World Cup Play Offs

The final four European spots in the 2026 World Cup will be decided tonight, the final day of the March international break, with all five home nations also in friendly action this evening. talkSPO…

Jimbo has a stellar cast of James Horncastle, Tom Williams, Colin Millar and Matt Davies-Adams to react to the World Cup play-off semi-finals. It’s a heartbreaking night for the home nations with Wales and the Republic of Ireland eliminated on penalties. And a brave young Northern Ireland side are beaten 2-0 in Bergamo by Italy. Are the Azzurri finally set to qualify for another World Cup? Jack Lang’s in Mexico to tell us about the inter-confederation play-offs, where he watched Jamaica edge past New Caledonia to set up a final against DR Congo. And the big domestic news is that Mo Salah will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. Should we all be a bit more moved? Produced by Charlie Jones and Xavi Bird RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: World Cup round-up - that Guler pass (01.00) • PART 2a: Path A - Wales out, Italy through (06.00) • PART 2b: Republic of Ireland knocked out on penalties (30.00) • PART 2c: The rest of UEFA qualifying (35.00) • PART 3: New Caledonia 0-1 Jamaica with Jack Lang (41.00) • PART 4: Salah leaving Liverpool (48.00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the Football History podcast hosted by Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper. In this second episode of a two-part special, we explore the life of Mohamed Salah - from winning his third PFA player of the year award, to the pressures and the complex political landscape he navigates in Egypt . We delve into Salah's impact in the UK, his challenging relationship with International football, from rural Egypt to the global stage, Mohamed Salah's journey is as thrilling as it is complex. Join us for an in-depth look at one of the most intriguing figures in modern football. 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Mohamed Salah's Political and Cultural Significance 03:01 The Complexities of Expressing Political Views 05:02 Historical Context: Egypt's Political Landscape 14:19 The Arab Spring and Its Aftermath 24:06 Mohamed Salah's Relationship with the Egyptian National Team 27:40 High Stakes in World Cup Play-offs 28:35 Egypt's Football Legacy and Recent Struggles 29:55 The 2018 World Cup Disappointment 31:56 Controversies and Criticisms 37:59 Political Pressures and Social Media 44:46 Salah's Impact in the UK 49:24 The Ballon d'Or and Future Prospects Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.