World Cup Rambling

It's time to revise and expand on a topic that was covered in the series one episode “The Carnival is Over”.  It's the summerof 1970 and England are the reigning World Champions.  The Three Lions are one of the most feared and respected sides in world football.  Some of the stalwarts of 1966 – Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst – are regarded as having improved. Sir Alf Ramsey, England's inscrutable manager, has brought in a clutch of new faces – Keith Newton, Brian Labone, Terry Cooper, Alan Mullery, Francis Lee, Colin Bell. England have to cope with the Mexican heat and high altitude. There is also Latin American hostility and conspiracy theories, a hangover from 1966 when England were accused of ‘fixing' the tournament in favour of European teams and against South American teams. A stopover in Colombia goes disastrously wrong when Bobby Moore is arrested after being accused of stealing a bracelet.  England start their campaign with a robust match against Romania.  Then comes the epic, iconic match against Brazil.  It is widely assumed that this will be a dress rehearsal for the final.  England conclude their group programme with a dull game against Czechoslovakia.  After that is the quarter-final against West Germany, another memorable epic where Banks misses out due to food poisoning, but England seem to be cruising to victory at 2-0 before it all goes wrong.Meanwhile back home, Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister, is on the campaign trail, seeking to repeat his own success from 1966 by leading the Labour Party to another general election victory.  After four turbulent years, Labour have move ahead of Edward Heath's Conservative Party in the opinion polls.  However, the World Cup is preying on Wilson's mind.  A populist and a keen football fan, Wilson is taken with a “mystical symbiosis” between the government's fortunes and those of the England team.  He asks his Cabinet colleagues to consider the political ramifications if England were to be knocked out of the World Cup, shortly before polling day.  Wilson's relaxed campaign seems to chime with the public mood.  Labour maintains a consistent lead in the opinion polls, victory seems assured but just four days before the vote, England are knocked out of the World Cup…  TWITTER/X@MatthewOkot@WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.      

This month, we revisit the epic last 16 match between England and Argentina from France 98.  It was a match layered with history – the ‘Animals' game from 1966, the Hand of God in 1986, not to mention the Falklands War.  England, managed by Glenn Hoddle (a veteran of 1986) had already had a campaign full of talking points – Eileen Drewery the faith healer, the axing of Gazza from the final squad, the omission of David Beckham from the Tunisia match, and the belated use of Michael Owen.  Led by Hoddle and his boundless self-confidence, the Three Lions faced an Argentina side, managed by Daniel Passarella (the winning captain from 1978).  Argentina, with a 100% record and a defence that hadn't conceded a goal yet in the World Cup, were packed with superstars – Batistuta, Veron, Ortega, Zanetti et al.  On paper, it was a promising game and it turned out to be an electrifying classic, great goals, great drama, heroic individual performances, an infamous red card followed by an infamous fallout, and, as always with England, a penalty shootout.National anthems by https://nationalanthems.info/ TWITTER/X@MatthewOkot@WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.   

Scotland's qualifying campaign for World Cup 98 was ticking along nicely (absent Estonians notwithstanding).  As the campaign reached a climax, Scotland were top of their group and in a good position to reach their first World Cup since 1990.  Off the field, change was coming to Scotland. The election of Tony Blair's New Labour government in May 1997 meant that Scottish voters had been offered a referendum on devolution and were set to overwhelmingly endorse new devolved institutions.  As a crucial home match with Belarus approached, the only worry for Craig Brown's team was a few injuries in the squad.  However, the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the early hours of 31st August 1997, led to an almighty uproar, which seriously damaged the credibility of Scottish international football, provoked interventions from the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland, and nearly derailed Scotland's World Cup bid. TWITTER/X@MatthewOkot@WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.

We're back for Series 5 of World Cup Rambling and we begin by checking in on Scotland, so often the tragic clowns of the World Cup circus.  In this episode, we look at the infamous occasion in October 1996 when Scotland faced Estonia in Tallinn.  There was just one problem – Estonia didn't show up.  The Scots had trained at the venue, the night before the match, and complained about the poor quality of the floodlights.  The kick-off was brought forward and a tense stand-off ensued, as Scotland got ready for the new time whilst Estonia stuck to the original schedule. This meant that Scotland became the “One Team in Tallinn” as they took to the field with the Estonians nowhere to be seen.  TWITTER/X@MatthewOkot@World Cup RambleSubscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.

51 games down, one to go – the World Cup Final. It's a historic occasion.  Whoever comes out on top – Italy or Brazil – will be the first nation to win the World Cup four times.   Memories of 1970 are evoked but the idea of Brazil's pragmatic class of '94 emulating Pelé and co is laughable.  Italy, meanwhile, seem to be running out of players, with Roberto Baggio playing despite carrying a hamstring injury that blunts his effectiveness.  The much-hyped showdown between Romario and Baggio fails to materialise.  The blistering heat is inimical to quality football.  The match turns out to be a dull, disappointing climax to a great tournament.  It finishes goalless and goes to penalties – a tiebreaking method that almost creates a moral panic from journalists and commentators as the greatest competition in the world is reduced to a shootout. Italian and Brazilian national anthems are from https://nationalanthems.info/ Thanks for your listening support in 2024. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble  

I'm joined by Jon Spurling, a football author who has been a fixture on my bookshelf over the last two decades. Some of Jon's books are “All Guns Blazing:  Arsenal in the 80s”, “Top Guns: Arsenal in the 90s”, “Rebels for the Cause: The Alternative History of Arsenal FC”, “Death or Glory: The Dark History of the World Cup” and “Get It On: How the 70s Rocked Football”. Here we discuss Jon's latest book, “Go To War: Football on the Brink in the '80s”, which was released on 29th October 2024.  We take an overview of a tumultuous decade in the sport, with a specific focus on England's World Cup campaigns of 1982 and 1986, as Ron Greenwood leads England on a bumpy road back to the international stage, after the lost decade of the 1970s.  Then, we discuss Bobby Robson's first major tournament – Mexico 86 – where his England team was stopped by the Hand (and left foot) of God. TWITTER/X @JonSpurling1 @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

The penultimate episode of the series and we've got the semi-finals.  Roberto Baggio produces one of the best individual performances of the tournament, to give Italy a 2-1 victory over Bulgaria in New York.  However, it's a day of mixed fortunes for The Divine Ponytail, as a hamstring injury leaves him in a race against time to make the final.  Meanwhile, across in Los Angeles, Romario's goal finishes off a tired Sweden and gives Brazil a place in the final for the first time since 1970.   Playing the semi-finals on the same day on opposite coasts is a self-inflicted error from the American organisers, handing a massive advantage to the winners in Los Angeles.  There's also the third-place play-off, with Sweden signing off in style, finishing as the tournament's highest scorers and claiming the bronze medal. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.    TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble 

We've reached the quarter-finals of USA 94, a set of games which feature dramatic late twists. It's The Baggio Show in Boston as Italy beat Spain, with Dino opening the scoring and Roberto grabbing a late winner. Brazil unveil a famous celebration but their march to glory is threatened by a Dutch comeback until Branco (liberated from the subs bench) produces a thunderbolt free-kick. Sweden versus Romania is an intriguing battle between two dark horses, with the game exploding into life late in the second half and going all the way to penalties. However, the tournament's ultimate shock comes at the Giants Stadium where Germany, the reigning World Champions, are sent packing by a double whammy from Bulgaria. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

We're back with the last 16 of USA 94.  Klinsmann and Voller come up with the old magic as Germany find their touch.  Spain produce a performance that suggests they might finally be ready to end their decades of underachievement (yeah right).  Sweden's Three Amigos – Brolin, Dahlin, Andersson – end Saudi Arabia's dream run.  Romania and Argentina produce a match for the ages.  Packie Bonner's butter fingers end Ireland's hopes of a second successive quarter-final.  Independence Day is memorable in more ways than one as Team USA face the might of Brazil. Roberto Baggio's divine intervention finally kickstarts Italy's campaign.  Bulgaria break new ground as Mexico break the goal frame.  Hanging over the last 16 is the brutal murder of Andres Escobar and arguments over refereeing standards, as some games are plagued by controversial decisions, with FIFA giving several referees their marching orders.   Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.  TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

This month, the group stage of USA 94 reaches a conclusion with many teams jockeying for position.  Stefan Effenberg efffectively ends his international career as the Germans have a narrow escape against South Korea, the Group of Death reaches gridlock, Saudi Arabia come up with arguably the goal of the tournament, Oleg Salenko and Roger Milla produce a day of records in San Francisco.  However, the real scandal and drama is saved for Group D, where Diego Maradona fails a drug test (a shocking moment yet, with hindsight, almost inevitable) and a pair of injury-time goals completely change the complexion of the final standings. Thanks for listening.  World Cup Rambling will return in September. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.    TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble 

This month we've got the second set of group games, which produced some notable matches and moments.  Team USA triggering a soccer boom with a victory that will have fatal consequences elsewhere, Roy Hodgson's swaggering Swiss putting the skids under Romania, a touchline explosion involving Jack Charlton and John Aldridge, Bulgaria ending one of the most embarrassing streaks in World Cup history, Arrigo Sacchi gambling his career with a brave substitution, Diego Maradona equalling the all-time World Cup appearances record, and much more. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.   TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble 

This month we'll look at the opening pair of matches in each group at USA 94.  There was a raft of new laws on tackling, offside and the back pass, which FIFA hoped would liven up the show, after the stodginess of Italia 90.  The gaudy opening ceremony, and Diana Ross's penalty miss (which foreshadowed the climax of the tournament), fuelled the scepticism about taking the World Cup to a country that knew nothing of soccer but everything of crass hype and empty razzmatazz.  Yet once the actual football got under way, all the fears fell away.  A memorable first set of games saw dark horses Romania stun the much-hyped Colombians, Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland enjoy their finest hour, the rise of new forces from Asia, Nigeria's Super Eagles swooping down in style, Diego Maradona returning in typically exuberant fashion, and much more. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

Series 4 of World Cup Rambling and it's time to get in the DeLorean and go back thirty years for a mammoth odyssey through USA 94 - a very underrated tournament. We start the series by looking at why football (or "soccer") failed to take a hold in the United States, then having a look at the rise and fall of the North American Soccer League, America's failed bid to host the 1986 World Cup and, ultimately, the successful bid to host the 1994 World Cup, with the pitfalls on the path as the American organisers tried to deliver on the promises they made to FIFA. There will also be the customary whistle-stop tour through the 24 finalists. Thanks to https://nationalanthems.info for the national anthems. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

A snippet of what you have to look forward to in Series 4 of World Cup Rambling, which starts on 2nd March 2024. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

It's time for something very special.  We have World Cup Rambling's first-ever guest.  In this episode, I talk to Gary Thacker.  Gary is an author and journalist, who has contributed most prominently to These Football Times, but also to other publications. Gary has written numerous books, including “Beautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje: The Unfulfilled Glory of Dutch Football”, “Out of the Blue: Chelsea's Unlikely Champions League Triumph” and “Dutch Masters: When Ajax's Totaalvoetbal Conquered Europe”.  Here we discuss his upcoming book “O Jogo Bonito – Brazil's 1970 World Cup Samba Party”, which will be released on 12th February 2024.  The book looks at Brazil's iconic World Cup triumph in 1970, as they rebuilt from the ashes of 1966 to become the most famous World Cup winners of all-time, with a beautiful style of play that Brazil have never been able to recapture, despite further World Cup wins in 1994 and 2002. You can find some of Gary's excellent work at: https://allbluedaze.com/ https://thesefootballtimes.co/author/allbluedaze/ Follow on Twitter/X @All_Blue_Daze @O_Jogo_Bonito70 @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

In the final episode of series three, we look at one of the strangest tales in World Cup history – the theft of the Jules Rimet Cup from a stamp exhibition in London in 1966. The holy grail of football has a storied history, carried on an ocean liner to the first World Cup in Uruguay, stashed in a shoebox under a bed during World War Two, before being stolen in London and found by a dog in 1966, then stolen again in Rio de Janeiro in 1983.  The story of the London theft resembles an Ealing comedy, a barely believable plot of institutional incompetence, gangland activity, alleged deals, fake names, ransom demands, sting operations, replica trophies, and a heroic dog, all against the backdrop of the UK General Election.  Thank you for all your listening support in 2023.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.   TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

It's time to dip back into the 1986 World Cup, by looking at the match of the tournament, a mighty, midday clash in the Mexican heat between France and Brazil, two of the most iconic teams of that era.  France, the reigning European Champions, had started their campaign slowly but looked to be steadily finding their form.  Brazil, underrated in comparison to their 1982 predecessors, were still capable of scoring stylish goals.  They had the deadly striker and solid defence that they had been missing four years previously.  When the two teams collided, it was a spectacular match, an epic rollercoaster ride of skill, high drama, tension and controversy, where old heroes were shown to have feet of clay and new heroes stepped forward.   TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble   Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform  

Graham Taylor took over the England job amidst much optimism, following England's strong Italia 90 campaign.  The expectation was that England would continue to be a force at major tournaments.   However, the optimism evaporated as Taylor struggled to get to grips with the unique challenge of international football.  He failed to develop a playing identity for the Three Lions (beyond a stale version of his beloved direct football) and struggled to manage the erratic talents of Paul Gascoigne.  Taylor's relationship with the media and the fans became increasingly fractious and after a poor European Championship in Sweden, the pressure mounted as England set off to qualify for USA 94.  The qualifying campaign was littered with tactical errors, bizarre selections, key injuries, humbling defeats, strange officiating, not to mention ambiguous syntax (“Can we not knock it?”, “Do I not like that?”).  Taylor's composure unravelled, with the whole grisly spectacle being recorded for an unintentionally hilarious fly-on-the-wall documentary.  TWITTER/X @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform.

This month we have the final part of the Argentina 78 retrospective.  The format of the competition – a second group stage, with the winners of the two groups reaching the final – is already under scrutiny and this will intensify as this second batch of groups conclude.  In Group A, the Netherlands finally find their form, to reach the final at the expense of Italy, who are unable to build on their excellent first round.  Meanwhile, West Germany, unable to find a win, surrender their crown, with Austria gleefully knocking the final nail in the coffin of their mighty neighbours.  However, it's Group B that provides us with the major controversies, as the group climaxes with Argentina thrashing Peru 6-0 to reach the final, at the expense of an embittered Brazil.  Were the Peruvians bribed?  Did they merely capitulate in the face of the hostile Argentinian crowd?  What role, if any, did South American politics play? What went down in the Peruvian dressing room when Henry Kissinger and General Videla popped in for a visit?  Will we ever know the truth? Then we have the World Cup Final, when Argentina resort to underhand tactics to try and undermine the Dutch.  However, the key to the final is Mario Kempes, who flourishes on the biggest stage of all.   Thanks to https://nationalanthems.info/ for the Argentinian national anthem. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble    

We're back with part 2 of the Argentina 78 retrospective.  This episode will focus on the first group stage.  We have Argentina playing under the weight of domestic expectations, accompanied by a stench of dodgy refereeing.  We also have the relative decline of West Germany, Brazil and Holland, the unexpectedly strong performances of Tunisia, Austria and Peru, the resurgence of Italy. There's also the small matter of Scotland's craziest campaign ever, as hubris crashes into reality, Willie Johnston falls foul of the drug testers, anger spills out from the terraces…then Archie Gemmill scores a wonder goal. It's not just the players who capture the attention, with the pedantic time-keeping of Welsh referee Clive Thomas and the unravelling of Scotland's manager Ally MacLeod providing headlines during the opening phase of Mundial 78. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

This month sees the return of the World Cup retrospective, with the focus being on the 1978 tournament in Argentina, arguably the most controversial World Cup in history.  In 1966, Argentina were awarded the rights to host the 1978 World Cup – an honour that was long overdue for one of football's leading nations. However, the deteriorating political, security and economic situation in the twilight years of Peronism, cast doubt over whether Argentina would be able to host the tournament.  The military coup of 1976 ushered in a repressive regime, that was determined to crush all opposition and use the World Cup to promote the Argentinian “brand”. However, as the World Cup grew closer, alarm bells rang across Europe about the competition being hosted in a despotic country.  Those controversies will be looked at in this episode, as well having a run-down of the 16 finalists. Thanks to https://nationalanthems.info/ for the national anthems.   TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

This month it's a tribute to Pelé, who died on 29th December 2022.  Pelé burst onto the World Cup scene as a 17-year-old in 1958.  A late addition to the starting eleven, he was awesome for a teenager, scoring six goals to help Brazil win the World Cup for the first time.  Pelé became the world's best player, a genuine superstar, a global icon yet his next two World Cups ended unhappily. The price of fame meant overplaying for both club and country, which led to him breaking down with injury in 1962. In 1966, he was the target of brutal opponents who wanted to stop him at all costs. As he walked off the Goodison Park pitch, it seemed like the end of the World Cup road. However, Pelé was determined to finish his international career on a high and returned in 1970, where he wowed a global audience with his magnificent goals and irrepressible skills as he confirmed his status as perhaps the greatest footballer of all-time. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

This month we look back at France's epic capitulation at the 2010 World Cup. From the start, the French campaign was shrouded in gloom and scandal, courtesy of Raymond Domenech's haphazard management, Thierry Henry's handball in the play-off against Republic of Ireland, and a prostitute scandal involving some of the squad. The situation was exacerbated by the self-serving behaviour of both the players and the manager, and the weak leadership from the top of the French Football Federation. It all built to the nadir of French international football when the players went on strike, following the defeat against Mexico and the dismissal of Nicolas Anelka from the squad. The collapse of the national team was wrapped up in France's socio-political insecurities about race, nationality, class and identity. Has a major nation ever fallen apart so comprehensively on the biggest stage? TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

When Brazil met Holland in the second group stage of the 1974 World Cup, a place in the final was at stake. It was the reigning champions against the pretenders to the throne. Johan Cruyff and his colleagues were playing 'Total Football', a fluid, aggressive style of play which had thrilled the world. The Dutch were nonchalantly brilliant as they swatted away opponent after opponent. Brazil, by contrast, were struggling to live up to the legacy of the 1970 with so many of the heroes of that triumph (Pelé, Carlos Alberto, Tostao, Gerson et al) having gone, to be replaced by underwhelming successors. Even worse (as far as fans and journalists were concerned) they were employing a robust style, which wasn't easy on the eye. This new style was designed to make up for the perceived lack of flair as well to provide protection after Brazil's last European World Cup (in 1966) had seen them lose the physical battle. The match between the old kings and the crown princes promised much. What followed though was a nasty contest, which concluded with the descent of Brazil from their pedestal, as Holland became the stylish keepers of beautiful football. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

A tantalising snippet of what you have to look forward to in the third series of World Cup Rambling, which is due to start on Saturday 4th February 2023. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. Rate and review the podcast. Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

A nice Christmas surprise for all you dear listeners - a look back at Argentina versus France, arguably the craziest World Cup Final ever, which ended with Lionel Messi emulating Diego Maradona by captaining the Argentinians to World Cup glory. As well as this, I cast my eye over Qatar 2022 as a whole and revisit some of my forecasts from the preview episode. Make sure to rate and review the podcast and subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all and I look forward to enjoying your listening support in 2023. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

In this episode we have a look ahead to the 2022 World Cup, the background to the tournament, the controversies, the response to Qatar's tournament, and a look at some of the teams. This is the last episode of series 2 so thanks for listening the whole way through 2022. Go back and listen to all the previous episodes and continue to subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

After four turbulent years, Diego Maradona returned for one last shot at World Cup glory in 1994. After leading a bedraggled Argentina through a qualification play-off against Australia, Diego went all out to regain his fitness for USA '94. A remarkable physical transformation took place as Diego shed the excess pounds. Looking trim and sharp, Diego declared himself ready to captain Argentina for a third successive World Cup. At long last his troubles seemed to be behind him. Diego scored a wonder goal as Argentina crushed Greece in the first game. He followed this up with another inspirational performance against Nigeria, as he equalled the record for all-time World Cup appearances. Then he was summoned to doping control… TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

In the summer of 1986, for the first and only time, Alex Ferguson took a team to a major international tournament. Ferguson had been Scotland's assistant manager, working alongside the legendary Jock Stein. Ferguson regarded Stein as a mentor figure and was delighted to be working alongside him. When Stein died tragically at the end of a pulsating World Cup qualifier against Wales, Ferguson took up the reins, guiding Scotland through a play-off against Australia, before taking them to Mexico '86. Scotland went on a rollercoaster ride, bedevilled by tension, intrigue and farce, culminating in a notorious encounter with Uruguay. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

"Not so much a football match as an international incident," was how legendary sports write Hugh McIlvanney described the 1966 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina. England came into the match after a series of solid but unspectacular performances in the group stages - par for the course for an England team. Argentina were in an incendiary mood after some robust displays which had led to a FIFA warning. This warning, combined with the referee-selection process and the so-called "European" style of officiating, stoked a mood of paranoia ahead of the clash with England. When the match came, there was a massive combustion, with Antonio Rattin (Argentina's captain) and Rudolf Kreitlein (the German referee) at the centre of the drama. The fallout from the Wembley quarter-final would echo down the years. Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

This episode reflects on France's disastrous World Cup defence in 2002. Roger Lemerre's team arrived in South Korea as World Champions, European Champions, and Confederations Cup holders. They had Zinedine Zidane in peak form, as well as the golden boot winners from three of Europe's top leagues. Rarely can there have been such a strong favourite to win a World Cup. What followed was a remarkable capitulation, as France went home without even scoring a goal. Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

Chile feels a burning sense of national pride as World Cup hosts, having suffered a traumatising earthquake in 1960, before losing their key organiser in the weeks leading up to the 1962 tournament. However, some Italian journalists have been disparaging about the host country. This leaves the Italian team in a difficult situation when they face Chile in the group stage. What follows is one of the World Cup's most notorious matches – described by the BBC's David Coleman as “the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football possibly in the history of the game”. Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

After a mammoth 48 group matches, dragged out over two stages, the 1982 World Cup finally remembers that it's supposed to be a knockout competition. A resurgent Italy, with Paolo Rossi having found his shooting boots, sweep past Poland. Then in Seville, there's a night of intense drama as France meet West Germany. It's billed as a clash between artists and artisans. The match swings one way and then the other, featuring spectacular goals, a blood-curdling foul, and the first ever World Cup penalty shoot-out. The French are left beaten and broken (literally) and have to settle for fourth place after losing to Poland. With Rossi having hit form and Italy's confidence surging, even West Germany can't stop the Azzurri from claiming a third World Cup. There's also a diatribe in there about World Cup expansion. Twitter @MatthewOkot Twitter @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

The first group stage is over, but the unusual format of this competition means it's time for another group stage. Poland reach the semi-finals for the second time in three tournaments, after shutting out the Soviet Union – a popular result. Elsewhere, the French find their form, ending Northern Ireland's dream in the process. England, with goals in short supply, scramble Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking into action, in a futile attempt to leapfrog West Germany in the race for a semi-final spot. Yet the highlight of this round is a mind-boggling Group of Death – featuring Argentina, Brazil, and Italy. Maradona is the victim of a clinically efficient marking job from the terrifying Gentile. Brazil, with another collection of fine goals, end Argentina's reign as world champions. Then comes an epic showdown between Italy and Brazil, where Paolo Rossi's sudden resurgence leaves the football romantics in tears. Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

Here is the long-anticipated (yeah right) start of series two. We're going back in time to the 1982 World Cup. Joao Havelange's conception of the ‘biggest World Cup ever' came to fruition, as the 24-team extravaganza rolled into Spain, a country that was facing the first global test of its new democratic era. Things didn't start too well, with an error-strewn draw ceremony and scepticism from the press, both inside and outside of Spain, about the country's capacity to host the tournament. The action from the first group stage will be looked at – Italy's early struggles, the sneaky shenanigans of West Germany and Austria, Northern Ireland's finest hour, England's dramatic start, the frustrated promise of Algeria and Cameron, the splendour of Brazil, Hungary's record-breaking performance, fatal Scottish calamities, and much, much more. Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

A tantalising snippet of what you have to look forward to in the second series of World Cup Rambling, which is due to start on Friday 4th February 2022. Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. Rate and review the podcast. Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

Time to provide you all with some much-needed Christmas cheer. This episode is a snappy look back at the 2014 World Cup, through an article that I wrote at the time. Twitter: @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

Deep political shadows lay across the 1974 World Cup. This was epitomised by the Group 1 meeting between West Germany, the hosts, and their brothers from over the border, East Germany. The stage was set for a tense encounter in Hamburg, which was riven with plots and subplots. West vs East, capitalism vs communism, liberty vs authoritarianism. For Helmut Schön, manager of the West Germany, there was a lot at stake personally – he was born on what had become the East side of the border. Things hadn't been running smoothly for West Germany, with rows over money and disappointing performances on the pitch. As for East Germany, the players were keen to test themselves against the West, whilst their political leaders saw the match as a golden opportunity to show the world the superiority of their “system”. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

With one game remaining, Brazil and Chile were level on points in their qualifying group. Brazil had a superior goal difference, which meant they required just a draw to reach the 1990 World Cup. Chile needed a win, but Brazil hadn't lost a competitive match on home soil since 1975. The Maracanã Stadium was packed to the rafters with Brazilian fans, who expected their team to extend their 100% record of qualifying for World Cups. What followed was one of the most outrageous acts of cheating in World Cup history, one which would have serious consequences for the perpetrators. This match would also spawn an unlikely celebrity, as well having a possible connection to an aviation tragedy several hundred miles away. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

A tribute to the late great Gerd "Der Bomber" Müller, who died on 15th August 2021, at the age of 75. Here, I reflect on the goals that Müller scored at World Cups, the 10 at Mexico 70 (which put him in an exclusive club of players who hit double figures at a single World Cup), then the four he added on home soil in 1974, which set a record of 14 which stood for 32 years. Has there ever been a deadlier World Cup striker than Gerd Müller? Follow on Twitter @MatthewOkot and @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

A bit leftfield here. In this edition, I will be reviewing the novel '30 Days Across America' by Christopher Dwyer, a story of two friends who take off across the United States to follow the 1994 World Cup. It's a fun book to read if you're a football fan and if (like me) you love USA 94. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

Time to wander off the beaten track to have a brief look at the European Championship Final. I could hardly let England's first appearance in a major final since 1966 go by without giving you guys the benefit of my irrelevant opinions. What went right for Italy? What went wrong for England? Is Gareth Southgate the man to take the Three Lions to a major trophy in the future? Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

It's time to look at a more modern World Cup – 2006, and the epic semi-final between Germany and Italy. Germany initially struggled under the stewardship of Italia 90 hero Jurgen Klinsmann. A sceptical German public feared the worst. What they got, however, was a dynamic, attacking team, packed with younger players (such as future World Cup winners, Lahm, Podolski and Schweinsteiger) and led by the underrated Ballack, powering their way to the semi-finals. As the team grew in stature, there was an unexpected swell of patriotism. Meanwhile, Italy arrived at the World Cup under a dark cloud. The Calciopoli scandal tarnished the reputation of Italian football. However, the Italian public rallied to the cause. With the veteran Marcelo Lippi in the dugout, and star players like Buffon, Cannavaro, Pirlo and Totti on the pitch, the Azzurri found their groove. What followed in Borussia Dortmund's iconic stadium, was a gripping showdown. Pirlo and Totti provided the magic for Italy, whilst Cannavaro produced a defensive performance for the ages. The Germans, previously criticised for having a weak defence, stood up strongly, with Mertesacker and Metzelder on top of their game, and Lahm showing signs of becoming one of the world's great full-backs. On a tense night, the game moved inexorably towards a penalty shootout. Then, Italy won a late corner… Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

The summer of 1970 – England, the reigning World Champions, are off to Mexico, in an attempt to win the Jules Rimet Trophy again. It's a whole different challenge for England, as they have to cope with the Mexican heat and altitude, as well as being tagged as the villains, owing to Latin American conspiracy theories about 1966. The drama begins off the field as England's catering arrangements and Sir Alf Ramsey's aloof demeanour raise the hackles of the Mexicans. Then a stopover in Colombia goes disastrously wrong with the Bobby Moore bracelet affair. Things get more intense as the tournament finally starts – from a physical encounter with Romania to an epic confrontation with Brazil, then a pedestrian match with Czechoslovakia and the ultimate showdown with West Germany. Meanwhile back home, Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister, is seeking to repeat his own victory from 1966, by winning a fresh general election. After four turbulent years, Wilson's Labour Party is comfortably ahead of the Edward Heath's Tories in the opinion polls. However, the World Cup is preying on Wilson's mind. The PM is taken with the notion that Labour's fortunes rise and fall, in accordance with those of the England team. Wilson is worried about what will happen to the Labour government if England are knocked out of the competition shortly before polling day. Could England's defeat against West Germany really have affected the outcome of the 1970 general election? Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

This episode is a look at the Zambian national team's attempt to qualify for USA '94. From the team's emergence on the world stage at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, with a sensational 4-0 win over Italy to the tragic air disaster in April 1993, that claimed the lives of eighteen players – a devastating event that plunged a nation into mourning and robbed Zambia of its golden generation – and the sensational climax to the story, when Zambia re-emerged with a new team and came within a single goal of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

This episode is a short tribute to the World Cup career of the late Paolo Rossi, who died on 9th December 2020. There is a look at his contribution to Italy's 1978 World Cup campaign, when he emerged as one of the most promising young strikers in world football. Following that, we move forward to 1982, where Rossi emerged from the shadows of scandal, overcame a desperately poor start to the tournament, to drive Italy forward to World Cup glory, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick against the legendary Brazil team. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

Having won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, Brazil were favourites to complete the hat-trick, by winning the 1966 World Cup in England. Instead, they crashed out at the group stage, a humiliating comedown for a team that was starting to think of the Jules Rimet Trophy as its personal property. From haphazard preparations to Pelé's rough treatment, Joao Havelange's hubris to bizarre team selections, I have a look at what went wrong for the back-to-back World Champions. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble on Twitter Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

Something a bit different here. In this episode, I will be reminiscing about my history of following the World Cup from 1990 to 2018. It's not a retrospective of those tournaments. It's my memories of watching them, be it my mum opening my eyes to the majesty of Maradona at Italia 90, sneaking around to catch snippets of the late kick-offs at USA 94, dragging myself out of bed to watch Japan/Korea 2002, or the glorious summer of 2014 when my (un)employment situation left me free to watch every match of the Brazil World Cup. Prepare yourself for some outrageous claims, shock revelations, (in)sane theories and old grudges. WARNING: THIS EPISODE INCLUDES BAD SINGING Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

Down to the last four where West Germany show themselves to be the ultimate Turniermannschaft by breaking French hearts yet again. The French are left with the mere consolation of the bronze medal after a win against the Belgians, who were condemned to the third place match by a sparkling Maradona performance. The field is left clear for Argentina to claim the ultimate prize but the West Germans, as usual, refuse to go quietly. In the end, however, nothing can stop Maradona getting his hands on the trophy, with a little help from his unsung colleagues. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

With the wheat separated from the chaff (some of it anyway), it's time for the knockout stages, starting with the Round of 16. We have a seven-goal thriller as Belgium derail the Soviet juggernaut. Elsewhere, France topple Italy in the battle of the champions and the Danish summer romance ends in bitter heartbreak. Forward to the quarter-finals, where France and Brazil meet in a scintillating encounter, West Germany poop the Mexican party, Belgium edge past Spain and there's the small matter of Argentina vs England, featuring the little man with a great left foot and a sneaky left hand. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Follow @WorldCupRamble Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform

Happy New Year. New Year, New Podcast. As the world lost the legendary Diego Maradona on 25th November 2020, this is a three-part special, looking back at the 1986 World Cup, the tournament which Maradona made his own. In this first episode, there is a look at how the tournament came to be held in Mexico in the first place, before an examination of the runners and riders for world football's greatest prize. After that, it's into the group stages, as Maradona serves notice of his intentions, Hugo Sanchez has mixed fortunes on his return to Mexico, the French and the Soviets impress with their stylish football, Josimar bursts onto the scene as Pat Jennings bids farewell, Danish Dynamite explodes in sensational style, Uruguay enrage with their villainy, Morocco strike a blow for African football, and England suffer “problems upon problems” until Bobby Robson is saved by the goals of a certain future crisps salesman. Follow me on Twitter @MatthewOkot Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform