La Pausa: Encounters 1

You Have To Say That's Magnificent: Can England Ever Win?

So it’s now 60 years and counting since England last won a major tournament after finishing third in the 2026 World Cup. The scars from snatching defeat from the jaws of victory may still be vivid, but the England agnostic wing of YBTAHOAB bravely rip off the plaster to delve deep into the wounds to see just why it is that England always fail – and can they ever succeed? Taking a different tack from team selections, substitutions and events purely on the field, Steven Scragg, Dr Pete Watson and Dave Bowler investigate matters of history, national identity, character, and the changing nature of England and Englishness to throw a different light on it all. Never mind the tactics, here’s the boll… Thanks for reading YourBoysTookAHellOfABeating’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Thanks for reading YourBoysTookAHellOfABeating’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com [https://yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

You Have To Say That's Magnificent: England 2006

England went off to the 2006 World Cup high on expectation and inflated by the egos of the so-called Golden Generation. Sven’s boys, your Beckhams, your Rooneys, your Gerrards and your Lampards were surely going all the way to glory in Germany. But then the football happened, Baden Baden happened and everything suddenly seemed a little less golden. In this podcast, the chaps discuss all things Sven, Rooney, Beckham, Walcott and co, and delve into the crazy hype train and all things around the not so golden summer of 2006. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com [https://yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Book Corner: The Final: In Pursuit Of Greatness

This was the last ever European Cup final before the Champions League took hold of European football. A match between Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona Dream Team and Fabio Capello’s indestructible AC Milan. Both teams dominated their domestic leagues and the game was billed as an unstoppable attack against an impenetrable defence. Cruyff could not find a place for Michael Laudrup, while Capello had to reorganise his defence with captain Franco Baresi missing. The story of how both teams got there is almost as thrilling as the final itself; suspended stars, injured icons and a chaotic kidnapping all preceded the final itself. ‘The Final’ author Rob Fletcher joins Michael Hamlen to explore the moments that made the 1994 European Cup final iconic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com [https://yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

You Have To Say That's Magnificent: England 1990

England only scraped into the 1990 World Cup by the skin of their teeth and the width of a Polish crossbar. In the final year of the English club’s European ban, Bobby Robson’s boys arrived in Italy and their Sardinian isolation in need of a boost. With a manager hounded, a squad pilloried, politicians hating the fans and a media at war, expectations were hardly through the roof. But it would be the World Cup where everything changed for England. It was the World Cup of the sweeper system, of Gazza’s Cruyff turn, of David Platt’s emergence, of Lineker’s steely nerves and dodgy bowels. Of penalties and pain, of Gazza’s tears and his comedy breasts. Join the gang as they get all misty eyed at Nessun Dorma, put on the cool kit and do the Barnes rap. Put on Adamski’s Killer and relive it all with Aidan, Steven, Joe and Chris. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com [https://yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

You Have To Say That's Magnificent: Classic World Cup Kits - Michael Hamlen

Another delve into our fashion department, and this time it's Michael Hamlen who is offering up his choice of World Cup kits, for the Your Boys Took a Hell of a Beating Hall of Football Kit Fame. Steven Scragg sits for the arbitration panel. Thanks for reading YourBoysTookAHellOfABeating’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Thanks for reading YourBoysTookAHellOfABeating’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com [https://yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]