Argentina and Brazil football rivalry

The Argentina and Brazil football rivalry is a highly competitive sports rivalry that exists between the national football teams of the two countries, as well as their respective sets of fans. Games between the two teams, even those that are only friendly matches, are often marked by notable and sometimes controversial incidents. This Rivalry is also called 'The Battle of the South Americans'.

Origins

The origins of the football rivalry between Argentina and Brazil can be traced to before football became so popular in both countries. During the colonization of the Americas, Spain and Portugal often fought each other to gain control over vast territories.

Today few remember wars and other political confrontations between both countries, and only recall matches, victories, goals and other sport-related incidents. Their rivalry is found in almost all sports, but a men's football match between Argentina and Brazil is one that neither side wants to lose, and often acquires more importance than the championship within which it takes place. To exemplify the intensity of this rivalry, is enough to remember that after the 1946 incidents (see below), the two teams did not play against each other for ten years; either team would decline to play a given cup so that they would never have to play against the neighbouring country.

Games statistics

At club level, Argentine clubs show an important advantage over the Brazilians. Argentine clubs have won 21 Copas Libertadores against 13, and 9 Intercontinental Cups against 6. The second most important CONMEBOL championship, equivalent to the European UEFA Cup, is the Copa Sudamericana (after the merger of Copa Conmebol [ [http://www.edicionnacional.com/edicion/2005/8/18/articulo/7266 Diario On Line "Edición Nacional"] ] [ [http://pan.segundosfuera.com/copa_sudamericana/153540.html "Breve historia de la Copa Sudamericana"] ] [ [http://www.infofutbolonline.com/torneos/copa_conmebol.htm Información sobre la Copa Conmebol] ] [ [http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Futebol/Santos/0,,MUL210981-4404,00.html Globo Esporte] ] , Copa Mercosur and Copa Merconorte, which replace Supercopa Sudamericana) with a slight advantage for Argentina. Other minor events include the Recopa Sudamericana and the defunct Copa Interamericana.

In the international arena, the most successful Argentine clubs are Boca, Independiente, Estudiantes, River and Vélez. Brazilians include Corinthians, São Paulo, Inter, Palmeiras, Cruzeiro, Grêmio, Santos and Flamengo.

Women's football

The Brazil women's national football team is a successful women's football team, though not as successful as the men's counterpart. It was runner-up in the FIFA Women's World Cup of 2007, and a Silver Medal at the Olympic games in 2004. In comparison, Argentina does not have a professional (or even semi-professional) women's football league; the members of the Argentina women's national football team are all amateur players despite their clubs often being affiliated with prominent men's professional clubs. Although the two teams usually have to battle for the top qualification spots for CONMEBOL when the World Cup qualification comes around, this rivalry does not provide the passion that men's matches encounter yet.

Brazil won every game of the Sudamericano Femenino against Argentina until the 2006 edition, when Argentina finally beat them 2-0 in the final group stage, awarding Argentina the championship. Argentina did not participate in the 1991 South American competition and was second to Brazil in the following 3 tournaments. Beginning with the 2003 edition, both champion and runner-up qualified for the World Cup. As Argentina has not been past the group stages in the World Cup, the two teams have not met in the Olympic Football Tournament yet.

Football culture

Depicting the football rivalry between the two South American countries, Maradona filmed a television commercial in which he is wearing the Brazilian outfit, lined up with Brazilian stars Kaká and Ronaldo, singing the Brazilian national anthem before a match. He then wakes up from the "nightmare", where he can be seen wearing an Argentine national shirt in his bed, next to a bunch of empty cans of Guaraná Antarctica, a Brazilian soft drink. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/ricardo_setyon/05/02/maradona.brazil/index.html CNNSI - "Maradona wearing a Brazilian jersey? Say it ain't so!"] . Last retrieved June 5 2006]

References

External links

*pt icon [http://www.netvasco.com.br/mauroprais/futbr/braxarg.html Brazil vs. Argentina rivalry]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/brasargres.html Argentina vs. Brazil statistics] by RSSSF