Rugby has the Bledisloe Cup. Cricket has the Ashes. League has the State of Origin. And football has the Manchester Derby. Or the El Clasico. Or the Merseyside Derby. Or the Superclasico. Or the Birmingham Derby.
Rivalries are what makes sport great.
There is nothing like two sets of fans watching their teams play and having that little bit of extra feeling being played out on the pitch.
Even the infant A-League is starting to sustain some rivalries.
For the first few years it has been the Sydney v Melbourne clash, but with the introduction of multiple teams in one city, I won’t be surprised if the Melbourne derby or Sydney derby becomes a must see match in the future.
But as I have been watching the Socceroos Asian Cup campaign I’ve noticed that we seem to lack a great footballing rival at the national level. As we are still developing as a footballing nation this may not be surprising, but I thought it might be time to run through the potential candidates.
England
During my travels in South Africa, I think I saw the Australia v England match from 2003 when we won 3:1 about four times. So many great memories; Kewell’s goal; Rooney’s first senior international cap; Bresciano with hair. There are very few sports where Australia v England doesn’t generate some level of excitement.
The problem with having England as our great rival is that we will hardly ever play them. It’s been over seven years since the win at Upton Park and, to be honest, apart from the odd friendly or meeting them at a World Cup, it’s going to be a few more years before we see the re-match.
It’s hard to sustain a rivalry between two countries that may only meet a couple of times in a generation.
New Zealand
The last time Australia and New Zealand played each other was just before the World Cup. At the time I thought New Zealand weren’t the best opposition for Australia to play as part of their World Cup preparation, but I think the calls from the media and the marketing department won out.
Sure the game was played with feeling, but it felt as if that feeling had been transplanted across from sports like league and union. The Anzac spirit wasn’t the best fit for football.
New Zealand are our neighbours, but they play in Oceania, and despite some recent strong showings internationally, I don’t think they are at Australia’s level.
A great rivalry shouldn’t be a one sided affair. The current head to head record is: Played 60, Wins: Australia 36, New Zealand 13, Draws 11. Football in New Zealand is improving, but it’s the same in Australia so the disparity is likely to remain.
Other Countries
In this group are a number of potential candidates. Croatia because of the 2006 World Cup. Holland because of our history with Guus and Pim. Uruguay because of our heartbreak in 2001 and theirs in 2005.
The problem with these candidates, just like England, is that we are unlikely to play them regularly enough and despite football fans having long memories, it is a serious impediment which will stifle the growth of a rivalry. In my mind a rivalry is a relationship that continues to bubble away all the time and reaches a boiling point fairly regularly.
An Asian Country
Australia’s World Cup bid made it clear that Australia views itself as part of Asia (even if some countries don’t see it that way). We qualified through Asia for the World Cup in South Africa. We are making our second appearance in the Asian Cup. Our domestic champions take part in the Asian Champions League.
Our qualifying campaigns mean that Australia is likely to come up against the same Asian countries fairly regularly.
Immediately a country like Iran comes to mind with the pain of 1997 sitting at the centre of the rivalry, but for me this relationship is too one sided in terms of the feelings. Australian fans might still feel the pain, but I doubt it resonates as strongly for the Iranian fans.
There’s no point having a rival if they don’t know about it.
After the recent match, Iraq is another candidate, but I’m going to reserve my judgement on this one as unfortunately the political situation in the country often overflows into the football world and I believe that stability is an often undervalued factor in a footballing rivalry.
Instead I’m going to nominate Japan as the leading candidate.
They come from Asia, so we will play them frequently enough.
They have been one of the dominant teams from Asia and are definitely at Australia’s level.
Japan was top dog in Asia. It has a strong domestic league and competitive national team. The come from behind victory by Australia at Germany 2006 is probably still a painful memory for them and Australian fans will still have memories about them eliminating us at the Asian Cup last time round.
If, as the ad says, Australians thrive under a rising sun, maybe the land of the rising sun should be our rival.
I’ll throw this one out to fellow members of the Roar crowd: Who would you like to see become our great footballing rival?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Ok, it's pretty obvious to me now ... it's simply, NIPPON.
Soccerfreak
Guest
I desagree. Japan, South Africa and England can also be rivals. There is no need to have only one, and Australia has a histpry of rivalry against these countries too. I doubt there would appear anyone else in short term. The games against Uruguay were funny and all, but that doesn't make it a rival...
FUTEBOL
Guest
NEW ZEALAND! It cannot be other... And one-sided affair is not a problem. Just ask Bostonians and New Yorkers about the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. Rivalry is about both sides wanting to win over each other, always and repeatedly.
Walt
Guest
Could we play the Uzbekistanis once or twice a year?!
Roarchild
Roar Guru
I heard from a Japanese supporter that the reason they like the rivalry with Australia is that it’s about football (I don’t think the Whaling and WW2 are big issues amongst football fans) whereas playing Japan and China the off field stuff overshadows the football to an extent. Watching Korea host Japan the Koreans still pull out banners referencing Japanese occupation and the Chinese even booed the Japanese under 15 girls side! There not really healthy or fun rivalries.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
I'd say Japan. On the footballing side of the coin, there have been a couple of points in the past where both sides will feel dirty about their opponent/or themselves (Japan eliminating Australia at last Asian Cup. Australia beating Japan at WC06, plus a couple of incidences during a match etc). Along with what's mentioned in the article, - We could play each other somewhat regularly as both are part of the AFC (including knockout matches). On the other-side the coin, Australian and Japan have a little history with in regards to World War II, and even as recently as the whaling issues. If there was any country that fits the bill as a rivalry, I'd say Japan would be Australia's. I also think Japan would class Australia as a rivalry, but not ahead of the likes of China and Korea Republic.
AA
Guest
I like the Japanese, and agree that the rivalry is a healthy one with them. I was at Australia vs Japan in Germany in 2006 and they would have to be the friendliest fans I have met.
Twatter
Guest
Please dont take this the wrong way , the Bledisloe is a great sporting tradition, The Ashes, the State of Origin also. But the world is our derby how many other sports in Australia play nations like Iran ,U.S.A, Germany , Nigeria, Venezuela,North Korea to name a few. If you notice non footballing journalist's they scream for an ashes style series with England at football, one of only a handful of nations that they can associate themselves with. The World is Our Derby.
Hooplah
Guest
Uruguay, Iran, England, Japan and South Korea. In soccer you just do not seem to play enough regular serious matches. It will be probably Japan and South Korea within a decade.
Simon Stevens
Guest
No way New Zealand. What a waste of space for a 'rivalry'. Uruguay, Iran or England for me. Even Qatar we have a rivalry with.
Scott Adams
Guest
All the club games you mention thrive on forms of ethnic, class and religious rivalry which your beloved 'made for TV' A League is trying to pretend doesn't exist via the good offices of the ffa! National rivalry is almost entirely based on gepgraphy and, given the non-manufatured intensity of the NZ - Australia game before the world cup I'g have thought that was Australia's best chance of fostering a meaningful rivalry.
dasilva
Guest
In any case, I doubt Iran vs Australia is a one sided rivalry That match is part of Iran football folklore and is considered one of their best victories. That match is our Uruguay 2005 for them. It's not exactly like Iran and the Western World are in great terms either. I mean we are probably known rightly or wrongly as a mini America internationally and they may be determine to beat us for that reason. It's as much as one sided rivalry as Australia and Japan. I'm quite Japan are still smarting from the Germany defeat but I doubt Australia are really that determine to beat Japan for reasons other than wanting to be the best team in Asia.
Pass that sushi
Guest
As a Japanese living in Aus, Japan becoming Australis's rival would be very interesting - I don't know which team to cheer! It would be a good rivalry because; 1) we have a bit of fighting history before 2) unlike rugby, the levels are on par 3) good for TV because the time difference is not much (only 1-2 hours) I am not a huge soccer fan but if regular match between Japan and Australia is happening, I would love to watch the game in live action.
Roarchild
Roar Guru
Agree, I think a lot of them remain dormant because we don't play them every year. But no matter when we next play a lot the names above there is going to be some feeling. They will not be "just another game".
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
the Matildas
Midfielder
Guest
I think you can have more than one... Japan & South Koera for me... Uruguay in a WC match... Iran in a WC match... Poms any match
Lorna
Roar Rookie
If we had rivalries it would just be from past games that ended badly on Australia's part. I would agree with Uruguay because all the World Cup qualifiers and the 1997 game with Iran was really heart breaking and for those who watched it can never really forget it. Italy just because what happened in 2006 World Cup.
peeeko
Roar Guru
unlike you to try and stick the boot into other codes. its a shame that in Australia that we have to go to AFL/rugby games and have fans not separated by riot police. the lack of crowd violence is a real put off. there is no rivalry in state of origin games. American sports like gridiron,basetball and baseball have no significant rivalries either?
tommy_doleman
Roar Pro
What about a rivalry with Qatar Fussball ;) Definitely a lot of bad smell about the political issues that came out of that world cup bid! Agree with Roarchild, can imagine that contest will have a bit of an edge on it next time and I too, will never be sick of seeing us beat them! Otherwise I agree with you, the Socceroo's don't really have a rivalry at the moment that can be sustained.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I don't think "rivalry" and "enemy" are the same, though they at times are. The rivalry with Japan has to do with being top dog, not a matter of fans hating each other, rather the opposite.