Biggest Rivalry in Football

[Starfish]

Internationally its got to be Germany v Poland, they despise each other.

I always thought The Netherlands were the biggest rivals for Germany? (though that may just be the other way)

If the Germans could choose who to beat in the World Cup final, they would choose The Netherlands, or Italy. They have never beaten the Italians in competitive football (if memory serves). But Poland? The Poles hate the Germans (the Poles hate pretty much everyone - that's just my experience of three years living there) but the Germans certainly do not consider Poland to be a footballing rival. Absolutely not (that's just my experience of seven years here).

[Dirk Gently]

Internationally its got to be Germany v Poland, they despise each other.

I always thought The Netherlands were the biggest rivals for Germany? (though that may just be the other way)

If the Germans could choose who to beat in the World Cup final, they would choose The Netherlands, or Italy. They have never beaten the Italians in competitive football (if memory serves). But Poland? The Poles hate the Germans (the Poles hate pretty much everyone - that's just my experience of three years living there) but the Germans certainly do not consider Poland to be a footballing rival. Absolutely not (that's just my experience of seven years here).

True enough - not all football rivalries are reciprocated, in the same way that Reading hate Swindon but Swindon don't care about us, whilst Bournemouth hate Reading for some reason.

[weybridgewanderer]

another for the list ....

red star belgrade v partisan belgrade

But isn't Dinamo Zagreb vs Red Star the real nasty one?

It may have been in the past when it was all Yugoslavia

belgrade is now in Serbia
zagreb i snow in Croatia

So the no longer play in the same league

[LUX]

Internationally its got to be Germany v Poland, they despise each other.

I always thought The Netherlands were the biggest rivals for Germany? (though that may just be the other way)

If the Germans could choose who to beat in the World Cup final, they would choose The Netherlands, or Italy. They have never beaten the Italians in competitive football (if memory serves). But Poland? The Poles hate the Germans (the Poles hate pretty much everyone - that's just my experience of three years living there) but the Germans certainly do not consider Poland to be a footballing rival. Absolutely not (that's just my experience of seven years here).

I checked with my German colleagues who said that for them it's:

1. England
2. Holland
3. the rest

[LUX]

So who are England's "rivals"?

I'd say Germany for the real old timers, Argentina for the under 50's. Third place Scotland.

[Starfish]

I checked with my German colleagues who said that for them it's:

1. England
2. Holland
3. the rest

They were speaking to an English person, which might have aided their bias. I don't know any football fan (here in Bavaria) that would prefer to beat England 'in the World Cup final' than Italy or The Netherlands - that they will beat England 'when it matters' is a given.

[LUX]

whatever,

I was doing recruitment interviews today and it was the German day. One Junge had an anorak, rucksack, was a German accountant, wore white tennis socks, had a bumfluff moustache, said in his cv that his hobbies were camping and music (Guns n Roses, Scorpions and Phil Collins).

And under "personal qualities" he wrote "My friends always praise me for my sense of humour".

REJECTED

[Elliott]

How has no one mentioned Arsenal/Spurs!?!

That's gotta be pretty high up the list shirley??

[bassavage]

I would say the biggest derby in this country is Cardiff-Swansea

[Ginger Ninjas]

How has no one mentioned Arsenal/Spurs!?!

That's gotta be pretty high up the list shirley??

Wouldn't even put it in the top 5 in the UK, tbh.

[The whole year inn]

I would say the biggest derby in this country is Cardiff-Swansea

In Wales, I'd agree

[Jerry St Clair]

El Salvador v Honduras

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I cant believe no one's mentioned Woodley Saints / Woodley Hammers.

The scenes for the U12's match that Saturday Morning were sickening.

[Ark Royal]

I cant believe no one's mentioned Woodley Saints / Woodley Hammers.

The scenes for the U12's match that Saturday Morning were sickening.

Local rivals from back in the day: West Reading v Rabson Rovers. I remember a game getting close to 2,000 once.

[frimmers]

6.57 and scummers.

[FiNeRaIn]

What are we measuring this by? Some absolute woeful claims so far.

[Alan Partridge]

Chester v Wrexham is pwopa nawty. Waiting for Danny dyer to go around their 'manor' and rough it out with some 'geezers'.

[RoyalBird]

Add Lazio/Roma derby to that list. There's always a massive riot in Rome whenever the match occurs. Biggest is probably Boca Juniors vs River Plate.

[papereyes]

Lazio/Roma dates back to Mussolini.

Lazio were formed from several smaller clubs to create a Roman team for the people and draw their support from the supports whereas Roma were the team of the inner city. Lazio got the favours of the government in the 1930s and 1940s and had a stronger ultras element thereafter.

They're essentially the team of the fascists.

If you've ever watched the recent Titus Andronicus movie with Anthony Hopkins, two two factions at the start of the movie have the colour schemes - light blue and white and red and gold. Its a nice touch.

[leww_rfc]

I would say the biggest derby in this country is Cardiff-Swansea

Yep +1 , coming from a point of view of someone who lives inbetween the two cities, i'd say this one is most surely one of the biggest.