The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Episode 54

The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Episode 58

Welcome to Episode 58 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. This is our last episode concentrating on the World Cup 2026 - with our observations on the Final and the Tournament as a whole. We even have a brief little chat about the Bronze Final. So what do we think? * Was the 6-4 Bronze Final vindicated as a spectacle because of the score line? * How much do we hate American razzmatazz? * Was the WC Final worthy of the name and the anticipation? * What will it have done to attract a new audience to football, globally? * What do we think of the Argentinians’ antics and behaviour? * Did football actually win as a result of Spain scoring their extra time winner? * Do we now love Wayne Rooney? And what of the overall tournament itself as a World Cup and as a global football spectacle and celebration? * What do we think of it overall? * Was it worth the 4 year wait? * Did 48 teams work? * What were the “moments” the goals and memories? * Where does it rank against other World Cups? * Are we glad it is over? And we have a monologue finish (which is a first for the podcast too). All this and much, much more (with a little parental listening guidance) are discussed as we put the 2026 World Cup to bed…. As always, lots of opinions to get your teeth into. What do you think? Are we right, are we wrong, do you have a different view or opinion?  If you want to comment or reach out, please do. We would love to hear from you...... We hope that you enjoy this episode more than we enjoyed the game and the "entertainment" last night. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week. From next week, we are back in our usual release slot of every Monday morning as we progress through the rest of the summer, ready for the new season - which is nearly upon us already....... . We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 420 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups for more exclusive content just for football fans with a LinkedIn account. Thanks for your support and your support with our YouTube channel too.

The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Episode 57

Welcome to Episode 57 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Early spoiler alert if you have been living in a cave or under a rock and don't know the results of the 2 WC Semi-Finals - ha ha. As the World Cup enters the real business end, we have just 2 games that decide the finalists – (and also the two who will contest the most pointless game in world sport – the laughingly named “Bronze Final").  What is the point of that????? There were certainly a couple of shocks – well one shock and one shocker! This is the first time ever that the top 4 nations in the FIFA World Rankings have made the final 4 in ANY World Cup competition.  That in itself is amazing, but how did it play out? We don’t do tactical breakdowns, but as two very experienced match-going fans, we do bring our observations to bear in a podcast discussion and chat which we hope you will find interesting. France v Spain The Irresistible Force v The Immovable Object, except that the irresistible force was like an electric vehicle with a flat battery and it never got going. Was it the exceptional performance of Spain, and let’s face it, they were brilliant – (if also VERY comfortable), or were France genuinely THAT poor and found out as a result? Is it most likely somewhere in between – and perhaps we will find out in the Final, which Spain cruised though to in second gear. Who shone, who disappointed, who was invisible and who was in total and utter control throughout? This was a result that many didn’t see coming, but this is also the third summer in a row that a Spain side has beaten a French side in a senior men’s football tournament – so is it really a surprise? One thing is certain, the French lost the plot and sulked their way to the Bronze Final in a right strop!  I bet they cannot wait. England v Argentina Make sure the kids are not listening or watching…… The evening after the night before as we record this special episode, we are still shaking our heads as to how a team with at least some element of threat, if not total control can go from that to less than 12% possession immediately after scoring to immediately after conceding their second Argentinian goal – letting one of the world’s greatest players have the freedom of Atlanta to completely run the show for half an hour? Baffling and annoying in equal measure. We reveal a pre-match dark-arts stat that maybe gave a clue as to how they would play and how they would get away with their aggressive tactics. So, did Argentina come for a game or a fight – their first have disgraceful display would certainly indicate the latter – but after England scored, they concentrated on what they are quite brilliant at – so why not from the start? At the end of the match, several of the Argentina players unveiled a Malvinas Flag and an incendiary banner, a clear breach of FIFA rules, which usually means sanctions such as match bans.  Does ANYONE think that FIFA will issue any to their clear favourites – no chance.   As always, lots to get your teeth into. What do you think? Are we right, are we wrong, do you have a different view or opinion? If you want to comment or reach out, please do. We would love to hear from you...... We hope that you enjoy this episode more than we enjoyed the game last night. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we get to the end of the WC 2026 and look forward to the new domestic season. Watch out for our World Cup Final (and Overall Tournament) Review Episode – out on Monday evening next week.   We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 415 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support and your support with our YouTube channel too.

The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Episode 56

Welcome to Episode 56 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Early spoiler alert if you have been living in a cave or under a rock and don't know the results of the 4 games - we share the winners early - ha ha. As the World Cup enters the final run-in and we have 4 games that decide the semi-finalists on the road to ultimate glory, we discuss whether over the course of the Quarter Finals, the cream has risen to the top or whether all four games on different levels were just a bit meh? This is the first time since 1990 that all four winners of the Quarter Finals have been former winners of the trophy, and it is VERY unusual, (if not unique - we are not sure), that the four nations who are the top 4 in the current FIFA Men's World Rankings are also the 4 semi-finalists after this latest round of fixtures. So, we can assume that they will have served up some brilliant games and excitement for us then...... Well, with skin in the game, the England game was a challenging watch, and therefore on one level, worthy of our attention, but in terms of QUALITY - not so much. We discuss our views as two match-going football fans who watch a LOT of football, and in headline form, here is our assessment: 1. Morocco v France - The Ultimate Disappointment 2. Spain v Belgium - Predictable & A Bit Dull 3. England v Norway - A Strange Game on a Number of Levels 4. Argentina v Switzerland - Turned on a Stupid Player Decision Once we have shared our thoughts on the games, we ask things like: * Who would England rather have met next - Argentina, Spain or France? * Who do we think will make the Final? * Can France even be stopped? * If Argentina fully turn up across the board, are they a more complete team than France? * Who has staked a claim to start for England in the SF? * Why are FIFA STILL a bunch of thieving b***tards? As always, lots to get your teeth into.  What do you think? Are we right, are we wrong, do you have a different view or opinion? If you want to comment or reach out, please do. We would love to hear from you...... We hope that you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.  The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we get to the end of the WC 2026 and look forward to the new domestic season. Watch out for our Quarter Final, Semi Final & Final (and Overall Tournament) Review Episodes coming up over the next 10 days too. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 385 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support and your support with our YouTube channel too.

The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Episode 55

Welcome to Episode 55 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. As the World Cup continues, we have just completed the Round of 16 and as two match going football fans, we share our observations on all eight games. Some crackers and a couple of absolute snooze-fests, but we both agree that we are now at the business end of the tournament and the jeopardy is real. Before getting into it - a quick thanks to all of those who have recently joined our Podcast audiences - with over 2,000 new downloads in the last two days alone - maybe our posts on the whole FIFA / Trump / Balogun affair helped - they certainly struck a chord with over 200,000 impressions and loads of comments and engagement - thanks again. So, the Round of 16 - 8 games to decide who makes the Quarter Finals and gets to be just two steps away from a World Cup Final - and potential glory. No technical reviews, no tactics, no detailed match analysis, just things that us match-going football fans notice and that we want to share with you - our viewers and listeners..... 1. Morocco v Canada - The Inevitable End Result 2. France v Paraguay - Beauty & The Beast 3. Norway v Brazil - One to Enjoy 4. Mexico v England - One for the Ages 5. Spain v Portugal - Dull, Dull, Dull..... 6. USA v Belgium - Justice Served with a Smile 7. Argentina v Egypt - An Absolute Classic 8. Switzerland v Columbia - Thank God There Was No Extra Time We also have a lame Dad joke that might just make you laugh out loud! Lots to get your teeth into. What do you think? Are we right, are we wrong, do you have a different view or opinion? If you want to comment or reach out, please do. We would love to hear from you...... We hope that you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.  The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we get to the end of the WC 2026 and look forward to the new domestic season. Watch out for our Quarter Final, Semi Final & Final (and Overall Tournament) Review Episodes coming up over the next 10 days too. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 370 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support and your support with our YouTube channel too.

The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Episode 54

Welcome to Episode 54 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom....... Continuing our bang up to date World Cup 2026 review episodes, this is our review of the WC 2026 Round of 32, which concluded in the early hours of this morning. As we say, this is "not quite the business end of the tournament - YET!" 16 games - some decent, some better than that, the odd magic moment, quite a few forgettable games, and some horrendous VAR and refereeing decisions - and more.... No technical reviews, no tactics, no detailed match analysis, just things that us match-going football fans notice and that we want to share with you - our viewers and listeners - and all after we start with a public reprimand of Mark Pugach! * Japan * Germany * Morocco * Norway * France & Mbappe * England & Captain Harry Kane * Portugal v Croatia * Cape Verde * Argentina & Messi * Columbia * Who Is The WORST Player in the Entire Tournament? * Penalty Shoot-Outs Inc Some Interesting Research * Even National Anthems.... Lots to get your teeth into. What do you think? Are we right, are we wrong, do you have a different view or opinion? If you want to comment or reach out, please do. We would love to hear from you...... We hope that you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.  The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we get to the end of the WC 2026 and look forward to the new domestic season. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 370 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.