x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

World Cup Rambling

One man talking his way through various aspects of the World Cup from tournament retrospectives, to individual stories of teams and players from the great to the not so great, taking in the qualifying competitions as well as the finals themselves. The Greatest Show on Earth is a treasure trove of stories with something always waiting to be mined. Presented by Matthew Okot Twitter @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

sports soccer

All Episodes

00:54:55

The Great Gijón Swindle: West Germany vs Austria at...

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/12/20

In the final episode of series five, we revisit the notorious West Germany-Austria match from the 1982 World Cup. West Germany – the reigning European Champions – tripped over their own hubris, losing 2-1 to Algeria, the exciting World Cup debutants. That result threw the group wide open. By the time West Germany and Austria met, the two teams knew that a German victory by one goal or two goals would send them both through and send Algeria home. West Germany took the lead after eleven minutes.

en

00:53:40

God the Father, God the Son - Part 2: Maradona, Messi...

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/11/01

Following on from Maradona steering Argentina to the 2010 World Cup (just), we look back at how his team got on in South Africa. Although there were some notable absentees from the World Cup squad, Maradona had a highly-talented team, with some sparkling attacking players, most notably Lionel Messi. Argentina shone at times, winning their group with a 100% record and playing some of the most stylish football of the group stages. Maradona was his usual colourful self, providing great quotes for

en

00:53:15

God the Father, God the Son - Part 1: Maradona, Messi...

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/10/04

In part one of a two-party story, we look back at Diego Maradona’s chaotic tenure as Argentina’s manager. Following Argentina’s struggles in the early stages of qualification for the 2010 World Cup, the Argentine FA turned to their old hero. Maradona, whose life since USA ’94, had been a spiral of drugs, drink, abortive comebacks, failed management attempts and near-death experiences, wasback as the leader of his nation. The fears over Maradona’s temperament and ability were initially glossed over

en

01:01:57

The Maracanã Meltdown: The 1950 World Cup 'Final'

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/07/05

In this episode, we look back at the Maracanaço – the decisive match of the 1950 World Cup, a match bound up with myths and legends. Brazil – the host nation and the hot favourites – playing in front of a packed Maracanã Stadium,needed only a draw against Uruguay to lift the Jules Rimet Cup. With Europe ravaged by war, Brazil were awarded the hosting rights for 1950. They met the challenge by building the biggest stadium in the world, which they hoped would be the site of their team’s coronation.

en

02:40:50

Back Home: England, the 1970 World Cup, Harold Wilson...

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/06/07

It’s time to revise and expand on a topic that was covered in the series one episode “The Carnival is Over”. It’s the summerof 1970 and England are the reigning World Champions. The Three Lions are one of the most feared and respected sides in world football. Some of the stalwarts of 1966 – Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst – are regarded as having improved. Sir Alf Ramsey, England's inscrutable manager, has brought in a clutch of new faces – Keith Newton, Brian

en

01:43:38

One Stupid Boy: England vs Argentina at the 1998...

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/05/03

This month, we revisit the epic last 16 match between England and Argentina from France 98. It was a match layered with history – the ‘Animals’ game from 1966, the Hand of God in 1986, not to mention the Falklands War. England, managed by Glenn Hoddle (a veteran of 1986) had already had a campaign full of talking points – Eileen Drewery the faith healer, the axing of Gazza from the final squad, the omission of David Beckham from the Tunisia match, and the belated use of Michael Owen. Led by

en

00:34:23

"Please Call The Game Off": Scotland vs Belarus in...

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/04/05

Scotland’s qualifying campaign for World Cup 98 was ticking along nicely (absent Estonians notwithstanding). As the campaign reached a climax, Scotland were top of their group and in a good position to reach their first World Cup since 1990. Off the field, change was coming to Scotland. The election of Tony Blair’s New Labour government in May 1997 meant that Scottish voters had been offered a referendum on devolution and were set to overwhelmingly endorse new devolved institutions. As a crucial

en

00:33:06

One Team in Tallinn: Scotland vs Estonia in the 1998...

World Cup Rambling ·

2025/03/01

We’re back for Series 5 of World Cup Rambling and we begin by checking in on Scotland, so often the tragic clowns of the World Cup circus. In this episode, we look at the infamous occasion in October 1996 when Scotland faced Estonia in Tallinn. There was just one problem – Estonia didn’t show up. The Scots had trained at the venue, the night before the match, and complained about the poor quality of the floodlights. The kick-off was brought forward and a tense stand-off ensued, as Scotland got

en

01:37:42

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 8 – The End of...

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/12/07

51 games down, one to go – the World Cup Final. It’s a historic occasion. Whoever comes out on top – Italy or Brazil – will be the first nation to win the World Cup four times. Memories of 1970 are evoked but the idea of Brazil’s pragmatic class of ’94 emulating Pelé and co is laughable. Italy, meanwhile, seem to be running out of players, with Roberto Baggio playing despite carrying a hamstring injury that blunts his effectiveness. The much-hyped showdown between Romario and Baggio fails to

en

01:39:50

BONUS EPISODE: Go To War: Football on the Brink in...

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/11/30

I’m joined by Jon Spurling, a football author who has been a fixture on my bookshelf over the last two decades. Some of Jon’s books are “All Guns Blazing: Arsenal in the 80s”, “Top Guns: Arsenal in the 90s”, “Rebels for the Cause: The Alternative History of Arsenal FC”, “Death or Glory: The Dark History of the World Cup” and “Get It On: How the 70s Rocked Football”.Here we discuss Jon’s latest book, “Go To War: Football on the Brink in the '80s”, which was released on 29th October 2024. We take

en

00:35:33

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 7 – Coast to Coast

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/11/02

The penultimate episode of the series and we’ve got the semi-finals. Roberto Baggio produces one of the bestindividual performances of the tournament, to give Italy a 2-1 victory over Bulgaria in New York. However, it’s a day of mixed fortunes for The Divine Ponytail, as a hamstring injury leaves him in a race against time to make the final. Meanwhile, across in Los Angeles, Romario’s goal finishes off a tired Sweden and gives Brazil a place in the final for the first time since 1970. Playing

en

00:59:31

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 6 – Heroes

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/10/05

We’ve reached the quarter-finals of USA 94, a set of games which feature dramatic late twists. It’s The Baggio Show in Boston as Italy beat Spain, with Dino opening the scoring and Roberto grabbing a late winner. Brazil unveil a famous celebration but their march to glory is threatened by a Dutch comeback until Branco (liberated from the subs bench) produces a thunderbolt free-kick. Sweden versus Romania is an intriguing battle between two dark horses, with the game exploding into life late in the

en

01:45:29

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 5 – The Show...

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/09/07

We're back with the last 16 of USA 94. Klinsmann and Voller come up with the old magic as Germany find their touch. Spain produce a performance that suggests they might finally be ready to end their decades of underachievement (yeah right). Sweden’s Three Amigos – Brolin, Dahlin, Andersson – end Saudi Arabia’s dream run. Romania and Argentina produce a match for the ages. Packie Bonner’s butter fingers end Ireland’s hopes of a second successive quarter-final. Independence Day is memorable

en

01:15:55

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 4 - The Drugs...

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/06/01

This month, the group stage of USA 94 reaches a conclusion with many teams jockeying for position. Stefan Effenberg efffectively ends his international career as the Germans have a narrow escape against South Korea, the Group of Death reaches gridlock, Saudi Arabia come up with arguably the goal of the tournament, Oleg Salenko and Roger Milla produce a day of records in San Francisco. However, the real scandal and drama is saved for Group D, where Diego Maradona fails a drug test (a shocking

en

01:25:28

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 3 - The Heat is On

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/05/03

This month we’ve got the second set of group games, which produced some notable matches and moments. Team USA triggering a soccer boom with a victory that will have fatal consequences elsewhere, Roy Hodgson’s swaggering Swiss putting the skids under Romania, a touchline explosion involving Jack Charlton and John Aldridge, Bulgaria ending one of the most embarrassing streaks in World Cup history, Arrigo Sacchi gambling hiscareer with a brave substitution, Diego Maradona equalling the all-time World

en

01:54:30

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 2 - Chain Reaction

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/04/06

This month we’ll look at the opening pair of matches in each group at USA 94. There was a raft of new laws on tackling, offside and the back pass, which FIFA hoped would liven up the show, after the stodginess of Italia 90. The gaudy opening ceremony, and Diana Ross’s penalty miss (which foreshadowed the climax of the tournament), fuelled the scepticism about taking the World Cup to a country that knew nothing of soccer but everything of crass hype and empty razzmatazz. Yet once the actual

en

02:09:49

Gloryland: USA 94 Retrospective, Part 1 - The...

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/03/02

Series 4 of World Cup Rambling and it's time to get in the DeLorean and go back thirty years for a mammoth odyssey through USA 94 - a very underrated tournament. We start the series by looking at why football (or "soccer") failed to take a hold in the United States, then having a look at the rise and fall of the North American Soccer League, America's failed bid to host the 1986 World Cup and, ultimately, the successful bid to host the 1994 World Cup, with the pitfalls on the path

en

00:02:39

TRAILER: World Cup Rambling (Series 4)

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/02/10

A snippet of what you have to look forward to in Series 4 of World Cup Rambling, which starts on 2nd March 2024.Subscribe to World Cup Rambling on your podcast platform. TWITTER @MatthewOkot @WorldCupRamble

en

01:18:29

BONUS EPISODE: O Jogo Bonito!: Brazil’s 1970 World...

World Cup Rambling ·

2024/02/03

It's time for something very special. We have World Cup Rambling’s first-ever guest. In this episode, I talk to Gary Thacker. Gary is an author and journalist, who has contributed most prominently to These Football Times, but also to other publications. Gary has written numerous books, including “Beautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje: The Unfulfilled Glory of Dutch Football”, “Out of the Blue: Chelsea’s Unlikely Champions League Triumph” and “Dutch Masters: When Ajax’s Totaalvoetbal

en

00:51:39

The Great World Cup Robbery

World Cup Rambling ·

2023/12/23

In the final episode of series three, we look at one of the strangest tales in World Cup history – the theft of the Jules Rimet Cup from a stamp exhibition in London in 1966. The holy grail of football has a storied history, carried on an ocean liner to the first World Cup in Uruguay, stashed in a shoebox under a bed during World War Two, before being stolen in London and found by a dog in 1966, then stolen again in Rio de Janeiro in 1983. The story of the London theft resembles an Ealing comedy, a

en

56 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN