Ladies and Gentlemen,

The UEFA Euro 2024 and the Copa América 2024 are over! Congratulations to Spain and Argentina for a great tournament and the well-deserved title! As a huge football fan, I felt like I could not miss the opportunity and the hype to write another blog related to the two sports I love. But what to do this time?

My older readers will certainly remember the blog, which is one of my most popular to date, in which I created a football dream team with chess masters, picking the players for the starting XI and respective positions based on their most striking style of play. For those who don't know this text and want to have a look, just click on the image below:

I thought about making a second squad, but it sounded like more of the same, and the resulting team would obviously be weaker than the first one, so it wouldn't be as cool. When I was about to give up on the idea, I had a kind of insight and asked myself: "Why not, instead of players, compare games and matches of both sports?”. Well, maybe the concept is stupid, but let's agree that serious and professional texts are not exactly the trademark of my blogs, so I decided to give it a try.

That said, I have related which historical chess matches can be compared to an equally remarkable football match and have come to the conclusion that you are about to read. Please note that they are just randomly listed, in no order of preference or greatness. Check them out below:

[For a more dynamic reading, I have added comments only to the final moves of each chess game presented, but feel free to go back to the beginning and follow them from move 1 if you wish.]

Table Of Contents

1. Anand vs. Carlsen (2013 WCC Match) ≈ Brazil 1 - 7 Germany (2014 WC Semi-Final)

2. Kasparov vs. Karpov (1985 WCC Match) ≈ Argentina 3[4] - 3[2] France (2022 WC Final)

3. Alekhine vs. Capablanca (1927 WCC Match) ≈ Germany 3 - 2 Hungary (1954 WC Final)

4. Carlsen vs. Caruana (2018 WCC Match) ≈ Brazil 0[3] - 0[2] Italy (1994 WC Final)

5. Carlsen vs. Nepomniachtchi (2021 WCC Match) ≈ Spain 4 - 0 Italy (2012 UEFA Euro Final)

6. Inarkiev vs. Leitão (2013 FIDE World Cup) ≈ AC Milan 3[2] - 3[3] Liverpool F.C. (2005 UCL Final)

7. Karpov vs. Korchnoi (1978 WCC Match) ≈ Portugal 1 - 0 Netherlands (2006 WC Round of 16)

8. Fischer vs. Spassky (1972 WCC Match) ≈ Brazil 4 - 1 Italy (1970 WC Final)

‎ ‎‎ ‎  

Anand vs. Carlsen (2013 World Chess Championship Match)

≈

Brazil 1 - 7 Germany (2014 World Cup Semi-Final) 

You are playing at home, highly motivated in front of your fans. Although your opponent is the strongest in the world at the moment, while you may not be at your best anymore, you also know that your history in the sport is greater than his, confident that these two factors will balance things out and maybe even work in your favor, right?

Well, not always. Brazilian football fans and Indian chess enthusiasts learned this the hard way. Both had very similar heartbreaking feelings after seeing their idols convincingly beaten in their own country. Let us understand in more detail why I think these two matches are very comparable.

In the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, Germany ignored Brazil’s history and crushed them, leaving everyone in the stands of the Mineirão stadium stunned and in tears. It was by far the worst defeat in the history of the most successful football nation.

Analogously, one year earlier, during the 2013 World Championship Match in Chennai, India, Carlsen also had no pity for the highly respected Indian World Champion Viswanathan Anand. With a historic and almost perfect performance, the Norwegian didn't lose a single game and secured three solid victories, proving that he was, at that time, a superior player. 

It's an extremely difficult episode to deal with when you see your dream of becoming world champion at home slipping through your fingers, but when there's a steamroller on the other side, the only thing the Indians and Brazilians could do was admit defeat and applaud their opponents.

Below I show what is for me the most iconic game of this chess match, the one in which Carlsen secured his title. Anand's expression of resignation and disbelief is certainly a pain that Neymar and his teammates know well.

‎Honorable mentions: Portugal 0 - 1 Greece, 2004 UEFA Euro Final / France 0 - 1 Portugal, 2016 UEFA Euro Final / Brazil 1 - 2 Uruguay, 1950 World Cup Final.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Kasparov vs. Karpov (1985 World Chess Championship Match)

≈

Argentina 3[4] - 3[2] France (2022 World Cup Final)

What happens when the defending champion goes head-to-head with the man many consider the GOAT? One of the most epic clashes of all time, of course! This is the scenario that took place in 1985 and 2022, sending fans of both sports into a frenzy as they watched these duels of legends.

In the final match of the 2022 World Cup, France and their star Mbappé faced off against Argentina, led by perhaps the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi. What we saw on the pitch was a battle full of twists and emotions that went down to the wire. Similarly, Kasparov and Karpov played a classic match in 1985 that is still fondly remembered by everyone who watched the event live or on video.

Just like Kasparov, Messi and Argentina took the lead early on, making many believe that they could stay ahead until the end. However, Karpov and Mbappé came back into the game brilliantly, completely reversing the momentum and giving the impression that their victory was inevitable.

But giants do not fall easily. Messi scored in extra time! Kasparov recovered within the match to take the lead once again. Game over? Not yet! The most exciting fight in history still had plenty of drama left in it. Karpov won the 22nd game, Mbappé scored the equalizer in the 118th minute, so destiny was still undecided.

And the tensest moments are when the GOATs shine. While the spectators were biting their nails with nervousness, they kept their cool and were more efficient at the end. Kasparov won the 24th game and clinched the title! Messi scored his penalty and watched his teammate Montiel give Argentina the glory.

Check out the final game, which finally brought the World Championship to the man who already deserved it so much:

‎‎Honorable mention: Italy 4 - 3 Germany, 1970 World Cup Semi-Final.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Alekhine vs. Capablanca (1927 World Chess Championship Match)

≈

Germany 3 - 2 Hungary (1954 World Cup Final)

In every sport, there are moments when fans are sure that one team is much better and that the game is just a matter of protocol, so obvious is the outcome. Good examples are the USA basketball team in the 1992 Olympics, or Michael Schumacher driving for Ferrari in the early 2000s.

But does that mean they will always win and crush their opponents? Not necessarily. José Raúl Capablanca in 1927 and the Hungarian football team in 1954 are great examples that you can't win games in advance.

Hungary, a nearly invincible team that had played a perfect World Cup so far, faced Germany in the final, in a thrilling match known as "The Miracle of Bern". They had beaten the same Germans 8-3 in the group stage. Capablanca in 1927 was also considered unbeatable, and although everyone recognized Alekhine's talent, it was hard to believe that he could be a serious threat to the best.

But both learned the hard way that in sports, it can be extremely dangerous to relax and think you've already won. Hungary opened 2-0 in eight minutes. Capablanca may have lost the first game, but quickly won other two to take the early lead. Now we can all calm down because the job is done, right?

Unfortunately for them, Alekhine and Germany would not give up. They continued to believe in themselves, corrected their mistakes, and showed much more focus. In the end, both were able to turn things around and score unexpected victories. A shock to the world. No one in the room could believe their eyes when the Cuban champion was defeated. The spectators at the Wankdorf Stadium couldn't believe it either. 

Please check out the game that gave Alekhine the title:

Honorable mention: Germany 2 - 1 Netherlands, 1974 World Cup Final.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Carlsen vs. Caruana (2018 World Chess Championship Match)

≈

Brazil 0[3] - 0[2] Italy (1994 World Cup Final)

It is finally time for the big moment everyone has been waiting for. Surely this is going to be a thrilling event, worthy of being on the big stage, right? Well, this is not always the case. In football and chess, there are some matches full of excitement before they start that turn out to be rather boring.

In 1994, Brazil and Italy lined up for the final match of the World Cup in California, USA, to decide which nation would be the first four-time champion. In 2018, Magnus Carlsen vs. Fabiano Caruana was also a very promising match that every chess fan could not wait to watch, between the two best players of the generation.

But a high expectation does not necessarily mean a great game. I am not talking about the technical level, but the adrenaline. Brazil and Carlsen were undoubtedly the favorites to win, and even though both played better than their opponents, it was not enough to change the scoreboard.

After 12 games, the chess match had nothing better than 12 draws. Not so cool, is it? Still, perhaps cooler than the football final, which after 120 minutes of play under the infernal heat of 38°C / 100°F (hosting the World Cup final at 12:30 p.m. during the Californian summer was brilliant) ended in a boring 0-0, to be decided by penalty shoot-outs.

When it came down to the details, the strongest sides showed why they were the odds-on favorites. The Italians Massaro, Baggio, and Caruana were not precise enough when the moment demanded perfection. On the other hand, Romário and Carlsen did what was expected of them. Despite the lack of energy, it is undeniable that the winners were those who most deserved it.

This is the game that gave Carlsen the title in the rapids tie-break:

Carlsen vs. Nepomniachtchi (2021 World Chess Championship Match)

≈

Spain 4 - 0 Italy (2012 UEFA Euro Final)

What about that match where one of the sides comes in as the clear favorite, but is under pressure to justify the odds? Many will think it will be a breeze and not even worth watching, while others will say that the underdog is stronger than people think and will bet that they can shock the world.

This was the case when Spain and their legendary squad with Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, Torres, etc., fresh from winning the European Championship in 2008 and the World Cup in 2010, faced Italy in the final of UEFA Euro 2012. Carlsen knows quite well how it feels to be assigned such a task and not to disappoint the fans, as he also had to face Nepomniachtchi in similar circumstances for the 2021 World Championship Match.

And what did they do? They both confirmed why they were considered the best in the world, with a convincing and decisive victory that showed everyone that their reign was still supreme. Carlsen won game 6, which broke Nepo and his fighting spirit, leading to many inexplicable blunders in the following games. David Silva's goal in the 14th minute had a similar effect on the Italian players, who felt the blow and could not get back into the game, becoming easy prey.

In the end, the scores were clear and unquestionable. Four wins for Carlsen and none for his Russian rival. Four goals for Spain and none for Italy. Superb performances that left all the haters and doubters no choice but to admit that they were simply wrong.

The blunders were truly memorable, but I think the game that best represents this event and Carlsen's title was the iconic Game 6, the longest in the history of the FIDE World Championship:

Inarkiev vs. Leitão (2013 FIDE World Cup 1st stage)

≈

AC Milan 3[2] - 3[3] Liverpool F.C. (2005 UEFA Champions League Final)

The only game between clubs included here is one featuring my favorite team, which made me start following European football. And no comparison could be better than with a game of my favorite chess master, whom my avid readers know to be the Brazilian GM Rafael Leitão. But why are these two games so similar?

In the final match of the 2005 UEFA Champions League, underdogs Liverpool were pitted against the powerful AC Milan. After a disastrous first half in which they conceded three goals to nothing and showed little resistance, nobody really believed that they would have a chance. In his game against the Russian GM Ernesto Inarkiev for the 2013 FIDE World Cup, Leitão also had a big disadvantage. Stockfish was taking it as decided with an approximate score of +16 for White.

However, Liverpool’s captain Gerrard scored in the 54th minute to revive their hopes. Rafael played a brave f4 as the last attempt to save himself. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle in both cases. Showing an incredible fighting spirit and counting on the lack of concentration of the opponents, things began to turn around.

Šmicer and Alonso equalized for the Reds. Leitão managed to complicate the position, and everything was level after Inarkiev played Kc2(?). A draw seemed to be a result to be satisfied with after being so close to defeat, no?

No, they wanted more! Liverpool's goalkeeper made incredible saves and took the game to penalty shoot-outs, where he made two more saves to give the English team the trophy. Meanwhile, on the board, instead of shaking hands, Rafael Leitão decided it was time to play for the win and brought his wife to tears with a spectacular comeback, securing his place in the next round. Check it out below:

Karpov vs. Korchnoi (1978 World Chess Championship Match)

≈

Portugal 1 - 0 Netherlands (2006 World Cup Round of 16)

Sometimes in sports, accusations and arguments are much more prominent than the game itself. This was the case in the 1978 World Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi, and also in the "Battle of Nuremberg" between Portugal and the Netherlands for the 2006 World Cup.

In the chess match, both players came prepared to fight dirty. Karpov, suspecting that Korchnoi had hired someone to sit in the audience and hypnotize him during a previous match, brought a counter-hypnotist to his team. In retaliation, Korchnoi enlisted the help of two American yoga specialists who had recently been convicted of attempted murder. On the football field, many violent plays with the intention of injuring the opposing players, including elbows, shots with the sole of the boot, and head butts. 

Korchnoi defended himself from Karpov’s hypnotist by wearing mirrored sunglasses. Karpov complained to the arbiters but to no avail. Both players also suspected the other of cheating, even demanding that Korchnoi's chair be X-rayed to look for a communication device. This was done, but no evidence was found. Meanwhile, Portugal's Costinha and Deco, and the Netherlands' Boulahrouz and van Bronckhorst were all sent off. A World Cup record of four red cards in a single match.

But the most famous nonsense: Karpov received a blueberry yogurt from a waiter during the second game, and Korchnoi's team immediately complained to the arbiter that this was a coded signal telling him what move to make. After this "incident", it was agreed that Karpov would only receive food at a predetermined time and that Korchnoi's camp would be informed in advance about the color of the yogurt.

The results? Portugal won and advanced to the quarter-finals. Karpov won without ever trailing in the match. But honestly, this is not what these events are remembered for.

Honorable mention: Netherlands 2 - 0 Brazil, 1974 World Cup Semi-Final.

Fischer vs. Spassky (1972 World Chess Championship Match)

≈

Brazil 4 - 1 Italy (1970 World Cup Final)

Some matches go down in history for eternalizing geniuses and idolizing them as the possible best of all time. In 1972, the entire chess world knew that Bobby Fischer was the best player on the planet, but he still had to prove it by beating Boris Spassky in the World Championship match, which later became known as the "Match of the Century".

Two years earlier, the 1970 Brazilian national team, led by Pelé, was considered by many to be perhaps the greatest team in history. After five games and five wins at the World Cup, would they be able to prove their status and beat Italy to lift the coveted trophy?

Yes! They both lived up to their reputations and defeated their opponents quite convincingly. Despite losing the first two games, Fischer remained calm and came back into the match, eventually beating Spassky by 4 points to win the deserved and almost inevitable title. Brazil, after a complicated first half that ended in a draw, rallied in the second half and scored 3 goals to consolidate their victory.

While the GOAT debate is open in both sports, it is undeniable that these two events are the ones that cemented the legends Fischer and Pelé in the Hall of Contenders. No career can be summed up in a single match, but those were without a doubt historically remarkable and, above all, a symbolic irrefutable proof of their greatness.

Both matches were also a clash of giants. In the case of chess, involving the two dominant geopolitical powers of the Cold War, the USA and the USSR. In football, nations that had already won two World Cups each were battling it out to see who the first third-time champion would be.

Game 21 was the one in which Fischer ensured his title:

Conclusion

I guess I don't need to say that everything written above is just for fun, and the comparisons will always have some inaccuracies. In fact, with some creativity and the famous "cherry picking" of which points to focus on, it is possible to draw many different parallels.

Nevertheless, I have tried to make the text and the matches at least sound relatable, so that it could be a dynamic and pleasant reading. As you all know, chess and football are the two sports I love the most, so it is always entertaining for me to imagine and write absurd relations about them. A special thanks to my father and to my football-addicted friends, who helped me with this blog even without knowing much about chess.

Despite the craziness, I think this is a good example of how high-level competition can have similar moments of excitement, emotion, and unexpected results. Maybe that is why, no matter what our favorite sports are, we enjoy playing them and watching the best challenge each other.

I hope you had some fun reading this. Please let me know your feedback in the comments section below. And if you think you have other examples of good comparisons, please feel free to share them with me, as I would love to hear your thoughts.