Six International Team-Mates Who Fell Out in Style – From Vinicius Jr vs Raphinha to Shocking Dressing Room Feuds
Following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, teammates on the Selecao, got into a violent argument, which may make Carlo Ancelotti’s role as a peacemaker in the upcoming Brazil international camp problematic.
After being replaced halfway through the second half of Los Blancos’ Clasico triumph, Vinicius became enraged at Xabi Alonso, demonstrating his obvious emotional state.
When the final whistle blew and play began between the two sets of players, he reappeared after storming down the tunnel.
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A fierce club rivalry has before threatened to overflow and cause problems for the national team setup. We’ve looked more closely at six pairs of international teammates that had a falling out.
Pay attention and check the list carefully, some of these pairs might surprise you. As always, we bring you verified football stories here on WanderlustSport.
6) Sergio Ramos vs Gerard Pique
Country: Spain
Given that the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona was at its most venomous during the Pep Guardiola vs. Jose Mourinho era, it is a little miracle that Spain came together to form an all-conquering force.
The rivalry between Pique and Ramos is one of the more blatantly evident instances of needle involving players on either side of the El Clasico divide.
It didn’t take a Ph.D. in psychology to realise that there was animosity between them, even if they managed to put their differences aside long enough to form a strong defence unit.
“It does have an impact when Gerard Pique attacks Real Madrid, our club, our crest, and our colours,” Ramos stated in 2017.
“While these things can be avoided and should not be done, Piqué occasionally needs to stir things up and add some extra commotion to his life when everything is quiet and peaceful.”
5) Karim Benzema vs Mathieu Valbuena
Country: France
Valbuena once spoke about the old controversy that involved him and Karim Benzema, saying, “I’ve never seen anyone who, out of affection for me, would ruin a video for no reason.”
The incident later turned into a major legal case in France, and a court in Versailles found Benzema guilty of taking part in a blackmail attempt against his national teammate.
Because of the issue, the former Real Madrid striker was kept out of the French squad for several years, missing both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, before eventually making his comeback for Euro 2021.
4) Wayne Bridge vs John Terry
Country: England
It’s a kind of worldwide one. The reported affair between Terry and Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-partner of his former Chelsea teammate, gave the media a field day.
By then, Bridge had relocated to Manchester City, where he famously declined to shake Terry’s hand.
Fabio Capello removed Terry from his position as England captain, although Terry kept getting called up. Bridge’s final 36 Three Lions caps were earned prior to the scandal.
3) Robin van Persie vs Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
County: Netherland
A healthy rivalry that pushes both sides to improve might be beneficial when there is some competition for a spot on the squad.
With Van Persie and Huntelaar, who had a barely concealed contempt for one another during their time as Netherlands internationals, that didn’t seem to be the case. Dutch football great Ruud Gullit clarified, “They have been at odds since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.”
At Euro 2012, things was simmering, and then it all blew apart. The issues are still very much present. “Huntelaar was mouthing off against Kazakhstan once more, and his previous altercation with Van Persie immediately came up again.”
Huntelaar’s outburst at Van Persie for not passing to him during that Kazakhstan qualifier was the tipping point.
The Oranje did not qualify for Euro 2016. Pulling in the same direction is a lesson learnt there.
2) Andy Cole vs Teddy Sheringham
Country: England
These two, who were renowned for being important members of Manchester United’s historic 1998–1999 treble, shared a changing room for years at their day job, just like Bridge and Terry.
However, England duty is the source of their alleged enduring hostility for one another.
Cole recalled being blanked by Sheringham after being substituted on in a friendly match against Uruguay in 1995.
He told The Daily Telegraph, “I didn’t want to play the game after that.” “I felt so ashamed of myself.
1) John Terry vs Rio Ferdinand
Country: England
He’s back. Once more, a somewhat bleak one. Given that Terry and Ferdinand were the two most iconic centre halves of their time and had trophy-filled peaks at the two most dominating teams in the nation at the time, it is not impossible to see them winning tournaments together.
Despite the fact that Terry was fined and banned for racially assaulting Ferdinand’s younger brother Anton, they never lined up with each other again.
In his 2014 autobiography, Ferdinand stated, “John Terry will always be the biggest unwise in my opinion.”
“He could have saved everyone a great deal of suffering by immediately acknowledging that he was not racist and that he had used the words in the heat of the moment as England captain and my centre-back partner.”
That, in my opinion, is the most likely scenario and the reality. Instead, he never gave Anton and I the opportunity to accept that. John and I have never really discussed the case.
“Even after three years, I still can’t forgive or forget the suffering he caused my family, even though I don’t speak to him anymore.”
Terry and Ferdinand, like so many of the “big six” competitors during England’s alleged golden age, were never close, but when it came to England duty, they put their club loyalty aside.
In reference to his friendship with Terry prior to the racist event, he continued, “We weren’t best mates, but we were football buddies.”
But because of his ignorance, he did nothing but sit there and watch my brother go through all of that. The treachery was that. He made an attempt to flee his actions.
