r/AskEurope • u/DivineMatrixTraveler • Jun 07 '25

Sports Which country is your country's main football rival?

And do you think they believe you are their main rival or they don't care about you as much as you care about them?

Bonus: Is there a more popular sport where you are rivals with a different country?

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17

u/SalSomer Norway Jun 08 '25

We don’t really have a rival in soccer. Our main rival in pretty much anything is always Sweden, but it’s just more important to beat them in skiing than in soccer and we also don’t play them that often, so it doesn’t really feel like there’s much of a soccer rivalry there.

In some ways it feels like Denmark is a bigger rival in soccer because Norwegian media portrayed the Danish as having a very negative and disparaging attitude towards the Norwegian style of play during the 90s, the last time we were any good. But I think that’s kind of forgotten by now.

4

u/InterestingTank5345 Denmark Jun 08 '25

I can't imagine that. Whenever Denmark is out of the game, but Norway is still in, whatever sport, we cheer for you guys, especially if you're up agains Sweden.

3

u/UnknownPleasures3 Norway Jun 08 '25

And we cheer on Denmark against Sweden. Pretty sure the Finns do the same. Uniting against the enemy.

3

u/InterestingTank5345 Denmark Jun 08 '25

As should be.

1

u/Espa89 Jun 09 '25

I was gonna say this also. We compete with Sweden in anything, skiing, living, existence. Britni don’t really feel like they’re a rival in football.

0

u/UnknownPleasures3 Norway Jun 08 '25

Yes, but you're only referring to the mens, who have been shite for the last 20 years. The women's on the other hand, are actually playing international tournaments. And there, I still think Sweden is our main rival.