World Cup News

Jimbo discusses the second semi-final with Duncan Alexander and Tom Williams as France continue their defence of the World Cup. Les Bleus see off Morocco without dazzling but once again getting the job done. We discuss how Antoine Griezmann became the midfield dynamo that Didier Deschamps’ tactical approach depends upon. Their opponents on Sunday will be Argentina. Martin Mazur tells us how everyone is singing, everyone wants stickers and everyone wants to do it for Messi instead of Messi doing it for them. Plus 3rd/4th place play-offs and the unsung XI. Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: France 2-0 Morocco (02.00) • PART 2: Argentina prepare for the final with Martin Mazur (11.00) • PART 3: The unsung XI and other final thoughts (31.00) 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.

Jimbo’s got a stacked card of Carl Anka, Adrian Clarke, Dom Fifield, Daniel Storey, Maher Mezahi and Natalie Gedra as the World Cup semi-finals are set in stone. Holders France eliminate England but Gareth Southgate’s side show attacking intent and outplay the world champions so are there reasons to be cheerful? Plus hear why Saka needs more protection and why Griezmann is the player of the tournament. Not up for France - Morocco, a team dripping with tactical discipline, who become the first African side ever to reach the last 4 by beating Portugal. But should Cristiano Ronaldo have been comforting his team-mates rather than shedding his own tears? Finally we check in on where it went wrong for the number 1 ranked team in the world Brazil. Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Alex Abnos pays tribute to Grant Wahl (01.00) • PART 2: England 1-2 France (04.00) • PART 3: Morocco 1-0 Portugal (23.00) • PART 4a: More on Brazil’s elimination (40.00) • PART 4b: Your semi-finals are… (36.00) 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.

England's tournament comes to an end with the quarter-finals. Morocco do it again to send Portugal packing. The Tifo team discuss Southgate, Deschamps, penalties, the Moroccon middle and whether points are good or not. The Tifo podcast is presented by Joe Devine and produced by Nathan A Clark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Adam Leventhal is joined by Jack Pitt-Brooke to look ahead to England’s huge quarter-final against France as the draw opens up for Gareth’s Southgate side. One of the clear favourites to win the World Cup, Brazil, are out after their defeat to Croatia on penalties. A win against the reigning world champions would see England go into a semi-final against Morocco or Portugal, while Argentina scraped through on penalties against the Netherlands. They discuss Kyle Walker vs Kylian Mbappe, and if that duel really matters. And the panel pay tribute to American sports journalist Grant Wahl, who sadly passed away in Doha last night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England The Story So Far It’s been a near-flawless campaign so far from the Three Lions. The tournament started in...

Jimbo welcomes Carl Anka, Lynsey Hooper, Julien Laurens and Jack Pitt-Brooke into the pod after a bumper day of last 16 World Cup action. England, inspired by Jude Bellingham, ease past Senegal in convincing fashion. Maybe Gareth Southgate is good at this managing at major tournaments malarkey. That said, the Three Lions face the French in the quarter-finals, after the holders pick off Poland. Olivier Giroud completes his remarkable career story by becoming his nation’s all time top scorer. And Kylian Mbappe looks like the best player on the planet. Monday sees Brazil play South Korea while Japan take on Croatia. Tas Okawa tells us what the best week in Japanese football history has meant to the people back home. Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: England 3-0 Senegal with Jack Pitt-Brooke (01.00) • PART 2: France 3-1 Poland with Julien Laurens (17.00) • PART 3a: Brazil v South Korea preview (33.00) • PART 3b: Japan v Croatia preview with Tas Okawa (39.00) 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.

Deschamps' multiple changes ended the group stage on a low note - although Tunisia are happy. Kris and Jez sigh their way through that one, and look forward to the knock-out game v Poland on Sunday.

France have already booked their place in the next round with a win over Denmark. Kris and Jez review that, and look forward to today's final group game against Tunisia - what with Deschamps change? What will he not? Who is going to play leftback? And then - on to the knock-out phase...

It's Sunday morning and host Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic's Felipe Cardenas and Charlotte Harpur to reflect on Lionel Messi handing Argentina a World Cup lifeline in typical style... James Horncastle offers his thoughts on Messi's moments of brilliance, was Enzo Fernandez' goal an even sweeter strike and why Mexico fans are frustrated with coach Gerardo Martino. Then, following a 'prickly' Deschamps post-match press conference - and despite France's 2-1 win over Denmark - our panel also discuss how good Mbappe is in the flesh, Tunisian fan envy, Australia's Mitchell Duke and Jurgen Klinsmann's comments about Iran and their head coach Carlos Queiroz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimbo, Mauricio Pochettino, Michael Cox and James Horncastle study two groups that feature two of the favourites - France and Argentina. Mauricio gives us his insight into managing the famed front three of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar. Hear why he got unlucky with Messi, wanted more consistency from Mbappe and loved every second of Neymar. As for Argentina, will the confidence gained from having won the Copa América power them on to a first World Cup since 1986? We check in with Julien Laurens on the world champions France who the rest of the panel are expecting to bore us silly in the group stage. Plus can we call Denmark dark horses? Can Poland finally deliver at a World Cup? And can you imagine rooming with Diego Maradona? Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Rooming with Batistuta & Maradona (01.00) • PART 2a: Group C - Argentina free of pressure? (05.30) • PART 2b: Group C - Who else will go through? (12.00) • PART 2c: Group D - France’s chances with Julien Laurens (19.00) • PART 2d: Group D- Danish dark horses. Any chance for Australia and Tunisia? (32.00) • PART 3: Final thoughts on Groups A-D (36.00) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC TODAY FOR £1 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS • theathletic.com/totally Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimbo, Raphael Hongstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo assess the big hitters in Europe with the Nations League qualifiers over and the World Cup on the horizon. England and Germany fight out a 3-3 thriller in a game that exposes both team’s flaws. Are we only just seeing Southgate’s shortcomings when the rest of the continent has been aware for a while? France beat Austria and lose to Denmark, yet with the talent Didier Deschamps has at his disposal, could they become the first nation in 60 years to retain the World Cup? Or will it be Argentina or Brazil who are looking strong by comparison to the likes of Spain, who have a settled midfield and goalkeeper but not much else. And Michiel Jongsma joins us to discuss the only major European nation that are looking strong right now – Louis Van Gaal’s Netherlands. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Getting excited for World Cup (02.00) • PART 1b: Moment of the weekend (05.00) • PART 1c: England 3-3 Germany (09.30) • PART 2: France – boom or bust in Qatar? (25.00) • PART 3: Spanish struggles (34.30) • PART 4a: Michiel Jongsma on the resurgent Netherlands (43.00) • PART 4b: What about Brazil and Argentina? (50.30) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC TODAY FOR £1 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS • theathletic.com/totally Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you break down one of the most dramatic days of football in memory? Suj and James do their best to analyse a Magic Monday of Monday at The Euros as Croatia gave Spain a mighty fright in Copenhagen and Switzerland stunned the World Champions, overcoming a 3-1 deficit to beat France on penalties. Are the Spanish now the form team having scored ten goals in their last two games? And who was to blame for France's defeat? Did Didier Deschamps' tactics cost the World Champions? And the nerves have kicked in ahead of tonight's massive game for England against Germany. Can The Three Lions finally beat a major nation in knockout football? ____________________________________________ Want to become a member of our FPL community? Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/planetfpl Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PlanetFPL?s...​ Follow James on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/PlanetFPLPod​...​ Follow Suj on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sujanshah​​​​...​ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planetfpl/​​...​ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PlanetFPL/​... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimbo welcomes Michael Cox and Duncan Alexander into the pod after a day of illuminating action at the Euros. Czech Republic hog the headlines by eliminating the Netherlands in the first shock of the last 16. But are they still the weakest team in the competition? And can Frank De Boer be blamed for the crazy mistakes of his players? Number 1 ranked Belgium knock out holders Portugal, in a game signposted by selfishness and stroppiness. And it’s time to bust the myth that Ronaldo is good at free-kicks. It’s another big day of action. Juraj Vrdoljak tells us whether Croatia fear Spain, the team that inflicted their heaviest defeat ever. And Julien Laurens previews France v Switzerland, as Pogba looks to build on his position as perhaps the player of the tournament so far. Plus we appreciate Balotelli, Cassano and Prandelli 9 years on. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic with Karel Haring (03m 30s) • PART 2: Belgium 1-0 Portugal (16m 30s) • PART 3a: Croatia v Spain preview with Juraj Vrdoljak (29m 00s) • PART 3b: France v Switzerland preview with Julien Laurens (34m 00s) • PART 4: The odds with Paddy Power (46m 45s) • PART 5: On This Day – Super Mario Balotelli in 2012 (49m 00s) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC FOR £1 A MONTH FOR YOUR FIRST 6 MONTHS: • theathletic.com/totally GET IN TOUCH: • follow us on Instagram • find us on Facebook • send us a tweet: @TheTotallyShow PARISH NOTICES: • we’re sponsored by Paddy Power - home of the Money Back Special READ STUFF ON OUR WEBSITE: • check out thetotallyfootballshow.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimbo brings you Part 2 of our Euro 2020 preview with Duncan Alexander, Julien Laurens and a motley crew of continental experts. Group F is the group of death. Is victory a foregone conclusion for France? Will Benzema rock the boat or rock the tournament? Raphael Honigstein tells us why Germany are feeling fearful. In Group C, we’ve got some frank opinions on De Boer and Holland and some high hopes for Malinovskyi and Ukraine. Luis Enrique might be great but Covid-19 is playing havoc with Spain’s preparations – could Sweden take advantage in Group E? Plus how Kevin Davies could be the English Goran Pandev. And why Robert Lewandowski is the Polish Martin Peters. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Group F – France, Portugal & Hungary (05m 00s) • PART 1b: Group F – Germany feeling fearful, with Rafa Honigstein (19m 30s) • PART 2a: Group C – Netherlands preview, with Michiel Jongsma (28m 00s) • PART 2b: Group C – Ukraine preview with Sasha Goryunov (36m 30s) • PART 2b: Group C – North Macedonia & Austria (42m 30s) • PART 3a: Group E – Sweden – dark horses? (46m 30s) • PART 3b: Group E – Spain’s chaotic build-up, with Alvaro Romeo (49m 30s) • PART 3c: Group E – Poland & Slovakia (57m 00s) • PART 4: The odds with Paddy Power (59m 30s) • PART 5: Tournament fever rising (61m 00s) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC FOR £1 A MONTH FOR YOUR FIRST 6 MONTHS: • theathletic.com/totally GET IN TOUCH: • follow us on Instagram • find us on Facebook • send us a tweet: @TheTotallyShow PARISH NOTICES: • we’re sponsored by Paddy Power - home of the Money Back Special READ STUFF ON OUR WEBSITE: • check out thetotallyfootballshow.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe is joined by Jay and Alex to discuss the latest in the world of United! Stretford Paddock has content out EVERY DAY, make sure you’re subscribed for your Man United fix! https://bit.ly/DEVILSsub Buy Stretford Paddock merchandise here: https://stretfordpaddock.bigcartel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marcus, the only man on Earth currently excited about international football’s return, joins Jim and Pete for another hard-hitting episode of the Football Ramble. Strap yourselves in. England’s friendly against Iceland looks set to go ahead - despite quarantine regulations trying their best to disrupt proceedings - while Didier Deschamps is looking forward to Paul Pogba’s break from Man United. Elsewhere, Philadelphia Union celebrate victory with Captain America’s help and fans of Wrexham AFC will vote on their recent dealings with Hollywood stardom. Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: [email protected]. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. 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 throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just an intimate twosome this week as Kris and Jez review Matchday 1 of the new Ligue 1 season, picking out all the teams who seem to be missing a goalscorer and spotting the team who have found one! We also discuss the rights and wrongs of the Lens vs PSG postponement. And we end with a look at Didier Deschamps' latest squad announcement, which includes some exciting new call-ups, some interesting recalls ... and the inevitable Boring Benzema Brigade Backlash.

Kris, Jez, Phil and Rich look back on the international break which saw France beat Iceland and draw against Turkey, and an increasingly confusing set of managerial changes. Also features Kris levering mentions of Lorient in Ligue 2 and tactical choices for Arsenal.

Most things got sorted out in the last round, as Lille hammered Angers, and OL and ASSE both won, to sew up third and fourth spots and the European places for next season. However, there's still some stuff to sort out at the other end, so Kris, Phil, Jez and Rich are here to round that up, the recent UNFP awards, and the recent France squad announcement from Didier Deschamps.

There's a bug going around FFW Towers, but this won't stop us rounding up France's matches against Iceland and Germany, Thierry Henry taking over at Monaco, and the matches to look out for as Ligue 1 comes back for round 10. Plus, Deschamps' pyro birthday cake for his 50th, a Charles Aznavour tribute at Armenia v Gibraltar, and a Ligue 2 round-up.

Well, here we are in uncharted Football Ramble territory, as England prepare for a World Cup semi-final with Croatia. We steel ourselves for the game by way of adventures with Keith Allen in Screw Fix, reminiscence of tournaments past and the fev-o-meter going into overdrive. Alongside that we look over an impressive, surgical win from France, enjoy a dig from Fabio Capello and learn to ‘drink more responsibility’. Needless to say, Cristiano has the last laugh. This show is sponsored by bet365 Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: [email protected] ***Please take the time to rate and review us on iTunes or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Further reading Belgium weren’t happy with the way France played: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/11/belgiums-thibaut-courtois-and-eden-hazard-hit-out-at-anti-football-france France look to move on from 1998: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/france-vs-belgium-world-cup-2018-didier-deschamps-samuel-umtiti-goal-video-watch-1998-final-a8441431.html Can England actually go and do this? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44785165 The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This World Cup has certainly lived up to the hype! In today's pod, Earle and Mustoe preview the World Cup Semi-Finals of France-Belgium and Croatia-England. The guys also look back at the Quarter-Finals and highlight the impressive play of Lloris, Kante, Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Pickford & Trippier (among many others...)

Who exactly is coaching Argentina? What's Brazil's best XI? Is it really worth being annoyed at France's approach? Is there cause for concern with Spain? Is Germany doomed? These questions and more answered by the two Mikes in an episode brought to you by The Athletic Soccer. Double Pivot listeners users can go to theathletic.com/doublepivot to receive 40% off their first-year subscription. Check it out for even more great world soccer coverage.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

We're gearing up for the World Cup as France have played and won their first two pre-tournament friendlies, against Ireland and Italy, with USA still to come. Phil is joined by Jez and Conor to discuss what we can learn from those, which less-starry France-based players could make an impact in Russia, including the Tunisian contingent, and how Kamil Glik seems to have injured himself. Also, the Toulon Tournament, Coupe de France Feminine, and what Zinedine Zidane's recent resignation could mean for France.

We take a detailed look at the teams who make up World Cup Group C. FRANCE Strengths: A depth of...

Jimbo is joined for this Totally Football Show by Rafa Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Opta’s Duncan Alexander to do some serious World Cup number crunching, discuss Zlatan’s arrival in LA and memories of Brazil’s 7-1 humiliation.RUNNING ORDER:• PART 1a: Germany 1 - 1 Spain (02m 50s)• PART 1b: France 2 - 3 Colombia; anyone but Deschamps (06m 10s)• PART 1c: England’s steady progress continues (09m 50s)• PART 2: Where is Thomas Tuchel heading this summer and other questions (17m 20s)• PART 3a: George Qraishi on Zlatan’s arrival in LA; MLS catch-up (26m 20s)• PART 3b: World Cup number crunching (35m 00s)• PART 4: Memories of Brazil 1 - 7 Germany, 8 July 2014 (41m 40s)• PART 5: Paddy Power’s Movers & Shakers with Lee Price (57m 50s)• PART 6: Adios (60m 00s) PARISH NOTICES:• join [**Paddy Power’s Rewards Club**](http://www.paddypower.com/) - home of the Money Back Special• get your shave on with our friends [**Cornerstone**, who are giving you £10 off your first order](https://www.cornerstone.co.uk/totally)• combine your knowledge of the footy with your knowledge of the FTSE at [**Football Index**](http://www.footballindex.co.uk/). Enter the offer code TOTALLY to trade up to £1000 risk free. T&Cs applyGET IN TOUCH:• find us on [**Facebook**, - home of the Totally Football Quiz every Friday at 1230 GMT](https://www.facebook.com/thetotallyfootballshow/)• send us a [tweet: **@TheTotallyShow**](http://www.twitter.com/thetotallyshow) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kris, Phil, Jez and Rich get together on the final whistle of France's victory over Belarus, which ensured World Cup qualification for les Bleus, to review the team's performance, Deschamps' selection, and how things look for Russia 2018. There's also a look at the U21s, making slightly heavy weather of qualifying for the 2019 Euros, and the Women's Champions League, where Montpellier are in a slightly tricky situation.

Kris is joined by Jez, Rich and Phil to discuss all the Ligue 1 happenings, PSG squad choice, Monaco jitters, whether Ligue 1 is crap, France, Didier Deschamps, the Women's Champions League, and why we are all here in the first place.