Saturday's Merseyside Derby has roots that make it a truly special contest. This version will be played across Stanley Park from Anfield at Everton's Goodison Park. As to why that is significant enough to mention read on. Neither team has really hit full stride at this stage but that will change come the weekend. Italy's biggest derby is also on the cards this weekend with league leading Inter Milan due to face off against an AC Milan side that is on the mend.
Ever wonder why there is often such zealous and intense rivalry between certain clubs in the world of soccer? Oh sure, fans here think few competitions fire up sports fans as much as American football's Giants v Eagles, Green Bay v Da'Bears or Dallas Cowboys versus anyone but none of them really quite measure up. Here we speak of rivalry but none really compare to a derby. Also, here a 'rivalry' is frequently based solely on past history in the sport itself while a derby often has its roots in much different, and for many, more meaningful ground.
A derby is not a special cup competition and does not in itself determine the winner of anything at all other than the honor of saying we defeated our arch rival. Fans of any American pro sports team can identify with that and the elation that goes along with it but few have any feel for why some games in the world of soccer become what is called a derby.
When certain teams face one another an entire country often becomes the fan base much like here when everyone chooses sides for the World Series or the Super Bowl whether they're fans of the game or not. Neutrals become fans at least for a day.
Still, the derby is much different and often has much more substantive roots than any of our rivalries with the possible exception of the Red Sox-Yankees. But then again, that isn't really a derby either. Today's fan would find it hard to believe that the real rivalry in American League baseball for decades was the A's and the Yankees, not the Red Sox.
Ok, so what is it that makes the derby the sort of match that can make or break a season when no "cup" or other substantive reward is on offer? In some cases the clubs may share a common heritage that is surprising to American sports fans and that often forms the very foundation for why it is so special.
In the world of soccer the roots of some of that intensity is frequently politics, often religion and even closer to home, the neighborhood and in some cases maybe even the family itself. How about some of these for stoking the fire? Some of the biggest derby's in England pit Arsenal v Tottenham (one of the London Derby's), Man United v Man City, Arsenal v Chelsea, Sunderland v Newcastle, Aston Villa v Birmingham (England's 2nd city's biggest derby) or perhaps the most intense (and closest) neighborhood war in England with a very surprising roots, Liverpool v Everton in the Merseyside Derby.
Here in soccer we have the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA sharing the Home Depot Center but does anyone here really care? By definition it certainly is a derby and one of those that truly fit the description of "neighborhood war." But here outside of Los Angeles County it is likely most would be fans don't even know that Chivas USA is a soccer team. Does it compare with two giants of the pro game such as AC Milan and Inter playing their home games at the same stadium? Frankly, it is a really bad joke to even ask that question, isn't it?
Inter, having won three straight titles set their goal for the season on success in Europe's Champions League, hence the investment in "the special one." AC Milan imports the man that was considered by many 'experts' as the world's best player, Ronaldinho, who will partner with his fellow Brazilian Kaka (a more recent world's best) to form the motor that will drive Milan back to the top. Now they've added another former world's best, Andriy Shevchenko making his return to the club after his unsuccessful run with Chelsea. AC Milan will frequently put no less than three players previously selected as the world's best on the pitch at the same time.
As if this one needed any additional motivation Inter has enjoyed the recent success in part because both AC Milan and Juventus (the Yankees of Italy's Serie A) were put in the penalty box for corrupt activities. Both Milan and Juve believe they have a score to settle in that regard with much of their base believing Inter's titles were tainted. Inter fans point to their team's dominance on the pitch (correctly too) as the real basis for their recent success.
Rational fans might make a good case for the first one but the truth is Milan finished so far down the table and much farther behind on points than the penalty they suffered to give their argument much bite. Inter won their titles on the pitch and two of them in spectacular fashion too. In fact, their excellence has elevated the quality of Serie A overall as the rest of the league struggles to catch up. Roma has been the biggest challenger to Inter in recent campaigns, not AC Milan (or Juve for that matter).
There will be no bigger derby in the world of soccer this season then when Inter face AC Milan. Calling them "crosstown rivals" doesn't do the game justice, not by a long shot.
Have you ever wondered what it is that drives the intense rivalry between Everton and Liverpool or what the world has come to know as the Merseyside Derby? The root of it all is likely to be a surprise to many.
It goes like this; Everton came first. In fact, Liverpool football club was spawned by a change of ground by Everton FC who had played for seven years at (if you can imagine this) Anfield! I'm not making this up.
Everton FC was formed in 1878 and played their home games at Anfield for seven years and moved to Goodison Park leaving an empty Anfield behind in 1891. A new club was organized in 1892 with the name Everton Athletic but the hierarchy in English football at the time would not allow that name to be used because Everton FC already existed, hence it became Liverpool FC. No kidding! In this way Everton gave birth to Liverpool and the rest is, as they say, history.
Plus, get this: you take the train to the game? The stop is the same for Goodison Park or Anfield; Kirkdale. Actually the short walk to either Goodison or Anfield is essentially the same distance from the train station. Going to the game at Anfield by car? You turn right one major intersection after you pass the turn to head to Goodison. Really. You say you're at Anfield, but the match you came to see is at Goodison? No problem, just take a short stroll through Stanley Park, around Stanley Park Lake to the front door of Goodison Park? Folks, when they say "neighborhood war" this is what they're talking about.
What about Manchester United and Manchester City? Not hard to get the feel for that one is it? The Citizens, whose trophy case is bare compared to the Red Devils from across town. This year there is an added dimension to this confrontation; Mark Hughes, the man many say could replace Sir Alex at United when he retires is now the manager at City. Plus, the new owners of City have announced to the world their desire to make City a dominant world power in club football, a direct challenge to the club that most consider the 'holder' of that status from across town. And oh yeah, did I mention that Hughes is also a former United player and student of Sir Alex?
So how about Rome's Roma v Lazio? Some say huh? Oh, few are more intense or heart felt than this one. The Pope versus Mussolini get your blood up? Few derby's have deeper felt roots than this one.
All that aside, among the world's biggest derbys is Argentina's River Plate versus Boca, or what is known around the world of soccer as The Classico. Soccer aside, part of the rivalry here is good old class warfare with the millionaires of River Plate against the working class of Boca. Some of the world's best ever players have faced one another in this one. Others grew up in one club only to face that club in The Classico wearing the other shirt (Maradona and Batistuta are two of them that had that experience at least once).
Yes, for many fans of soccer around the world there is much more to it whenever certain teams face one another. A derby really is more than just a rivalry. One reason for that intensity and dedication is the length of the season and unlike our version of pro sports the regular season games actually count. Imagine that!
In Europe the soccer campaign starts in August just before American football really gets started on its regular season. The soccer season doesn't end until 4 months after our Super Bowl determines the champion of American football. By that time sports fans here are well into baseball or the close of the NBA, the craze of the NCAA's Final Four and the Super Bowl winner has become a hazy memory for many.
Meanwhile, the pro soccer season is just approaching its climax and there is no such thing as the 8th placed team getting a shot at the title in the craziness that we call "the playoffs." The playoffs tend to make the regular season games essentially meaningless and no small part of why our hyped up "rivalries" are in no way a derby.
There is no such thing in the world of soccer which is another reason the significance of any and all games, especially a derby, are so important to a club's campaign. It is not only a derby, the result really counts too.
The very concept seems foreign to fans of American pro sports. Imagine, every game really counts for more than just trying to earn a spot in the playoffs. Excellence on the field of play throughout the long season is rewarded for the accomplishment it represents and no 4th placed team can steal that away in a trumped up playoff or what has become known as "the second season."
Imagine that: the regular season games actually count and none count more than a derby.
