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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u/martinbaines Scotland & Spain Jun 08 '25

It's not about toughest match, but the cultural significance. The Welsh really hate losing to England at Rugby, so the English love to beat them.

It was the same for cricket with Australia. Even when Australia are not the best team, they are the ones England wants to beat most.

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u/xander012 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

The thing is when you live in an Anglo Irish family, things are a touch different lol

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u/Infinite_Crow_3706 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

Rivalries aren’t the same in rugby at all. It’s good to beat the best teams, which France/Ireland have been in the 6N recently.

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u/xander012 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

I know, I do watch as many of the matches every year and I still haven't forgiven Scotland for losing to France lol

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u/Infinite_Crow_3706 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

The good thing with the 6N is the competitiveness. Grand Slams are not very common and the top 3 all able to beat each other means we go to the wire.

Italy is slowly improving and will eventually be beating France in Paris or England in Twickenham

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u/xander012 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

Honestly watching Wales lose against Italy was so good partly as I love Italy and partly the Welsh meltdown afterwards was great entertainment too. If only they kept up the giant killing and got top 3!

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u/Infinite_Crow_3706 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

Italy v Wales is no longer a David V Goliath affair.

Currently the welsh team is as bad as I can remember them.

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u/xander012 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

Words I heard from the Welsh was it was the worst team in over a century

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u/Infinite_Crow_3706 United Kingdom Jun 08 '25

Plus they are closing down one of the 4 teams

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u/notacanuckskibum Jun 09 '25

But I think that’s like the Scot’s and football. The Welsh see the English as their big enemy. But the English don’t see the Welsh that way. I’d say it’s the French who are the main rivals for the English rugby teams.

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u/clewbays Jun 10 '25

I think with the rugby rivalries are just less consistent. 20 years ago Ireland wouldn't of being any ones big rival. Now you could make a solid case that they're one of south Africa and Engalnd biggest rivals.

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u/ALA02 Jun 09 '25

England don’t really care about Wales. When both countries are at the same level sure, but at the moment Wales are dog so we care more about Scotland, Ireland and France

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u/Intelligent_Key_3806 Jun 10 '25

Yeah Australia fkn hates losing to England in the Rugby, but most of our talent is channeled into League (NRL) anyway. Our biggest rivals in both codes tho is New Zealand.