A rivalry like nothing you've ever seen
Argentina and Brazil's footballing rivalry transcends competition borders and when the two teams clash in Melbourne in June, it promises to be one of the world's great sporting spectacles.
In their hundreds and thousands they came, pouring over the border in their camper vans, cars and trucks.
Their drums and chants echoed through the balmy morning air as they gathered in a mass of jumping bodies on Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana Beach. Their hastily-assembled tents giving the appearance of a shanty town as the swathe of dancing bodies churned up the smooth sand.
Their beloved Argentina was due to play its first match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup later that day, against Bosnia-Herzegovina, at Rio's iconic Estadio De Maracana. As the kick-off time drew nearer the intensity of their deep rivalry with the host nation was laid bare.
The invaders had landed on the postcard beach of their most-hated rival and Brazil's armed military police lined the esplanade separating the sand and the Avenida Atlatntica in response.
That the first match of their campaign was against a European nation was a moot point, this was about Argentina and Brazil. As I wrote at the time, this felt charged. Deep. Personal. The Brazilians in our group struggled to articulate just how important it was that Argentina didn't win the World Cup in their country.
Privileged enough to attend the Bosnia match, i witnessed the rivalry take centre stage as the two sets of fans - Argentinian and Brazilian - engaged in 90 minutes of verbal jousting. Most of the second half featured the call of: "Messssiiiiii", chanted the Argentinians. And the response "Is shiiiiiiiiit" yelled by the Brazilians. Then Messi produced a trademark piece of skill to carve his way past three defenders and score the match-winning goal.
He had answered on behalf of his fans and the stadium erupted.
A Brazilian man sitting near us, dressed in a Messi Barcelona shirt, jumped to his feet and cheered when Miralem Pjanic dragged one back for Bosnia. He was spat on by the Argentinian supporter sitting next to me.
This was an intensity and hatred I hadn't ever experienced.
As the tournament rumbled on the Argentinians continued to capture the world's attention for the sheer audacity of their behaviour. Large banners displaying the message 'this is our city now' were deeply offensive and provocative to the Brazilians. As their team, led by Messi, marched to the final and Brazil crashed out in embarrassing circumstances, the tension became palpable - almost as palpable as the relief when Germany hoisted the trophy, denying Brazil's great rival its greatest triumph - holding aloft the world title on the soil of its arch enemy.
The world was denied a clash during that world cup, but there's no doubt it is a rivalry that transcends competition borders. When Argentina and Brazil travel to Australia for an international friendly at the MCG on 9 June, there will be nothing friendly about each others' desire to claim bragging rights.
It is a truly unique experience to watch any of South America's footballing nations play each other, let alone arguably the two greatest of them all. Regardless of who turns up to pull on the jersey of their country - and we're assured Lionel Messi and Neymar will be on the plane - this will be a unique sporting event not to be missed.
