Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this second part two of our three-part special on Colombian football and the tragedy of Andrés Escobar. Co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper dissect one of the greatest World Cup qualifying matches ever played: Colombia's stunning 5-0 victory over Argentina at El Monumental in Buenos Aires. This episode explores the dramatic buildup to the match, the hostile reception faced by the Colombian team, and the extraordinary performance that shocked the football world. The discussion then examines the dangerous euphoria that followed, as Colombia began to believe that they could win the 1994 World Cup, and the dark realities of the narco state. You can listen to this episode ad-free over on our Patreon - Follow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was. You will also get access to our World Cup countdown, magazine retrospectives and bonus episodes as well as a monthly Q&A with Rob and Jonathan. 01:39 Colombia's Mindset Before the Match & The Hostile Reception 04:07 The Lineup: Colombia vs Argentina at El Monumental 11:25 The Match Begins: Early Tension & Argentina's Miss 14:05 The Plane Incident: A Bizarre Moment at El Monumental 16:01 GOAL: Rincón Opens the Scoring 17:26 Maturana's Psychological Tactics at Half Time 18:05 GOAL: Asprilla Makes It 2-0 18:47 GOAL: Valencia Volleys In the Third 19:56 GOAL: Asprilla's Exquisite Curler Makes It 4-0 21:00 GOAL: Valencia Completes the Rout - 5-0 22:14 The Monumental Applauds Colombia Off the Pitch 24:32 The Celebrations: 100 Deaths & National Hysteria 30:55 "Now We're F***ed": The Burden of Expectation 33:19 World Champions Before the Tournament Begins 39:25 21 Friendlies & The Cash Grab 44:51 The Dark Side: Meeting With the Cali Cartel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexis and Christian break down the latest headlines across soccer, starting with the injury to Sergiño Dest and the growing concern over who can step up at right-back for the USMNT. They also dive into the backlash Lionel Messi and Inter Miami faced after their White House visit, unpacking why the reaction has been so divided among fans. To close the show, the guys look around MLS and debate which struggling coach—currently sitting near the bottom of the Supporters’ Shield table—might be the next to lose their job.

Tom & Dunny discuss Fulham crashing out of the FA Cup against Southampton, why some teams are still not taking the competition seriously, Lionel Messi’s Globetrotters Tour, the different fan perspectives in the US & UK, the tumultuous situation at Tottenham, Harry Redknapp possibly coming back to save Spurs, Postecoglou becoming the new Big Sam & more! Sorry Tim. Subscribe to our YouTube page at youtube.com/ @weekinthetackle ! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @weekinthetackle! Follow Tom Rennie on Twitter at @thomasjrennie and on Instagram at @thomasjrennie_soccer. Follow Brian Dunseth on Instagram @briandunseth. Follow Tim Horsey on Twitter at @timhorsey and on Instagram at @thorsey17.

On Friday's Football Daily, Phil Egan brings you news from the League of Ireland, the women's international game, and the Premier League. League of Ireland preview – A full look ahead to Friday night’s fixtures across the Premier and First Divisions. Live game focus – Build-up to Shamrock Rovers vs Derry City at Tallaght Stadium, including team news and key talking points. Managers’ thoughts – Hear from Stephen Bradley and Tiernan Lynch ahead of the Hoops’ clash with the Candystripes. Michael Duffy spotlight – The Derry City star earns praise after his recent hat-trick and Player of the Month nomination. Dublin derby preview – Shelbourne host St Patrick’s Athletic at Tolka Park with both sides coming off positive results. League leaders on the road – Bohemians aim to maintain their unbeaten start away to Waterford. Galway vs Dundalk – The Tribesmen seek momentum while Dundalk look to bounce back after a heavy defeat. First Division action – A Cork derby at Cobh Ramblers vs Cork City plus Treaty United, Kerry, Wexford and Finn Harps all in action. Transfer news – Republic of Ireland U21 international Cathal O’Sullivan signs for Preston North End. Ireland injury blow – Denise O’Sullivan ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands. Premier League trouble for Spurs – Tottenham’s relegation fears deepen after a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace. Messi meets Trump – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami visit the White House after their MLS Cup triumph. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Hello Rank Squad! We thought that with less than 100 days to go now until the World Cup begins this summer, it was time to start to take a look at the tournament in earnest - and the storylines on the pitch that are set to dictate just how this tournament is remembered from a footballing perspective. We split that into three parts. Firstly, we take a look at three of the favourites to win the tournament - holders Argentina, as well as France and Spain - and the narrative threads behind each of their campaigns to come. We look at Argentina's attempt to be the first nation to go back-to-back since Brazil in the 1960's, France hoping to give Didier Deschamps the send-off his illustrious managerial tenure deserves, and Spain looking to begin a new dynasty by backing up their 2024 Euros with a World Cup two years later, just as their Golden Generation did in 2012 and 2014. Then in Part Two, we look at the managers who have traded their club loyalties for a shot at winning the most illustrious tournament of them all at international level - looking at England under Thomas Tuchel, Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti, the USMNT under Mauricio Pochettino, and Germany under Julian Nagelsmann. And finally, in Part Three, we dive into the four teams who have qualified for the first time ever - Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan and Jordan - examining their stories, the background, and the manner in which we're expecting them to show up to the party. It's Ranks! And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? (http://patreon.com/ranksfc) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Inside College Soccer, Don Williams sits down with acclaimed soccer author Luciano Wernicke to discuss his latest book, The Lionel Messi Story: How One Man Revolutionized Major League Soccer. Wernicke, author of more than 20 books on global football, breaks down the remarkable journey of Lionel Messi - from a young boy in Rosario overcoming growth hormone deficiency to becoming a World Cup champion and one of the most influential athletes in history. The conversation explores Messi’s defining decision at 14 to leave Argentina for FC Barcelona, and how elite environments, culture, and long-term belief systems create world-class players. The discussion then turns to Messi’s historic move to Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, the strategic vision of David Beckham, and what Messi’s arrival truly means for the growth and global credibility of soccer in the United States. Wernicke also shares perspective from his time working with the Costa Rica men’s national soccer team, offering insight into what it realistically takes to build a nation capable of winning a World Cup - and whether the U.S. is moving in that direction. A must-listen conversation for players, parents, coaches, and anyone serious about understanding the cultural, structural, and strategic forces shaping the future of the game in America. 📖 The book is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-a-Million, and wherever books are sold. 🎧 Presented by Sports Recruiting USA - www.srusasoccer.com 🤝 Sponsored by www.gapyearsoccer.com

On Monday's Football Daily, Phil Egan brings you news from the Premier League to the Scottish Premiership to the League of Ireland to the international women's side. Arsenal strengthen their Premier League title charge with a tense 2–1 victory over 10-man Chelsea at the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta urging calm as the pressure intensifies. Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior calls for stricter officiating on grappling at set-pieces after conceding twice from dead balls in North London. Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira weighs in on criticism of Arteta’s playing style, insisting results matter most in the run-in. Michael Carrick equals a Premier League record after Manchester United’s 2–1 win over Crystal Palace, collecting 23 points from his first nine games in charge. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner slams a controversial VAR-assisted penalty and red card decision that proved decisive at Old Trafford. Gary Neville and Brian Kerr assess Carrick’s chances of landing the Manchester United job permanently following his impressive interim spell. Tottenham’s crisis deepens with a 10-game winless league run after defeat to Fulham, leaving Igor Tudor facing a massive relegation battle. Nottingham Forest remain in danger near the bottom after defeat to Brighton, with Vitor Pereira still chasing his first league win. Liverpool sweat over Florian Wirtz’s fitness ahead of their clash with Wolves, while Arne Slot delivers a blunt verdict on the Premier League season. Celtic keep their title hopes alive with a dramatic comeback draw against Rangers, as Martin O’Neill and Danny Rohl react to a huge Old Firm clash. Henry Winter joins Off The Ball Breakfast to discuss Martin O’Neill’s evolving reputation and Celtic’s title credentials. Republic of Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against France, with Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan set to feature in a crucial opener. St. Patrick’s Athletic face Galway United in a key League of Ireland clash, with Stephen Kenny praising new signing James Brown’s impact. Jose Mourinho takes a firm stance on racism allegations involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. Iran’s World Cup participation faces uncertainty amid geopolitical tensions, while the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina is also in doubt due to regional instability. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Aidan Williams returns as England's tournament goes from bad to worse in Monterrey, lightning doesn't strike twice for Northern Ireland, the World Cup's poster boy has a major misstep, the greatest clearance of all time and much more. Hungary v Canda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohDvj08eybk Brazil v Algeria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3qnpl9AB3c England v Morocco - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBFyPcB3sT4 Mexico v Paraguay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9XcaTTa1Ho Spain v Northern Ireland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNU0VVCUPlI Poland v Portugal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWVDbtlzQM If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, join our Nessun Dorma community chat, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast⁠⁠⁠ where you can subscribe for only $3.99 a month (less than 75p a week!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Cooligans, we break down the wild rumor of Antoine Griezmann potentially joining Orlando City and whether he could seriously challenge Lionel Messi’s MLS throne. Gotham FC defender Mandy Freeman joins the show to discuss the club’s championship run, the pressure of defending a title, her decade-long NWSL journey, her passion for fashion, and why the league’s new High Impact Player rule may not benefit players the way fans expect. Plus, we talk Weston McKennie’s standout Champions League performance despite Juventus falling short, Vinícius Jr.’s statement game against Benfica, and Bodø/Glimt’s shocking result against Inter Milan.

It’s a special midweek edition of the show to recap the headlines from the opening weekend in MLS, including LAFC’s thumping of Inter Miami, Lionel Messi’s post match criticism of the referee, Michael Bradley’s impressive start with Red Bull New York, Josh Sargent moving to Toronto FC, San Diego’s statement win over Montreal, Dunny’s biggest standouts from the weekend & more. Sorry Tim. Subscribe to our YouTube page at youtube.com/ @weekinthetackle ! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @weekinthetackle! Follow Tom Rennie on Twitter at @thomasjrennie and on Instagram at @thomasjrennie_soccer. Follow Brian Dunseth on Instagram @briandunseth. Follow Tim Horsey on Twitter at @timhorsey and on Instagram at @thorsey17.