It was historic, but amidst renewed tensions and the recent launching of some unidentified projectiles toward the Sea of Japan (as well as a forthcoming "Hog Apocalypse"), it wasn’t exactly euphoric. For the first time since a 1990 friendly, the men’s teams of North and South Korea faced off in Pyongyang.
The long, grueling road of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup began back in June with the first round and continued today with the start of the second round of proceedings. A massive fixture went down this morning in Central Jakarta, pitting fierce rivals Indonesia against neighbors Malaysia.
Arsenal’s business in front, party in the back squad met Tottenham’s unsettled ensemble on Sunday, and a 2-2 finish to the North London derby only cemented those thoughts of self-hatred rather than illuminating a way forward for either club.
Everton fans hate Liverpool. They’re too flashy, they think they have a monopoly on bad singing and they just win too damn much.
The Merseyside Derby, unlike many of the world’s great soccer rivalries, is different because of the proximity of the two clubs — Anfield and Goodison Park are a literal stone’s throw from each other. This intimacy engenders deep resentment between the two clubs — Everton fans jealous of Liverpool’s money and success and Liverpool fans jealous of actually attracting fans from Liverpool instead of abroad.
Real Madrid fans are unique. As supporters of the most successful club in the history of Europe — if not the world — they look down on all others, especially that pesky club from Catalonia.
The only club that can really challenge Los Blancos’ superiority in Spain is, of course, Barcelona, so the rivalry is understandable intense. No other team brings out the best (or worst) in Real.
In Felipe’s case, it was the worst.
As part of MLS Rivalry Week, the Portland Timbers hosted the Seattle Sounders in not only an important match in terms of the playoff race, but the winner also took home the regional Cascadia Cup.
The Sounders put together one of their best performances of the season, winning 2-1. While the Timbers had bright moments, Seattle was dominant throughout the match. Jordan Morris, in particular, seemed unstoppable on the right wing, using Portland left back Zarek Valentin more as a training cone than an opposing player.
Barring a meeting in the 2019 MLS Playoffs — please let that happen — LAFC’s wait for a victory over El Tráfico rivals LA Galaxy will go into a third season. On Sunday night at Banc of California Stadium, the two clubs played to a frantic 3-3 draw after an early Zlatan Ibrahimović brace was answered by two from LAFC’s Latif Blessing. Cristian Pavón and Carlos Vela would also exchange goals.
It’s Rivalry Week in MLS once again, which means there are some pretty tasty matchups brewing this weekend, perhaps the last weekend that won’t be dominated by American football until next season.
Union Berlin made its Bundesliga debut on Sunday afternoon, and not even a 4-0 beatdown from rivals RB Leipzig could dampen the mood at the Alte Försterei in East Berlin.
El Clásico es un partido como ningún otro. La pasión, el amor y el odio entre los hinchas del Real Madrid y el Barcelona no tiene rival y los dos clubes definen el fútbol español.
Pero, ¿qué pasaría si un fan del Barcelona tuviera que decir algo bonito sobre el Real Madrid? ¿Podría hacerlo?
Esa fue la tarea asignada a Will para nuestra última edición de Rival Reviews con World Soccer Shop.
Will, un fanático blaugrana acérrimo, fue traído bajo el disfraz de revisar la última equipación del Barça (un top a cuadros que adoramos).