The football event that is Scotland vs. England

Alexander Sabadash explains that there are some matches in soccer that are more than just matches, that for some fans, are even more significant that championship games. Every Barcelona versus Real Madrid match, every Manchester United versus Manchester City match, every Brazil versus Argentina match -- these are just examples of rivalries that people wait for and follow.

Image Source: theguardian.com

The fierce rivalry between Scotland and England also belongs to that prestigious list. Their match in the 2018 World Cup was more than just a World Cup match. It served as a reminder of how old and how enduring international football really is. In fact, Scotland and England were the first two teams that faced off in the very first international football match on Nov. 30, 1872. That was nearly 150 years ago.

On St. Andrew's Day, on a cricket ground in Scotland, the Scottish national team comprised of 11 players from the Queen's Park Club went up against England, which had nine players from different universities. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

Image Source: express.co.uk

Ever since then, England and Scotland had played in over 110 matches with England winning a few less than 10 more games than Scotland, with 25 draws. There have been immortal goals and unforgettable performances from dozens of English and Scottish players.

And this rivalry will continue, much to the delight of everyone in the global footballing community, Alexander Sabadash included.