5 of the best international rivalries

#2 Germany-Holland

The Dutch-German rivalry has been ongoing for decades

One of the poster rivalries of Europe, between Oranje and Die Mannschaft, stems from the oldest reason in the books: war. The Dutch have loathed the Germans for the occupation of their land during the second World War. With the anti-war sentiment as a heavy backdrop to 1974 WC Final, (then) West Germany triumphed over a heavily-favoured, Johan Cryuff-captained Dutch side, sparking off an aggressive and often ill-contested rivalry.

(Video Courtesy: KINGofSOCCERhistory YouTube Channel)

The two would go on to be matched up in several high-profile international fixtures down the years. Oranje would finally find respite from their earlier WC humiliation by knocking Germany out of the tournament at the 1988 Euros semi-finals, which they would go on to win.

Always full of controversies and below-the-belt banter from both sides, the most famous incident of this matchup is probably during the 1990 WC. In their round of 16 matchup, Frank Rijkaard famously spat in Rudi Voller’s hair, resulting in both of them being sent off. Germany would have the last laugh, though, as they would go on to knock out the Dutch and eventually be crowned world champions.

Though the rivalry has taken on a more healthy outlook in the recent years, the ferocity and ‘spit’efulness between the two remains as fresh as ever. The two have met each other 40 times with the Germans leading with 15 wins to the Dutch’s 10. Their last competitive meeting saw Die Mannschaft defeat the Dutch at the Euros 2012 Group Stages, with the latter bowing out of the tournament