Avsnitt
-
In World Cup final week, we just had to ask Jonathan and Rob to decide on the best World Cup finals of all time - and they certainly delivered.
From Uruguay in 1930 to Qatar in 2022, there's no better way to whet your appetite for Sunday evening than by taking a trip down memory lane with the guys.
From the drama of that very first final in 1930, to the political tension and selection intrigue of Hungary’s defeat to Italy in 1938, they trace how the World Cup final quickly became a stage for far more than just football.
Along the way they revisit the heartbreak of the 1950 Maracanazo, the tactical and cultural significance of West Germany’s win over the Netherlands in 1974, and the extraordinary scale of the 1954 Miracle of Bern, when Hungary’s great side were denied by West Germany. They also reflect on the modern classic of Argentina v France in 2022.
Will we have another classic on our hands in 2026?
00:00 Uruguay 4–2 Argentina (1930)
17:45 West Germany 2–1 Netherlands (1974)
30:15 Uruguay 2–1 Brazil (1950)
40:55 Italy 4–2 Hungary (1938)
47:50 Argentina 3–3 France (2022)
54:55 West Germany 3–2 Hungary (1954)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper pick their favourite World Cup quarterfinals while previewing the upcoming last-eight: Portugal’s 5–3 comeback against North Korea at Goodison Park in 1966, highlighting Eusébio’s peak display, disputed refereeing, and the enduring Middlesbrough bond with the North Korean team; Germany–Argentina in 2006 as a pivotal step in Klinsmann’s cultural and tactical reset with Löw, Lehmann’s sock note in the shootout, and debate over Pekerman’s substitutions; and Argentina–Netherlands in 2022, remembered amid Grant Wahl’s death, for Messi’s pass, a record 18 yellows, a late Weghorst equaliser from a worked free kick, and a combustible shootout and aftermath. Wilson also covers Italy–Spain in 1934 as Mussolini’s World Cup’s key test and Draper adds Italy–Brazil 1982 and France–Brazil 1986 as defining classics.
00:00 Quarterfinal Classics Setup
00:47 Portugal vs North Korea 1966
03:40 Goodison Shock and Comeback
08:32 Eusebio Takes Over
10:10 Legacy and Middlesbrough Bond
16:19 Germany vs Argentina 2006
17:20 Klinsmann Revolution Explained
23:27 Match Drama and Lehmann Note
26:11 Argentina vs Netherlands 2022
30:33 Battle of Lusail Chaos
34:48 Penalties And Tragedy
36:04 Mussolini World Cup Clash
41:41 Replay And Brutality
42:58 England Debate Sunderland Joke
44:43 Rossi Sinks Brazil 1982
49:50 Romance Dies Guardiola Inspired
51:57 France Brazil 1986 Classic
57:43 Shootout Controversy Carlos Story
01:00:31 Legacy And Wrap Up
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Throughout the World Cup Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are recording weekly live Q&As, exclusively for our Patreon subscribers.
This week, all eyes were on England's win over DR Congo, sparking a debate on their reliance on Harry Kane. A worry, or a strength? There's a look at Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, a debate on what's happened to Germany, and so much more in this week's World Cup mailbag.
Want in? Then all you need to do is head over to www.patreon.com/ItWas and sign up for £4.99 a month. That'll get you access to Rob and Jonathan's live Q&As and a whole host of bonus content, including:
The World Cup Collection - dissecting every tournament since 1930.Retro Magazine Collection - flicking through the archives of classic football culture.Lots of bonus, one-off IWWIW specials.Plus, you'll become part of our growing IWWIW community on Patreon.Sign up today to hear the full episode - and we'll see you on Patreon. Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
To listen to the full four-part series instantly, subscribe to our Patreon where listeners can enjoy ad-free listening, our World Cup Wednesdays, bonus editions and live Q&A episodes.
Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson conclude their four-part series on England’s 1966 World Cup win, picking up from the semi-final against Portugal and Eusébio, where Alf Ramsey sticks with Geoff Hurst over the media-favoured Jimmy Greaves and England’s wingless 4-1-3-2 thrives, with Bobby Charlton scoring twice and Jack Charlton’s handball leading to a late penalty. They then set up the final against West Germany, including Ramsey’s instruction for Charlton to sit deeper and nullify Franz Beckenbauer, before revisiting a disjointed 4–2 match shaped by England’s direct play, West Germany’s controversial equaliser, Hurst’s debated goal off the bar, and his hat-trick. The episode also explores Ramsey’s vindication, England’s fitness and planning, and the broader cultural context of Swinging London, post-imperial Britain, and the night of celebrations after victory.
00:00 Doubting Ramsey
00:23 Series Setup
01:04 Semifinal Stakes
02:07 Bobby Charlton Anxiety
05:13 Greaves Or Hurst
07:12 Wingless Wonders Win
08:57 Charlton Double
11:44 Penalty Scare
12:50 Charlton Family Duty
14:53 1966 Life Off Pitch
17:47 Cinema And Trauma
20:13 Final Plan Mark Beckenbauer
22:20 Final Rewatch Context
24:03 Targeting Tilkowski
25:07 Final Goals Breakdown
26:26 German Equaliser Debate
28:13 Ramsey Team Talk Myth
29:26 Ramsey Mind Games
30:08 Fitness Wins Extra Time
30:34 Was It Over The Line
32:52 Pitch Invaders Fourth Goal
33:48 Hurst Becomes Immortal
35:01 Planning Versus Flair
36:52 Ramsey Vindicated
40:19 War Memory And Germany
43:05 Swinging London Soundtrack
45:19 Post Imperial Cool Britannia
50:48 Football Enters Mainstream
54:07 Night Of Celebration
57:05 Legacy And Farewell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
To listen to the full four-part series instantly, subscribe to our Patreon where listeners can enjoy ad-free listening, our World Cup Wednesdays, bonus editions and live Q&A episodes.
Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson continue their series on how England won the 1966 World Cup by focusing on the quarter-final against Argentina, presented as the tournament’s key and most controversial test. They explain Alf Ramsey’s tactical preparation, including hiding his 4-1-3-2 “wingless” system and replacing the injured Jimmy Greaves with the more aerially suited Geoff Hurst. The episode traces Ramsey’s lessons from England’s 1964 South American trip, where Argentina’s pragmatic defensive approach and man-marking shaped his thinking, then sets the fraught 1966 backdrop: referee paranoia, Argentina’s internal chaos and recent coup, and a Wembley training dispute caused by greyhound racing. They dissect Antonio Rattín’s baffling dismissal amid language barriers and unclear bookings, the ugly atmosphere, and England’s 1–0 win through Hurst, before covering the aftermath, including Ramsey’s “animals” remark, protests, bans, fines, and Argentina’s defiant homecoming.
00:00 Setting Up England Argentina
01:23 Ramsey Hides Wingless Wonders
03:16 Hurst Replaces Greaves
05:11 Mundialito Lessons In Brazil
09:47 Argentina Pragmatism And Press Reaction
15:43 Referee Paranoia And FIFA Politics
19:14 Argentina Chaos Before Wembley
22:40 Greyhound Racing And Pre Match Tension
26:32 Match Begins And Footage Limits
29:37 Rattin Booking Sparks Flashpoint
33:57 Booking Confusion Builds
35:06 Rattin Sent Off Mystery
38:40 Interpreter Myth Explained
41:53 Aero Bars and Union Jack
45:25 Who Was Actually Booked
46:06 Press Fury and Fix Claims
51:56 Ten Men Battle On
56:01 England Finally Break Through
57:18 Animals Comment Fallout
01:03:17 Bans Fines and Aftermath
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
To listen to the full four-part series instantly, subscribe to our Patreon where listeners can enjoy ad-free listening, our World Cup Wednesdays, bonus editions and live Q&A episodes.
Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson continue their four-part series on England’s 1966 World Cup win by tracing how Alf Ramsey’s team took shape amid low expectations and press criticism after a 3–2 Wembley loss to Austria. They discuss doubts over the 4-2-4, Bobby Charlton’s role, and growing concerns about Jimmy Greaves’ form, before key friendlies reveal Ramsey’s “wingless wonders” approach: a 4-1-3-2/4-3-3 hybrid showcased in Spain and then unveiled dramatically in Poland with the surprise inclusion of Martin Peters. At the World Cup, Ramsey initially reverts to wingers, drawing 0–0 with Uruguay, then beating Mexico 2–0 via a standout Bobby Charlton strike and France 2–0 with Roger Hunt’s goals. Two shadows emerge: Nobby Stiles’ violent conduct against France and Greaves’ shin injury that rules him out of the quarterfinal, opening the door for Geoff Hurst.
00:00 England Written Off
01:48 Austria Defeat Fallout
04:17 Ramsey Rethinks Tactics
07:47 Greaves Under Scrutiny
10:24 Spain Reveals Wingless Plan
15:08 Poland Test and Peters Shock
20:43 Hiding the System
22:21 World Cup Opener Uruguay
25:49 Uruguay Stalemate Fallout
26:49 Meet J L Manning
28:58 Tactics Jargon Backlash
32:24 Mexico Magic Moment
33:15 Charlton Screamer Breakdown
36:18 France Win And Rotation
39:04 Stiles Controversy And FA Row
42:36 Greaves Injury Hurst Opportunity
44:50 Greaves Debate Luxury Player
50:05 Next Episode And Patreon Plug
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
To listen to the full four-part series instantly, subscribe to our Patreon where listeners can enjoy ad-free listening, our World Cup Wednesdays, bonus editions and live Q&A episodes.
Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson begin a four-part series revisiting England’s 1966 World Cup win by focusing on Sir Alf Ramsey’s background and the conservative England setup he inherited, including the FA selection committee and a poor early World Cup record. They argue Ramsey, often caricatured as dour, was socially conservative and xenophobic but tactically radical, demanding control of selection and modernizing England with a system-focused approach influenced by his Ipswich success, zonal marking, and experiments that questioned traditional wingers. They discuss his reserved personality, class and heritage issues, a reported instance of backing a player convicted of gross indecency, and why blaming 1966 for later English insularity is misguided. Ramsey’s early England results are mixed, but a 1964 Brazil trip helps crystallize his shift away from 4-2-4, and by April 1965 the emerging core includes Banks, Moore, Jack Charlton, and Nobby Stiles.
00:00 Meet Alf Ramsey
01:49 Ipswich Miracle Title
03:28 Ending Selection Committees
05:20 England World Cup Woes
06:50 Dour Yet Radical
09:23 Xenophobia And Origins
14:14 Was 1966 A Curse
17:28 Ramsey Playing Roots
20:36 Ipswich Tactical Experiments
24:38 Brutalism And Football
27:27 Brutalism Meets Football
31:21 Ramsey Blueprint Emerges
33:02 First Camp Shock Therapy
36:43 Early Results and Doubts
40:05 Brazil Trip Reality Check
40:43 Curfew Crackdown
46:16 Tactics Shift and New Spine
47:51 Jack Charlton and Stiles Debut
53:19 Foundations of 1966
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week's episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by Tim Vickery to discuss the extraordinary story of Brazil at the World Cup.
From the ultra-nationalism and hysteria of 1938, to the trauma of the Maracanazo in 1950, and the glorious Pelé years that forged a nation's identity between 1958 and 1970. Vickery traces every Brazilian World Cup campaign.
Drawing on his new book Mundiales, Vickery offers a uniquely South American perspective on how the beautiful game's most celebrated nation has wrestled with myth, race, politics, and tactical evolution across nearly a century of football.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and Carlo Ancelotti now at the helm, can Brazil rediscover their identity, or has the ghost of 1970 become an impossible standard?
00:00 Introduction — Tim Vickery Joins from Rio
06:30 The Myth of Samba Football
13:00 1938, Radio, and Tropical Nationalism
19:30 1950, The Maracanazo and a Nation's Trauma
27:00 1954, The Battle of Bern and Revenge Football
31:30 1958, Meticulous Planning, Pelé, and Redemption
37:20 The Post-1970 Identity Crisis
41:00 1982, Failure and a Lost Midfield Art
47:00 The Domestic Decline of Brazilian Coaching
49:30 Qatar 2022, Were Brazil Really That Far Off?
52:00 Carlo Ancelotti and the 2026 World Cup
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week's episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper pick their six greatest European Cup and Champions League finals of all time.
From the 127,000 who stayed to applaud Real Madrid's 7-3 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960, to Ajax passing Juventus into submission in 1973 and Pep Guardiola's Barcelona spearheaded by Xavi flying to the title at Wembley in 2011.
Wilson and Draper trace the tactical revolutions, romantic triumphs, and spectacular collapses that defined European football's greatest competition.
With Arsenal facing PSG in this week's Champions League final, will Mikel Arteta join the elite list of managers who have won Europes’s elite competition or will Luis Enrique go back to back with PSG?
00:00 Introduction — Champions League Final Week
06:30 Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt (1960)
19:20 Ajax 1-0 Juventus (1973)
34:50 AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona (1994)
42:15 Celtic 2-1 Inter Milan (1967)
53:40 Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United (2011)
58:10 Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid (1962)
01:03:20 Why Not 1999 or 2005? — And Can PSG Become an All-Time Great?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Listen to the Full Episode on the IWWIW Patreon here...
In this Patreon special of It Was What It Was, Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper speak with Jonathan Northcroft about the updated paperback edition of their Gareth Southgate book, retitled Inside England, which adds four new chapters. They discuss Southgate’s cultural reset, including the Royal Marines camp at Lympstone, and trace the deeper roots of England’s revival through reforms such as EPPP and England DNA, alongside figures like Dan Ashworth, Dave Redding, Trevor Brooking and Greg Dyke’s 2022 World Cup target. They cover how improved youth development, psychology and data-led penalty preparation helped transform England into a resilient tournament team, before assessing Euro 2024’s tactical problems and the FA’s decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel for “wow factor” and elite coaching. They end by weighing concerns about recent friendlies, squad management and camp culture heading into the World Cup.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week's episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by Michael Grant, Scottish football correspondent for The Times and author of Fergie Rises, to tell the story of how a young Alex Ferguson shattered the Old Firm duopoly and transformed Aberdeen into serial winners.
This Episode was recorded before the dramatic showdown on the final day of the SPL season between Celtic and Hearts, but was this just the start of the Hearts story? Will they continue threatening to break the Rangers-Celtic stranglehold for years to come? Wilson, Draper and Grant trace the remarkable parallels with Ferguson's Aberdeen revolution. They explore how a brash 36-year-old manager, fresh from a humiliating tribunal after being sacked by St Mirren, walked into a club that had nearly been relegated two years earlier and forged a dynasty. Along the way, they examine the clashes on the pitch, the psychological scars of Fergie's playing days, the infamous post-cup final rant that still hurts his players 40 years on. Michael Grant reveals the man behind the myth... volatile, funny, manipulative, and utterly relentless.
00:00 Introduction — Hearts, the Old Firm, and Why Fergie Matters Now
06:30 Aberdeen Before Ferguson — Nearly Relegated
12:45 The St Mirren Sacking and the Tribunal
19:20 The Westhill Willy Biters
27:10 Willie Miller and the Power Struggle
34:50 Breaking the Old Firm's Psychological Hold
42:15 Winning the League — 5-0 at Easter Road
48:00 Knocking on Fergie's Door at 3am
53:40 The Liverpool Humiliation
58:10 Fergie's Fury — The Morning After Anfield
01:03:20 Youth Development and Building a Dynasty
01:09:00 The Infamous 1983 Cup Final Rant
01:14:30 Why the Old Firm Were Vulnerable — and can Hearts Can Do It Again?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week's episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper tell the remarkable story of Bert Trautmann — the former Nazi paratrooper who became Manchester City's beloved goalkeeper and an unlikely symbol of Anglo-German reconciliation. 70 years on from the legendary 1956 FA Cup final, Wilson and Draper trace Trautmann's extraordinary journey: from Hitler Youth member and fighting on the Eastern Front, to prisoner of war in England, to the man who played on with a broken neck at Wembley. They examine his teenage indoctrination, the atrocity he witnessed, that shattered his faith in Nazism and the 25,000 protesters at Maine Road. Along the way, they explore the brutal treatment of goalkeepers in this era and how three successive cup final incidents began to change the game's laws. Finally, they reflect on how a flawed, charismatic man became the perfect bridge between two nations.
00:00 Jimmy Ashcroft and the Goalkeeper's Lot
06:30 Hitler Youth — Trautmann's Indoctrination
12:45 The Eastern Front
19:20 Witnessing the SS Massacre
25:00 Captured Three Times — Soviets, Americans, and a Cup of Tea
27:10 Prisoner of War and the Accidental Goalkeeper
34:50 Staying in England
42:15 25,000 Protesters
48:00 Winning Over Manchester
53:40 The 1956 FA Cup Final — Playing On with a Broken Neck
58:10 The Dangerous Life of the Goalkeeper
01:03:20 Footballer of the Year and Personal Tragedy
01:09:00 Burma, Women's Football, and an OBE
01:14:30 The Perfect Symbol of Reconciliation
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week's episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper revisit the 1995-96 Premier League season. 30 years on from one of the great title races. They trace Manchester United's unlikely triumph, beginning with the summer meltdown that saw Ince, Hughes, and Kanchelskis all depart, the infamous opening-day defeat to Aston Villa, and Alan Hansen's immortal verdict. From Cantona's Paris crisis and Ferguson's diplomatic dinner to Newcastle's flying start and that seemingly insurmountable 12-point lead, Wilson and Draper unpick every twist. They examine Schmeichel's heroics in the pivotal March showdown at St James' Park, the Tino Asprilla effect, the curse of the grey shirts at The Dell, and finally the extraordinary moment Kevin Keegan lost his composure on live television.
00:00 Alan Hansen Sets the Scene
06:30 The Summer Meltdown — Ince, Hughes, Kanchelskis
12:45 Class of '92 and the Aston Villa Opener
19:20 Cantona's Paris Crisis and Ferguson's Rescue Mission
27:10 Newcastle's Flying Start and the 12-Point Lead
34:50 The March Showdown at St James' Park
42:15 Tino Asprilla and the Rodney Marsh Debate
48:00 Liverpool 4, Newcastle 3 — The Moment It Turned
53:40 The Grey Shirts and the Southampton Collapse
58:10 The Mind Games Begin
01:03:20 Keegan's Meltdown — "I Will Love It"
01:09:00 United Win the League and the Double
01:14:30 Why This Season Made the Premier League
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week’s episode, co-hosts Jonthan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by Sports Journalist and author Jonathan Northcroft to take a look 10 years on from that extraordinary and famous Premier League win! They frame the story around key pivot points, including the Valentine’s Day defeat at Arsenal and the self-belief it sparked, plus Ranieri’s unexpected decision to still grant the squad a holiday. Northcroft traces the longer build-up through the 2013 Watford play-off heartbreak, Nigel Pearson’s cross-department reset, the 2014 Championship-winning platform (and the later FFP breach), and the club’s smart recruitment and early data use that delivered players like Kanté, Mahrez and Okazaki. They cover Pearson’s departure after off-field incidents, the scepticism around Ranieri’s appointment, his “dilly ding” media touch, rivals’ crises, standout wins over Liverpool and Manchester City, Spurs’ chase, and the city’s all-in celebrations as the miracle became real.
06:35 Origins of the Build
10:39 FFP and the Promotion Debate
11:35 Recruitment and Data Edge
17:36 Kante and Mahrez Backstories
22:22 Pearson Great Escape and Exit
26:10 Ranieri Arrives Against the Odds
27:46 Dilly Ding and Pizza Psychology
35:24 Chelsea Chaos Unravels
41:42 Big Clubs in Crisis
45:02 Vardy Volley and City Statement
47:37 Leicester Media Frenzy
53:30 Spurs Pressure and Title Night
59:19 Leicester Celebrates as One
01:04:30 Bonkers Finale
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was the football history podcast. In today’s episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper bring this Graham Taylor series to a close with the Oslo qualifier that defined his reign: a chaotic, tactically muddled 2–0 loss to Norway at the peak of their ‘golden age’, captured in painful detail by The Impossible Job. Unpacking Taylor’s mounting stress, tabloid caricature and “no‑win” selection calls—especially the dilemma of persisting with an undercooked Paul Gascoigne—before explaining how the back-three plan collapsed, England’s structure unravelled, and Norway’s alertness (including a quick free kick) punished them. The episode breaks down England’s chaotic structure, Norway’s tactical calm under Egil “Drillo” Olsen, and Taylor’s famous touchline outbursts, before tracing the fallout: “Norse Manure” headlines, concerns the players had stopped responding, and a demoralising US tour. England briefly revive by beating Poland, but lose in Rotterdam and, despite winning 7–1 in San Marino after conceding almost instantly, miss out as the Netherlands win in Poland. They assess Taylor’s broader legacy, his misfortune with timing and player form, and his later rehabilitation at Watford.
01:51 Norway’s Golden Generation
04:51 Tabloid Mockery Era
06:11 Psychology and Pressure
08:18 The Gaza Fitness Dilemma
18:30 Paranoia and Tactical Switch
22:50 System Collapse in Oslo
25:57 Quick Free Kick Nightmare
29:41 Norway Strike Again
30:32 Tabloid Backlash
32:07 Tactics And Trust
35:18 Bigger Picture Failings
42:56 USA Tour Fallout
43:49 Last Chance Qualifiers
45:36 San Marino Shock
48:28 Reassessing the Taylor Legacy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was. In today's episode, co-hosts Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson continue Graham Taylor’s England story as the 1994 World Cup qualifying begins to wobble, with Paul Gascoigne’s talent and volatility dominating the narrative. They examine how Taylor’s pragmatic, direct style—shaped by lower-league realities and later linked (often unfairly) to FA long-ball doctrine—collided with more technical European approaches, and how internal battles involving Charles Hughes and data pioneer Charles Reap poisoned the backdrop. England’s campaign lurches through a Norway draw at Wembley after a late stunner, a Gascoigne-inspired win over Turkey, and a damaging 2–2 draw with the Netherlands featuring an undetected elbow and a late penalty. With Gascoigne returning in a mask, England then stumble in a hostile Poland away match and escape with a late equaliser, before Taylor’s brutal “headless chickens” verdict leaves his team heading to Oslo under growing pressure.
00:24 Setting the Scene
03:08 Taylor’s Pragmatic Roots
06:50 Pressing vs Possession
10:04 Charles Hughes and the Winning Formula
13:55 Reap vs Hughes Fallout
19:31 Norway’s Long Ball Irony
21:59 Back to Qualifying Hopes
24:10 Gazza’s Norway Controversy
26:50 Taylor’s Gaza Dilemma
28:22 Norway Opener Heartbreak
30:53 Turkey Win and Dependence
32:53 Too Honest With Press
40:12 Dutch Clash at Wembley
44:13 Mask Return and Mania
45:52 Poland Chaos and Critique
49:03 Headless Chickens Finale
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. Co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper continue on from last week’s episode with Jan Fjortoft to delve into how things went wrong for Graham Taylor during his time as England manager. In this first part of a three part series on Graham Taylor (following our episode with Fjortoft) we take a look at the high of Italia ’90 to the early warning signs of Graham Taylor’s troubled England reign, setting up the wider story of his eventual downfall. Central to the episode is Paul Gascoigne’s rise into “Gaza mania,” the off-field chaos and disciplinary problems that followed, including the 1991 FA Cup final knee rupture and subsequent setbacks. Taylor struggled to manage both the player and the circus around him. England qualified for Euro 1992 but drew twice, lost to Sweden and Taylor’s substitution of Gary Lineker became emblematic as tabloid ridicule culminate in a reputational collapse for Taylor.
01:05 The Impossible Job Era
07:39 Referees And Rotterdam
12:47 Italia 90 Reality Check
20:02 Gaza Mania Begins
25:31 Euro Qualifiers Begin
28:24 Ireland Away Selection
30:08 Taylor Press Tightrope
35:48 Cup Final Knee Rupture
41:46 Euro 92 Sweden Turning Point
42:55 Lineker Sub Controversy
47:50 Fitness Gap And Refuelling
49:32 Turnip Taylor Tabloid Sting
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. Today co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by a very special returning guest - Jan Fjørtoft! In this episode, we will explore Norway’s remarkable rise in the early 1990s and their famous 2–0 win over Graham Taylor’s England in 1993. Fjørtoft explains how Egil “Drillo” Olsen took a previously struggling national team and built belief through a disciplined, direct style, carefully defined roles, and detailed match analysis using hand-written stats and video. The episode breaks down the key tactical choices that unsettled England, revisits both Norway goals, and follows the qualifier run that took Norway to their first World Cup since 1938. Norway will return to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1998. This episode will be followed by a three part special on Graham Taylor.
01:12 Norway before the rise
04:09 Olsen arrives and stirs
06:47 Direct football philosophy
14:31 Stats and analysis
20:05 Defined roles and system
23:40 Beating England
28:12 Tactical switch
31:33 Gascoigne fitness factor
32:50 Olsen’s Selection Mind Games
37:20 Two Goals Breakdown
42:41 Road to USA 94 Sealed
45:45 Poland Night and Wild Celebrations
48:46 Heroes Welcome in Norway
52:04 World Cup Heat Prep Fiasco
59:59 Egil Olsen Legacy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper take you back to the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
On home soil in England, the hosts claimed their first and only World Cup title. Captain Bobby Moore marshalled the side with composure, while Geoff Hurst rose to immortality with a historic hat-trick in the final. England’s triumph, sealed in a dramatic victory over West Germany, remains one of the most iconic moments in football history and the nations greatest footballing day.
You can listen to the full episode on Patreon, along with the below privileges:
BONUS EDITIONSExclusive deep dives, specials & extended conversations from one-off specials to extra episodes that expand on our weekly free shows, you’ll get fresh, members-only content - including our “Bonus Editions” strand where Rob and Jonathan go deeper into football’s biggest stories and hidden histories.
WORLD CUP WEDNESDAYS!Our countdown to 2026 - every tournament revisited Join Rob and Jonathan as they walk through every World Cup from 1930 to today, exploring the drama, evolution, legends, controversies and cultural impact of each tournament.
RETRO MAGAZINE COLLECTIONFlicking through the archives of classic football culture A nostalgic series diving into the pages of Shoot! and other retro football magazines - revisiting the stars, forgotten features, and football fandom of decades past.
MONTHLY LIVE Q&A WITH ROB & JONATHANYour chance to ask two of football’s leading writers anything. Submit your questions about recent episodes, football history, their journalism, or upcoming projects — and hear their answers in our LIVE members-only Q&A.
JOIN THE IT WAS COMMUNITYConnect with fellow fans & nostalgia lovers Meet other members who share your passion for football history. Be part of the conversation and help shape the future of the show.
What’s includedExclusive contentQ&AsAd-free episodesPrivate communityFollow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. This week, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by an extraudinary guest - Clyde Best. An absolute pioneer to the game, born in Bermuda, Clyde would become one of the first black players in First Division football in England. His new film, ‘Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story’ will be shown for a week at Sadler’s Wells East from 25th March.
In this episode, Clyde recounts arriving in England as a teenager, getting lost at West Ham station and being taken in by the Charles family. He reflects on his rise at West Ham, getting his debut against Arsenal under Ron Greenwood in 1969 and playing alongside the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. Clyde talks of the his Bermuda upbringing, national team breakthrough and the influence that his father had on him. Best reflects on being one of the first prominent black players in English football, enduring racist abuse and an acid-attack threat and playing against Pelé. He also discusses NASL moves to Tampa Bay and Portland Timbers and the inspiration he provided players such as Ian Wright.
01:29 Lost at Heathrow
03:23 The Charles Family
06:59 Bermuda Beginnings
10:20 West Ham Dream
13:20 Ron Greenwood Impact
15:22 Fast Track Debut
18:35 Breaking Barriers
24:06 Facing Racism
31:03 Scoring Against Pelé
35:20 Leaving West Ham for the NASL
37:17 American Soccer Showmanship
43:01 Legacy as a Pioneer
46:57 Honorary Doctorate
49:44 His love for West Ham
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Visa fler
