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Football rivalries to look forward to this weekend

Starting from today (Thursday) to Sunday there are a lot of international football rivalry football games taking place.

Soccer is bustling with rivalries. Teams, fans and players hating the others. Some are local derbies, some are rivalries produced out of long-lasting success, some are simply because the teams don’t like each other. They have developed over years and years of competition, great games, stunning victories and horrific losses.

The most notable international football rivalry is the Argentina-Brazil and the U.K rivalry between England and Scotland is also worth looking at. In Africa Ghana in recent times have a fierce football rivalry against Egypt in international football and also the Nigeria-Algeria rivalry has also been remarkable

Argentina-Brazil rivalry

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10th November, 2016

Brazil vs Argentina (23:45)

The Argentina–Brazil rivalry is a highly competitive sports rivalry that exists between the national football teams of the two countries, as well as their respective sets of fans. Games between the two teams, even those that are only friendly matches, are often marked by notable and sometimes controversial incidents. This rivalry is also called the "Battle of the South Americans." FIFA have described it as the "essence of football rivalry."

Argentina and Brazil first met in a 1914 friendly in Buenos Aires. Argentina won the first encounter 3-0 and, since then, the countries' head-to-head record has remained very close. At present, Brazil have a 39-37 wins lead with 26 draws in FIFA-recognised matches but the goal tally is dead level at 159 apiece.

Various matches that, at the time were billed as Argentina vs. Brazil or Brazil vs. Argentina, are now not recognised by FIFA due to disagreements over whether one or both teams truly sent a team representing their football association to the game. When those that counted as official by both countries' football associations are added to the FIFA-recognised ones, Argentina have a 41-40 lead -- with 26 draws -- and lead 175-167 on goals scored.

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The highest level of the rivalry

1990 World Cup (The holy Water Scandal)

This is the height of the rivalry between these two South American giants. Argentina were seeking revenge for the 1982 FIFA World Cup defeat against Brazil in a game Diego Maradona was sent off. Maradona was the skipper of Argentina and his incisive pass to Claudio Canigga settled the score on the day. Controversy which is hardly absence in this fixture emerged once again when Brazil defender Bravo accused Argentina training staff of giving him a bottle of water laced with tranquillizers while they were tending to an injured player. Years later, Maradona corroborated on Argentine TV the post-game claim of Branco that the Brazil defender was given a water bottle laced with tranquiliser at half-time.

The comparison between Pele and Maradona

These two iconic players are rated as the greatest of their generations and they usually draw several comparisons, despite featuring in two different generations and two different leagues.

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Pele who was the face of Brazilian football-won three FIFA World Cups is rated by a section of the football loving fans as the greatest player of all time, while Maradona who captained Argentina and single handedly won the 1996 FIFA World Cup for the Argentines is also rated by a section of the football loving fans as the finest the world has ever seen. This debate generates much tension between these two rival football nations. Recently the comparison between Lionel Messi (Argentina) and his Barcelona teammate Neymar (Brazil) has also intensified the rivalry.

England-Scotland rivalry

Saturday 11th November, 2016

FIFA World Cup Qualifier

England vs Scotland (19:45)

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This is the oldest international football rivalry in the world, which dates back to 1872 when England took on Scotland in a goalless draw game in Glasgow. The political tension between these two Briton clubs has led to much rivalry between them.

Scottish nationalism has also been a factor in the Scots' desire to defeat England above all other rivals, with Scottish sports journalists traditionally referring to the English as the "Auld Enemy".

Memorable games that intensified their rivalry.

1928

Scotland enjoyed a field day as they humiliated England 5-1 at Wembley. This game is always refreshing in the memories of the Scots.

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1961

England hammered Scotland 9-3 in what stands as the worst defeat suffered by the scots in this fixture. It is infamous and Frank Haffey, the goalkeeper who conceded against England in the game emigrated to Australia partly due to the game.

1977

Scotland edged England 1-2 at Wembley and after the game Scottish fans invaded the pitch, ripping up large sections of it and tearing down the goalposts. This incident contributed towards the growing awareness of football hooliganism in the United Kingdom.

1996 European Championship

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England, the host of the championship were drawn in the same group with rivals, Scotland and England made good work of the Scots with a 2-0 victory in the fixture.

Nigeria vs Algeria rivalry

Saturday 12th November, 2016

FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Nigeria vs Algeria

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The genesis of the rivalry between the West African powerhouse and the North African giants was in 1980 when Nigeria who were the hosts of the of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) dismantled Algeria 3-0 in the grand finale.

Ten years later Algeria avenged that defeat, as they humiliated Nigeria 5-1 in the opening game of the 1990 AFCON on home soil and also secured a slim 1-0 win in the final to earn a double over the Super Eagles.

Nigeria would deny Algeria a place in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in USA: They handed the Desert Foxes 4-1 defeat in Lagos and held them to a 1-1 draw in Algiers.

Egypt and Ghana rivalry

Sunday 13th November, 2016

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FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Egypt vs Ghana

The Pharaohs and the Black Stars have been facing off since the 1950's, but there wasn't much intension in this fixture, until recently.

Ghana lost the final of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by a goal to nil in Angola. Three years later Egypt were bent on qualifying for their first FIFA World Cup since 1990 when they were paired against Ghana in the play-off of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The Black Stars demolished Egypt by 6-1 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, which still stands as their worst defeat in FIFA World Cup organised competitions, making the second leg a mere formality. Ghana lost 1-2 in Cairo in the return leg, but it was too late for the Egyptians to produce the unimaginable.

Ghana have been drawn again in the same group with Egypt in E group of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and also in group D of the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.

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Ghana are traveling to Egypt on 13th November and what is on the lips of the Egyptians is revenge for their 1-6 defeat in Ghana three years ago.

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