Are France actually good? Can English banish the demons? WORLD CUP RECAP

Are France actually good? Can English banish the demons? WORLD CUP RECAP

The World Cup semi-finals are set: France v Spain and England v Argentina. No pressure then. This week, we look back at the quarter-finals and work through how we got here. France beat Morocco, but are they actually brilliant or just brutally effective? Morocco offered very little going forward, Mbappé missed from the spot, and VAR delays continue to make everything feel worse. Spain edged past Belgium, although Belgium’s best performances arrived too late and Spain may have lost a little of their spark. We also preview France v Spain, from Yamal v Digne to Mbappé drifting left, Pedro Porro’s defensive test and whether France are perfectly built to hurt Spain on the break. Then it’s England v Norway, with Kane and Haaland both quiet, Bellingham stepping up again, spidercam controversy and England finding a way through. Argentina beat Switzerland after Mac Allister’s header, Embolo’s ridiculous second yellow, Messi’s quietest game of the tournament and a brilliant Julian Alvarez winner. And finally: England v Argentina. Maradona, the Falklands, Messi, dark arts, World Cup trauma, national identity and the small question of who reaches the final. Plus semi-final predictions, final picks, and Andrew trying to work out whether he can emotionally survive England winning the World Cup.

Messi Rallies Argentina, Wild Controversies & England’s Greatest Performance? – WORLD CUP KNOCKOUTS

The Round of 16 gave us drama, controversy, collapses, missed chances and a quarter-final line-up with plenty to get stuck into.We recap all the last-16 ties, starting with Argentina’s wild comeback against Egypt: Messi’s struggles from the spot, Egyptian mistakes, VAR controversy and a game that slipped away from them in brutal fashion.We get into Colombia v Switzerland, a forgettable match with a painful ending for Colombia, before heading to the Azteca, where England beat Mexico and showed a side we’ve not seen for a while — while Mexico were left wondering how they let the moment pass them by.Norway knocked out Brazil in a game that could have gone either way, with Scott getting very excited about Erling Haaland’s movement, while France survived their toughest test so far in a proper battle with Paraguay.Morocco are into the quarter-finals after beating Canada, but doubts remain — especially if Ismael Saibari is out. Spain edged past Portugal in a match that was somehow intriguing and boring at the same time, and Roberto Martínez will have regrets.We also talk Belgium’s big win over the USA after Donald Trump’s involvement added another layer to the story. Rudi Garcia’s bold team selection was key — but is this the end of the road?After each match, we look ahead to the quarter-finals and ask what these ties tell us about where this World Cup is heading.Subscribe for more World Cup chat, big takes, bad takes and absolutely no minnows.#WorldCup2026 #WorldCup #FootballPodcast #Argentina #England #Norway #France #Morocco #Belgium

Good Hosts, Bad Takes, Great Strikers, No Minnows - WORLD CUP 2026 WEEK 2"

40 games in — what have we learned from World Cup 2026 so far?In this week’s World Cup recap, we pick out our favourite moments from the last few days, from Scotland fans taking over Fenway Park to the hosts making the tournament better with Canada, the USA and Mexico all giving their supporters something to enjoy.We also discuss why the so-called minnows are refusing to play their expected role. Curaçao’s point against Ecuador, Cape Verde taking something from Uruguay, and the wider sense that the gap is closing.Elsewhere, we talk about the players who have caught our eye, including Saibari, Somerville and Nmecha, pick our favourite goals of the tournament so far, and ask why this World Cup is producing so many goals.Plus:⚽ The Tartan Army showing up⚽ Deniz Undav’s goal against Ivory Coast⚽ Mbappé’s finish against Senegal — and Michael Olise’s pass⚽ France and Argentina in action tonight⚽ Mbappé v Messi: who gets to 17 World Cup goals first?⚽ After 40 matches, who do we now think will win World Cup 2026?Let us know: who has impressed you most, who has disappointed you, and who are you backing to win it all?#WorldCup2026 #WorldCup #Mbappe #Messi #France #Argentina #Curacao #CapeVerde #Scotland #FootballPodcast #BaggiosPenaltyLandedInMyGarden

WORLD CUP RECAP: Scotland Win, USA Fly, Bouaddi Shines & Brazil Stumble

🌎 The World Cup is underway!In our first World Cup 2026 recap show, we look back at the opening three days of the tournament and discuss the biggest talking points so far.This week:⚽ Our favourite game of the tournament so far⚽ The best goal from the opening three days⚽ Which teams have impressed us most⚽ Which teams have disappointed us⚽ Why Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi is catching the eyeWe also take a deep dive into Scotland's opening 1-0 victory over Haiti, discussing the performance, key moments and what it means for Steve Clarke's side going forward.Plus:📦 Scott opens his Surprise Shirts mystery box live on the show🇫🇷 A closer look at Lille's rising star Ayyoub Bouaddi🏴 Scotland's World Cup campaign gets underwayWhat has been your favourite game of World Cup 2026 so far? And which player has impressed you most?

The Fifth GOAT? It Was Ronaldo Until It Wasn't

🏆 World Cup 2026 Predictions, France 98, FM26 Scotland & a Mystery Shirt Unboxing! In Episode 6 of Baggio's Penalty Landed In My Garden, we pick our World Cup 2026 semi-finalists, debate the favourites for the trophy, and ask whether France, Spain, Brazil or Portugal are best placed to become world champions. We also discuss: ⚽ Our World Cup 2026 Final Four predictions ⚽ France vs Spain and Brazil vs Portugal potential semi-finals ⚽ Messi & Ronaldo – does it take more courage to start them or take them off? ⚽ Andrew's FM26 Scotland side reaching the World Cup quarter-finals ⚽ Our first World Cup 2026 sticker packet opening ⚽ France 98 nostalgia ⚽ Brazil vs Denmark – the best game of France 98? ⚽ Bergkamp's iconic goal against Argentina ⚽ Ronaldo's unforgettable tournament in France 98 ⚽ Croatia's incredible run to the semi-finals ⚽ A live Surprise Shirts World Cup mystery box unboxing Who are your World Cup 2026 semi-finalists? And what's your favourite memory from France 98? #WorldCup2026 #France98 #Ronaldo #Messi #FootballPodcast #FM26 #Scotland #Brazil #France #Portugal #Argentina #StickerAlbum #FootballShirts #SurpriseShirts #WorldCupNostalgia #FootballHistory