World Cup frenemies: Teams that meet yet again
We are still excited about the World Cup draw, and we are more than eager to see great games ahead of us in summer 2018. There is a big deja-vu feeling with some of the national teams that have already crossed each other’s paths before, Argentina and Nigeria meeting for the fifth time in the World Cup making it the most played duet in the draw. Let's take a look at the groups.
Next year will feature some rivalries yet again, featuring Portugal playing against Iran. Previously the teams met in Germany in 2006, Portugal taking the lead. Portugal national team has also played against Morocco before, losing the game in 1986 World Cup and finishing at the bottom of the group. With the best player in the world — we all know whose name to insert here — leading their ranks, we will not be quick to predict such outcome repeating itself. Group B will also bring us some interesting football, with Spain and Portugal hitting it off against each other since the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Back then Spain made it to the quarter-final. We have quite a definite feeling this is the game many fans are looking forward the most.
There is a duo that has already played against one another in Group C as well — Denmark and France will meet for the third time in the group stage. Funnily enough, both teams will face each other in the last match of this group — just as they did two times before. So far they exchanged one win each.
When we come to Group D, we meet the two teams that really do have a history — Argentina and Nigeria. These two teams are going to face each other for the fifth time. So far Argentina has performed as an absolute leader if we look at the numbers, beating the Nigerians four times. But recent history shows us that Nigerian team can still prove everyone wrong, and their 4:2 win in a friendly match against Argentina is one proof. Is it only us or the football gods must really like these two nations teams playing against each other?
Although not reaching as many as four times in a row, Brazil and Costa Rica from Group E have met twice before at the World Cup. Switzerland and Brazil also played each other more than fifty years ago, making it a 2:2 result. We are expecting new results that will give us lots to talk about!
Moving to Group F means meeting many old rivals. Germany will face the Korea Republic again after their win on the Korean soil back in 2002. Germany has also met with Mexico before, their derby going back to 1986 and 1998. In this group, Sweden has lost to Germany all the way back in 1934 but when Swedes hosted the World Cup in 1958, they beat Mexico in the opening match and then Germany in the semi-finals. Their World Cup dream ended in the final when they lost it to Brazil.
England and Belgium in Group G had already brought football fans some memorable emotions along the way, the two playing their opening match in 1954. This game ended with a high score, each team sending four goals in one another’s direction. Both nations met once again in the year 1990, England securing the in for itself. Teams will face each other for the third time in Russia. England and Tunisia have also played against each other before, England securing a victory for the team in France in 1998. The last but not the least, Group H gives us some recent rivalries — Japan and Columbia meeting in Brazil in 2014. Japanese team lost their match the last time around but these two teams can set a new page in their common history. In this group, we also have a newcomer — Panama. Do you think this team will surprise us?
We look forward to the World Cup, willing to see great and memorable performances by the national teams. Where will your support lie next year?
