Whether it was because of the result, the way the game was played or simply the teams that were facing each other (any reason why you consider it bizarre).
For me the strangest/bizarre matches were the matches between national teams and clubs:
Boca Juniors Vs. México
Bayern Vs. Netherlands
Loma Negra (Argentine Club) Vs. URSS
Atlético Socoraba (Brazilian Club) Vs. North Korea
Iraq vs Chelsea in 1986. I wasn’t born yet but was told about it later on
Tajikistan U-17 vs Audax U-20 in 2019
Yes, a bunch of youngsters from Central Asia faced a bunch of youngsters of an obscure Brazilian team from Osasco (a city in greater São Paulo).
The final score was 2-2.
But wait! There’s more!
After conceding a goal and a corner that resulted in a goal, the Tajik coach subbed the goalkeeper before halftime. The poor kid came out and cried on the bench, only to see his replacement pick up an injury and… the starter came back on and saved a penalty!
But wait! There’s more!
The assistant coach for Tajikistan was Musashi Mizushima, a Japanese former midfielder who became a pro and spent most of his career in Brazil, and eventually was an inspiration for the creation for the titular character and the anime Captain Tsubasa
Nottingham Forest vs Ireland, friendly about 15 years ago. Especially bizarre for me as an Irish Forest fan
Didn’t Exeter City go on a tour of Brazil and play the Brazilian National Team?
This has to be the most bizarre game ever. Both teams trying to score own goals at different points in the game.
Yes! What a crazy concept in a tournament
AC Milan v Liverpool in 2005 and then in 2007
Newcastle vs Aston Villa. That game where Bowyer and Dyer had a fight. The pitch even though they were both playing for Newcastle.
My memory might fail me but you’ll get the gist… I think it was Denmark v Sweden in a euros where a 2-2 draw and they would both qualify for next round at expense of Italy.
It got to 2-2 near the end and it was surreal in that both teams just passed it around at the back and didn’t attack. Leaving Italy very frustrated!
Also when Scotland played “Estonia”, but Estonia weren’t on the pitch so Scotland lined up, took kick off with no opposition! (And still failed to score!!!)
100% Italy - South Korea 2002 WC.
That shit was so corrupt it was a complete embarrasment.
The ref was imprisoned a few years later for trafficking heroin through a US Airport
I am from Plymouth, and remember hearing on the radio, that they were winning 3-0 away at Reading, then saw on final score they had lost 4-3 , Reading score on 65, 79,80 and 83 minutes, Plymouth had a player sent off near the end I think too, just clattered a Reading Ayer out of sheer frustration.
I remember. Manchester United being 3 down against Tottenham, only to score 5 unanswered goals in the second half. I’m pretty sure Dean Richards made his debut as a Spurs player in that game.
Oceania world cup qualifying back in the day.
Australia vs American Samoa
31 - 0
Archie Thompson scored 13, nearly half his international goals.
I once played in a game where the penalty taker got fouled on his run up to take the penalty and it was genuinely one of the funniest things I have ever seen
that was in a serie B match, both teams body Language was just they came up for joking, also watching some matches that is rigged…
Portugal x Angola friendly match in 2001.
Match ended at 60’ (while it was 5-1) after Angola were down to 7 men / 4 red cards.
argentina vs saudi arabia
how can a undefeated team who later went on to win the whole tournament could loose to a preety fricking saudi arabia