Underdog Story

Alma Mana’o, the captain, reflects on their journey from a 21-0 defeat in 1998 to a place in the final round of qualification The American Samoa women’s team has lived through a scarcely believable tale littered with upsets, and their story is still unfolding. At the end of last year, they entered a World Cup qualification tournament containing the lowest-ranked teams in the smallest federation, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). At 153rd in the world rankings, American Samoa ranked the lowest of the low. With an estimated population of 45,319, the island’s entire population would not sell out even the smallest stadium hosting Fifa’s showpiece event next year. The national team’s captain, Alma Mana’o, talks of American Samoan culture as being “family is above all”. Multiple sets of sisters represent the team, something Mana’o relishes. “This is a family, we have got to get together, hold our sisters accountable and push each other,” she says. The Mana’o family hold the record for most family members to participate in Fifa events – “If we can’t win, we’re going to have the most kids!” Alma declares with a laugh – and American Samoa are out to prove there can be success in the family business. This is an extract from our free email about women’s football, Moving the Goalposts. To get the full edition, visit this page and follow the instructions. Moving the Goalposts is delivered to your inboxes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Minnows have all but sewn up the Swiss Super League title with seven games to go having been favourites to go down The FC Thun heroes do not hide their amusement and amazement when speaking about what has been an incredible season. They giggle when asked if they could possibly have expected such a scenario. They know that the situation is surreal and illogical. The words “incredible” and “unbelievable” are used frequently. When Thun were promoted in May to the Swiss Super League, they were predicted to struggle. The Berner Zeitung journalist Adrian Horn says: “A lot of pundits identified them as No 1 relegation candidates. Expectations were very low, and fans thought that avoiding relegation would be a major success.”

Jimbo is joined by Duncan Alexander, Rob Tanner and Jordan Halford to open up the Totally Extra Almanac in 2016 and celebrate Leicester's historic Premier League title, 10 years on. From the sacking of Pearson and battling relegation to Richard III, Ranieri, pizzas and Bocelli - the Leicester title story had it all. Underpinning Leicester's success was excellent investment with Vardy, Mahrez and Kante costing less than 8 million pounds and the squad barely getting injuries, meaning Ranieri could play the same eleven in most games. Even still, the odds were stacked against them with the bookies making them 5000-1 before the season started. So just how did they do it? And could anyone ever do it again? Plus 'On This Day' and Duncan's quiz question. Produced by Charlie Jones and Jesse Howard. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Duncan’s quiz question (3.15) • PART 1b: The Totally Extra Almanac (4.20) • PART 2a: What came before: relegation scrap + King Richard III (08.47) • PART 2b: The sextape, sackings + Ranieri appointment (14.10) • PART 3: The famous 15-16 season (28.15) • PART 4a: How the title was won + Battle of the Bridge (41.50) • PART 4b: What happened next? (54.25) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s FA Cup final day, ladies and gents. And what an opportunity for Oli Glasner’s men! If Crystal Palace pull it off - and let’s face it, the neutrals are all in - where would it rank among the greatest underdog triumphs in football history? Marcus, Luke & Andy dig into that - plus, who should Chelsea target to fix their goal drought and which ageing star do we most want to see make a Premier League move this summer? We’re going on tour! Get your tickets now: https://footballramblelive.com. Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast! Join co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper as they welcome special guest Richard Hough, author of 'Verona Capone, the Miracle of 85'. In this episode, Richard delves into the extraordinary story of Hellas Verona's incredible 1984-85 Serie A title win. From the chaotic Italian football landscape of the 1980s, managerial masterstrokes, and key foreign signings, to the unforgettable moments and lasting impact on the city of Verona, this episode is a deep dive into one of football's most romantic underdog stories. Join us as we explore how a small provincial team conquered giants like AC Milan and Juventus to achieve an unexpected and historic league victory. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:02 Setting the Scene: 1980s Italian Football 02:21 Verona's Rise to Glory 03:28 Economic and Social Context 05:08 Key Players and Strategic Moves 12:15 Tactical Insights and Coaching Philosophy 15:15 Foreign Players and Their Impact 22:55 The Perfect Season Opener 25:04 The Opening Goal and Season Kickoff 25:29 Verona's Iconic Moments and Key Players 30:05 The Turning Point in the Season 33:01 The Final Stretch to the Title 40:42 Celebrations and Legacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. It’s FA Cup final week, with Manchester City set to take on Crystal Palace at Wembley. In this episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper revisit the dramatic story of Palace’s remarkable run to the 1990 FA Cup Final. Just months after a crushing 9-0 defeat to Liverpool, Crystal Palace stunned the same side in a sensational 4-3 semi-final — a match still regarded as one of the greatest in FA Cup history. That victory set up a final against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, who, at the time, were still chasing their first trophy under his management. Today, we delve into where Crystal Palace stood as a club in 1990, explore their tactical shifts, highlight standout performances — especially the impact of Ian Wright — and examine Manchester United’s situation under Ferguson, including the pivotal moments that led to his first silverware with the club. We also examine whether Palace could shock Manchester City and finally win the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:23 Crystal Palace's Journey to the Semis 03:37 Televised Semifinals and Hillsborough's Impact 11:55 Crystal Palace's Tactical Shift 15:17 The Dramatic Semifinal Match 20:39 Crystal Palace's Historic FA Cup Final 21:06 Manchester United's Journey to the 1990 FA Cup Final 25:55 Ian Wright's Miraculous Comeback 28:35 The Replay and Ferguson's First Trophy 31:56 Comparing Crystal Palace Eras 36:05 Can Crystal Palace Upset Manchester City? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to It Was What It Was, and part two of our look at Cameroon’s extraordinary journey at the 1990 World Cup. With their stunning opening victory against defending champions Argentina and making history as the first African team to reach the quarter-finals, Cameroon’s story is one of resilience, brilliance, and pure football magic. Facing England in a gripping quarter-final showdown against stars like Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker, the Indomitable Lions captivated the world in one of the World Cup’s greatest underdog stories. If you enjoyed the podcast please hit subscribe to never miss an episode. 00:00 Introduction and Initial Setup 00:19 Chaos and Preparation for the World Cup 01:25 Cameroon's Opening Game Against Argentina 02:45 Diego Maradona's Challenges 04:56 Cameroon's Tactical Adjustments 07:35 FIFA's New Rules and Refereeing Challenges 11:35 Cameroon's Historic Victory Over Argentina 15:04 Advancing Through the Group Stage 20:41 Facing Colombia in the Knockout Stage 23:39 Cliffhanger: Preparing to Face England 24:32 England's Quarter-Final Prospects 25:25 Scouting Cameroon: Underestimations and Realities 27:32 Tunnel Tensions and Early Game Dynamics 29:37 Cameroon's Tactical Surprises 33:46 England's Tactical Adjustments 40:54 Cameroon's Legacy and African Football Challenges 50:07 Concluding Thoughts on Cameroon 1990 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the tension between World Cup co-hosts USA, Canada and Mexico a concern? Can Comoros complete the ultimate underdog story? Plus, will Chris Wood and Erling Haaland be firing in the goals for New Zealand and Norway next year? Kelly Cates and Rory Smith get our countdown to 2026 underway in Destination New Jersey. JT Batson, CEO & Secretary General of the US Soccer Federation, joins us to discuss their preparations for the tournament. Former New Zealand manager, Ricki Herbert, talks up their chances of making it to next summer’s World Cup 16 years after he guided them to South Africa. President of the Norwegian Football Association, Lise Klaveness, explains the pressure on them to ensure Erling Haaland and their talented generation can reach the finals. And we’re joined by former Wolves boss Stefano Cusin as he bids to take Comoros to their first World Cup. TIMECODES: 02:10 - JT Batson – CEO & Secretary General of US Soccer Federation 17:50 - Stefano Cusin – Comoros manager 26:19 – Ricki Herbert – Former New Zealand manager 39:36 – Lise Klaveness – President of the Norwegian Football Association. Commentaries on 5 Live/BBC Sounds: Wednesday: Manchester City v Chelsea - Women's Champions League (8pm) Thursday: Greece v Scotland - Men's Nations League play-off (7:45pm) Friday: England v Albania - Men's World Cup 2026 qualifying (7:45pm) Sunday: Manchester City v Chelsea - Women's Super League (2:30pm)

This week on It Was What It Was, we're looking at one of football's most remarkable underdog stories. Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper take us back to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where Nigeria’s “Dream Team” shocked the world and won men's gold - the first African team to win a senior global football tournament. From Kanu’s heroics, to dramatic comeback victories over Brazil and Argentina, they explore how this historic triumph cemented African football on the global stage - and inspired a new generation of players. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Claire recaps the quarterfinal round of the NWSL playoffs, talking through blowouts, surprises, emptying the tank and why the top four teams continue to stand out in 2024. Then, she has a chat with Bay FC midfielder Kiki Pickett, on the team’s turnaround in the second half of the season, why they’re a great NWSL underdog, and what the club is most proud of after a record breaking inaugural season.

Welcome to the latest episode of The Overlap’s football history podcast, It Was What It Was. With Euro 2024 approaching this week, we present a special two-part episode on Euro 2004, a tournament where underdogs Greece achieved one of international football’s greatest upsets. Regarded as the one that got away from Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Golden Generation England team, journalists Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper set the scene with a full detailed look on the group stages. From Portugal’s preparation as hosts to their opening defeat by eventual winners Greece and an 18 year-old Wayne Rooney propelling himself to an international icon, part one delves into the story surrounding the nations before the knock-out rounds. Join us for part two on Thursday 13th June where Rob and Jonathan tell the story of Greece manager Otto Rehhagel and the path that led the way to one of football’s biggest ever shocks. If you enjoyed the podcast please hit subscribe to never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimbo welcomes Daniel Storey, Tim Spiers and Luis Miguel Echegaray into the pod after a surprising weekend in the world of football. Jurgen Klopp announces he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. Along with James Pearce, we discuss what Klopp means to the club, whether Xabi Alonso will be replacing him and whether he might actually stay after all. The FA Cup 5th round sees shocking scenes in the stands at the Hawthorns and on the pitch at Portman Road as 6th tier Maidstone reach the last 16. There’s a full Premier League fixture list to look ahead to with Forest looking to beat Arsenal at the City Ground again. Plus more underdog upsets at AFCON and what is going on with Marcus Rashford? Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: West Brom Wolves fan violence (01.30) • PART 2a: Ipswich 1-2 Maidstone (05.00) • PART 2b: Newport 2-4 Man United (12.30) • PART 3: Klopp to leave Liverpool, with James Pearce (19.00) • PART 4a: The rest of the FA Cup weekend (39.00) • PART 4b: AFCON and Asian Cup last 16 happenings (43.00) • PART 4c: The Premier League midweek to come (48.00) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC TODAY FOR £2 A MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS • theathletic.com/totally Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does America love more than apple pie? Underdogs. USL club Sacramento Republic FC has embodied that spirit in a magical run to the semifinals of the US Open Cup, knocking off two MLS teams in the process. Club president and general manager Todd Dunivant joins Alexi Lalas and David Mosse to break down the “cup-sets” before diving into their semifinal matchup with Sporting Kansas City (2:30). We also dive into the pro/rel debate (9:03), players to watch against KC (13:49), what makes Sacramento special (16:45), and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices