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After seeing the highlights of the England-Germany soccer match and the ensuing chaos on the streets, I realised that the Anglo-Teutonic relationship must be one of the biggest international rivalries. Even though English soccer fans create mayhem where ever they go, they seem to reserve a special status for the Germans. Why is this?
I suspect that WW2 has something to do with this, but are there any other reasons?

In New Zealand, we are always trying to beat the Australians (although they beat the All Blacks on the weekend!).

What are the other great rivalries, and why do they occur?

The Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers. Anybody who watches american football will understand why.

college football rivalries:
army/navy
university of texas vs. Texas A&M
alabama vs auburn

If we are talking about football fan rivalry then unfortunately the English have a lot to be embarrassed about - why were we suspended from European games for so long?

There IS a rivalry between the English and German football fans...we had never beaten Germany away...they knocked us out of the quarter finals of the last world cup...I could go on...I wish this was the only reason

There are other international football rivalries, Holland/Belgium are a classic. Again their reasons would be more deep-seated than previous game results...

For 'The Beautiful Game' to be marred so violently is tragic...

@Yanlee: I love the all blacks, to me, from a non rugby playing country, that's rugby in it's highest form! Also, when I watched the world cup, I liked they did the haka before the matches.

Greatest rivalry in Sweden: Ice hockey, Finland. Sweden-Finland hockey games always arouse more fighting and general aggression, I think from both sides (at least from the Swedish side).

Oregon State and The University of Oregon, that's about as bad as it gets.

It seems like many rivalries are caused by 2 similar groups trying to prove that they are superior eg army/navy, interstate rivalries, even NZ and Australia.

@CE-- you are right about the haka. It is very awe-inspiring, and an important part of the nation. Unfortunately, the All Blacks haven't been quite as dominant in the last couple of years, but they are still the team to beat!

Also on the haka, one of the Maori Battalions in Gallipoli performed the haka before assaulting a ridge. That would have been an amazing sight.

It seems like many classic rivalries has do both with historical events and with similarity and geographic proximity.

In Sweden, it's very important to beat Norway and Finland in sports, but if there's no Swedish paricipants, then everybody cheers for the Norse and Fins.

@Yanlee: It must have an amazing sight, as you say When I was in NZ some years ago, I unfortunately missed an opportunity to go to a Haka festival in Rotorua, because I had to leave town. Normally, I never visit events constructed for tourists, but this was not aimed for tourists only, and it was actually a local who recommended me to go, she and her family were going themselves.

As with most cultures, there is a big difference between the tourist version and the real version, and you are right to avoid the contrived events. Rotorua is particularly bad because it is a tourist city. Almost everything there is marketed toward the tourists and accordingly becomes unnatural. But to be fair, it is difficult for tourists to experience these kinds of things except in the tourist performances.

When I wish to learn more about a culture, I always try to go where the locals are, and make friends with people, rather than looking for events where culture is exhibited. I've found this to be a much better way of learning, but it's much more time consuming of course.

Btw, I liked Wellington.

Originally posted by C Elegans:
<STRONG>It seems like many classic rivalries has do both with historical events and with similarity and geographic proximity.

In Sweden, it's very important to beat Norway and Finland in sports, but if there's no Swedish paricipants, then everybody cheers for the Norse and Fins.
<snip>
</STRONG>

Some time ago, it was Denmark and Sweden in football. Now I don't think there is much ricvalry between us anymore - it is thoese pesky norweigens now .
In handball here in Denmark it is against the Norweigen.

Otherwise our fans have good reputation around the world, where the danish "roligans" are (the opposite word in danish of the "hooligans"(sp?))

Originally posted by Xandax:
<STRONG>Some time ago, it was Denmark and Sweden in football. Now I don't think there is much ricvalry between us anymore - it is thoese pesky norweigens now .</STRONG>

You're right Xan, I see no special rivarly between Sweden and Denmark, which is strange, since we are neighbours. Hm...wonder why that is?

Originally posted by C Elegans:
<STRONG>You're right Xan, I see no special rivarly between Sweden and Denmark, which is strange, since we are neighbours. Hm...wonder why that is?</STRONG>

Because Norway has entered the scene

Originally posted by Xandax:
<STRONG>Because Norway has entered the scene </STRONG>

Must be why

Greatest Rivalry: Vehemence vs Flagg

Ah that was fun And I still say my pickup lines are better

Originally posted by Vehemence:
<STRONG>Greatest Rivalry: Vehemence vs Flagg

Ah that was fun And I still say my pickup lines are better </STRONG>

LOL but who won in the end?

Originally posted by Georgi:
<STRONG>LOL but who won in the end? </STRONG>

Well that could be debated, but any blind man could see that I came out on top

Florida State/ Florida. New York Mets/ New York Yankees.

One of the biggest rivalries where I am locally is Reading and Millwall. That is grizly. Another one is Liverpool & Everton, Man United and Man City. While the violence is turned down it is still quite bad. Other ones are Army and Navy in the Great Britain (who do I support?!? My dad was Army and Grandad was Navy!). Also other ones are (or was) the Royal Tournament. Portsmouth and two others which I forgot (I was Pompey)

Oggy oggy oggy, oi! oi! oi!

Eagles vs Cowboys.

You can hear the boos directed at the Cowboys from anywhere in Philly.

*Unknown, but the most brutal I've ever seen*:
Philly Phantoms vs Hershey Bears (American Hockey League).

The Bears used to be the Flyer's minor team, the Phantoms now are. The first game they ever played, and every game since, has involved at least 2 fights. Now that's a rivalry.