EURO countdown (2 days to go) – When football matches are more than just football

When you qualify for any big tournament – it's an accomplishment in itself. Once you get there, you want to do well and represent your country with pride as the world keeps watching closely. There are fixtures that seem bigger than the final itself - whether it's your neighbour, a team that inflicted a bad defeat on you, or a nation that you made war against.

Rivalries always give us something extra: a bit more intensity on the pitch, more fire in the belly of most players, more attention from the press and more reasons to keep watching. Here at Mozzart Sport Kenya, we take you through some of the biggest rivalries in the upcoming European Championship – those we're sure to see in the group stage and some that could potentially be seen in the knockout stages.

Group B: Finland v Russia

The Scandinavian country of Finland has a long history of being influenced by much bigger powers that surrounded them. Finns found themselves in the middle of a Russo-Sweden war around 300 years ago. Swedish crown tried to control them. The Russian Empire gave them a chance to develop their national identity and build their own state. However, Russian support quickly turned into a desire to rule the country. Russia had a strong influence in every aspect of life in Finland for over a century, but it all began to crumble when communists came into power in Russia in 1917. That was the right time for Finland to push for independence and claim its long-awaited sovereignty. In the past century, the relations have been mostly warm, but with Euro 2020 host city of St. Petersburg only 200 kilometres of Finnish-Russian border, the fixture will feel special for both teams.

Small but proud: The Finland national team (©AFP)

Group D: Croatia v England

These two nations met in the Euro 2004, in a game that really sparked this rivalry into life It was also the moment the world realised Wayne Rooney was a superstar. Future England legend Rooney scored a double as England won 4-2. Two years later, Croatia beat Steve McClaren's awful England team in a World Cup qualifying match in Zagreb. It was a night that goalkeeper Paul Robinson wishes he could remember. He let in two comical goals and allowed the Croats to celebrate a famous victory that would ensure England fans' flinches to the mention of the Balkan country in years to come. And then came Scott Carson. Another goalkeeper and another horror show for the Three Lions. Mladen Petric hit the winner in a 3-2 success at Wembley to well and truly turn Croatia into England's bogey team. England enjoyed two empathic wins in the 2010 World Cup qualifications, but Croatia landed the biggest blow yet. Luka Modric and his teammates beat England in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, booking a place in the final thanks to an extra-time strike from Mario Mandzukic. So we're in for another chapter of this tasty rivalry.

England's Dele Ali and Croatia's Ivan Rakitic in the 2018 World Cup semi-final (©AFP)

Group D: England v Scotland

Well, this might be the biggest one. This is the oldest international fixture in the world, first played in 1872 in Glasgow. Since then, the teams have played 114 matches. England has won 48, Scotland 41, and there have been 25 draws. Scottish nationalism has also been a factor in the Scots' desire to defeat England above all other rivals, with Scottish sports journalists traditionally referring to the English as the "Auld Enemy". This stems from a long history of living on the same island, under same crown, but with a distinct culture and intense nationalism. Even though the United Kingdom is (still) one country, their football rivalry with England is one of the Scots' main ways to show off their national identity. So meeting at such a big tournament is going to be extra emotional for the Tartan Army. England, meanwhile, don't see Scotland as one of their biggest rivals – mainly because the Scottish national team hasn't been very good lately.

Group F: France v Germany

This old rivalry stems from the old tensions between France and the German Empire after the capture of Paris by the Prussian Army in 1870. The facts that the two nations have been on opposing sides in quite a few big wars and they are also neighbours only add to the tensions. Not to mention that they are both very good and successful at football. It was inevitable that they become enemies on the pitch. These two teams are the last two to list the World Cup, which adds another layer to the match. It will always be a special occasion when there is a match with 22 star players on the pitch. Didier Deschamps and Joachim Low are both experienced coaches at the highest level. With ruling European champions Portugal also in Group F, you can expect every single match to be contested fiercely. Players like Paul Pogba, Toni Kroos, Antoine Griezmann and Kai Havertz are thriving on fixtures like this one.

Here we go again: Niklas Sule of Germany goes against France's Kylian Mbappe (©AFP)

Now, let us take a look at some of the matches that could potentially send football fans (and not only them) into a craze. Politics, wars, controversy and passion could take over as the Euro 2020 tournament approaches its final stages.

Ukraine v Russia

The two countries are at war over the region of Crimea that both nations claim rights. There is a lot of bad blood between two nations whose players used to play for the USSR national team in the past. Once, they were forcibly pushed into being compatriots, but they never were. The Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, and Russia and Ukraine, along with many other nations, went separate ways. A potential meeting of their football teams while the wounds are still fresh would ensure one of the nerviest football matches In the history of European championships.

Germany v Netherlands

The Germany–Netherlands football rivalry is one of the few longstanding football rivalries at a national level. In 1974 when the Dutch lost the World Cup to West Germany, the rivalry between the two nations was born. It's deeply rooted in Dutch anti-German sentiment due to the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. Whenever two clubs from these countries meet, there is violence and tension. And when national teams meet – it's a whole another level. There is genuine hatred between these.

Stay with MOZZART SPORT KENYA for all the exciting news regarding the tournament, sides, players, favourites, underdogs, fixtures... The countdown is ending soon! See you at the EURO 2020.