Politics and sport sees lines so often blurred, where one spills over into the realm of the other.
Whilst many see games such as football as 'just a game' the pride of nations are at stake as old hatreds and dormant old world issues come to the fore again.
When Spain matches up against Portugal in their World Cup round of 16 encounter the two sides are playing for far more than a place in the quarter finals.
With the bragging rights of the Iberian Peninsula at stake, this rivalry runs much deeper than the sport itself, and means much more than a World Cup to many of its fans.
Geography pits these two nations as obvious rivals. Separated midway through the 12th century when Portugal claimed independence, the two nations competed to conquer the world through the ages of discovery and split up the majority of the Americas. Where Portugal discovered Brazil, Argentina was Spanish and so it continued with differing ideas throughout history as Portugal constantly tried to evolve from 'little brother' status.
And so it continues into the sporting arena as many compared in centuries past Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus they do so now with Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres.
Fans would have hoped that this match up would have waited until later rounds with Spain ranked as world number two and the Portuguese right behind them they look set to continue a rivalry that flows much deeper than what happens on the field.
With Portugal winning the most recent competitive encounter 1-0 knocking Spain out of the 2004 European Championships it is all up to Spain now to right the wrongs of six years ago, and bragging rights for years to come.
For Portugal victory would be just the proof they need to step out of the Spanish shadow.
The 'Football War'
History gives us many examples of rivalries that spill over from the playing field into the rest of daily life; no greater bloodshed has been seen as a result of sports than the 'Football War'.
Qualification for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico quickly melded with social issues when El Salvador took on Honduras. The Harsh living conditions of many on both sides of the border as well as a large migrant population of Salvadorans in Honduras was compiled with a Honduran win in the first leg of their qualification match.
In the second leg of the three match series there were reports of the Honduran anthem being 'insulted' and Honduran fans being roughed up by locals at the match.
Following the match Salvadorans began to flee Honduras after El Salvador won the match, and after a media 'beat up' and reports of violence against the immigrant communities of both countries El Salvador dissolved all ties with Honduras on the 26 of June 1969. The same day in Mexico City El Salvador defeated Honduras to advance to the World Cup.
Just under a month later the Salvadorian Air Force attacked areas of Honduras and the Salvadoran Army launched a rapid offensive. By the 20th of July there was a ceasefire with around 3000 people reportedly dead. While sport was not the direct cause it played a large role in the conflict. El Salvador went on to lose every match they played in the 1970 World Cup.
'Blood in the water' in Melbourne
The 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne played host to what later became known as the 'Blood in the water match'.
Played in a small pool on the other side of the world, the Hungarians played not for the sport, but for their nation that had just been shown the sharp end of what Soviet power could do.
As the players trained for the Olympics high in the hills above Budapest they saw smoke rising from the capital, they were witnessing a Soviet crackdown on the Hungarian Uprising.
Beginning as a student demonstration the revolt was crushed when Soviet forces marched into the central European nation forcing the players to flee to Czechoslovakia to avoid the conflict.
“I looked after Prokopov for the last few minutes, and I told him that he was a loser, and that his family were losers and so on... there was no problem until I made a huge error. I looked up to question why the referee had blown his whistle. I shouldn't have taken my eye off Prokopov. The next thing I saw, he had his full upper body out of the water and he was swinging at my head with an open arm.” Ervin Zador would later recall in an interview with the British newspaper The Independent.
The image of the Hungarian Zador leaving the water during the match with blood spilling from his face loomed large around the world after the match, but what went on in the pool was nothing short of vicious by both sides.
After a series of brawls and kicks it was obvious that there was little to do with Water Polo in this match. Zador would later state that tactics were not the only thing on the Hungarians mind.
"We felt we were playing not just for ourselves but for our whole country" said Zádor
While the result means little now, the Hungarian team went on to win gold.
India and Pakistan
Since the split of Pakistan and India in 1947 from British colonial rule tensions have been fierce between the two nations.
Combatants in war and disputing continually over the Kashmir region, these two nations play cricket at the highest of stakes.
Whilst rivalries between Australian and English cricket sides is often wrongly equated to 'war', tension between these two nations sees the majority of matches played in neutral arenas due to the fluctuating relationship.
More recently tours have been cancelled due to tensions following the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008 causing the 'Friendship Series' to be put on hold.
As Pakistan's security situation spirals out of control fewer teams are making the journey, and following the Sri Lankan national side being shot at by Pakistani insurgents, the situation is becoming increasingly dire for cricket in Pakistan.
Christmas on the Western front
While the line between sport and politics is so often blurred for the worst, there are rare moments when sport brings people together in bizarre circumstances.
Christmas Eve 1914 saw troops freezing in their trenches, weary from war and longing for Christmas at home. After the German and English troops sang with each other carols to remind them of home one of the more bizarre sporting events kicked off.
A German solider Kurt Zehmisch remembered the occasion which highlighted all that was good about sport in a torrid time for all involved.
The English brought a soccer ball from the trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued. How marvellously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.' Kurt Zehmisch retold about the occasion.
German troops and their English counterparts out of nowhere began a football match in 'No mans land' out of the misery of war sprouted sport.
"It wasn't a game as such, more a kick-around and a free-for-all. There could have been 50 on each side for all I know. I played because I really liked football. I don't know how long it lasted, probably half an hour." Bertie Felstead the last living English player in that match told the Economist in 2001 just before his death.
It was not repeated in the war and has not been since, for the record the Germans came out on top 3-2.
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