ever got to the quarter-finals, the Ghanaian will argue. This sort of discussion makes this matchup one of the top 5 international football rivalries. 

England-Scotland 

This is the oldest of the top 5 international football rivalries. It started just a few years after the rules of the game had been formalized by the English Football Association. The 1872 encounter was played on a patch of grass demarcated by the crowd of spectators. England and Scotland’s representatives on the field wore what were essentially pajamas onto which their respective nations’ emblems were sewn. 

That opening encounter was played in fairly good spirits, but that can’t be said of all their subsequent games. Though Scotland is the historical underdog, they have upset the Three Lions on several occasions. Not long after England won the 1966 World Cup, the Scots beat them 3-2 in their backyard. But the Lions slightly edge the head-to-head record and have more silverware to shout about. They have won the World Cup.  

Iran-Saudi Arabia 

These two Middle Eastern nations were fierce competitors long before football came into the picture. That makes it one of top 5 international football rivalries. Conflicts between the two nations, sometimes roping in neighboring countries, have been flaring up sporadically since the 70s. Political tensions between the nations have often spilled over into the football field. 

During the 2016 Asia Champions League, Iranian and Saudi clubs refused to play each other. This was an extension of the prevailing political hostilities between Tehran and Riyadh at the time. Performance-wise, there is little to choose between the two teams. Their head-to-head record is more or less even– five wins for Iran, 4 wins for Saudi Arabia and five draws.

Final Thoughts

While we consider these the top 5 international rivalries, there are other inter-country disputes worth mentioning. The USA and Mexico encounters have become increasingly tense affairs as the sport has developed in the States. Ever since Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal, England has held a grudge against Argentina. The Iberian derby, which pits Portugal against Spain, is another well-documented rivalry.