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The Totally Football Show with James Richardson
Australia advance, Poland progress and Mexico come maddeningly close to qualifying
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It’s Jimbo, Maram AlBaharna and Tim Spiers on the pod after Day 11 of the World Cup as Australia, Argentina and Poland advance to the knockout stages.
Samantha Lewis joins us after Australia pulled off a shock knockout stage progression at Denmark’s expense.
Argentina make early fears of a premature exit after their defeat to Saudi Arabia seem premature after a comfortable win over a Poland side who started counting yellow cards to avoid elimination.
Mexico so nearly made it through but a conservative start to the tournament couldn’t be compensated for by a barnstorming finish against Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead, Belgium face behind the scenes bedlam and an improving Croatian side as obstacles to their progress in this World Cup. Kristoff Terreur gives us a review of what could be a hellish night for the Red Devils.
This Totally Football Show was produced by Steve Hankey.
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Spain break down Argentina to claim their second World Cup
50:40|The European champions have become the world champions. Spain overcome Argentina to claim the world title for the second time. Jimbo, Tom Williams and Tim Spiers are poolside in LA one last time, with Duncan Alexander and Pol Ballus for company. An utterly dominant performance from La Roja cements Luis De La Fuente’s legacy. Can they be stopped? And will that be the end of Lionel Messi’s World Cup career? Plus we look back at our big tournament takeaways from the last 6 weeks. The goals, the drama, the government interference, the altitude and the skunk.England beat France 6-4 to finish 3rd! Who will take home the World Cup?
42:10|It was an incredible 10-goal thriller in Miami as England secured their best ever World Cup finish on foreign soil.Jimbo, Tom Williams, Tim Spiers and Daniel Storey react to a scarcely believable 90 minutes and look ahead to the biggest game in football.Bukayo Saka scores a hat-trick as England take home the bronze medal. But does this performance only increase the anger over Thomas Tuchel’s decisions in the semi-final? And what next for France as they say au revoir to Didier Deschamps and bonjour to Zinedine Zidane?Argentina look to defend their trophy as they face European champions Spain in the final on Sunday. Where will the game be won? Will it be Lionel Messi’s last match? Martin Mazur from El Grafico has more.Plus Morgan Rogers is off to Chelsea for £117million?Argentina break England’s hearts and reach the World Cup final
40:53|The Three Lions were minutes away from just their second ever World Cup final - but Argentina always find a way. Jimbo, Tim Spiers and Tom Williams are live in LA, with Duncan Alexander in the UK, after an incredible late comeback from the holders. 1-0 down with 85 minutes played, goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turn the game around and send Argentina through to the final against Spain on Sunday. Does Thomas Tuchel have big questions to answer about his defensive approach in the closing stages?Plus we look ahead to the big one - the 3rd/4th place play-off.Are we set for another Spain v England final?
29:15|The European champions bid to become the world champions on Sunday as Spain sweep aside France in the first semi-final.Jimbo, Tom Williams and Tim Spiers are poolside in LA after a masterclass from La Roja.France barely lay a glove on the Spanish as Didier Deschamps will bow out as Les Bleus manager on Saturday. Can anyone trouble Luis De La Fuente’s side?Will we see another Spain v England final? Jack Pitt-Brooke is in Atlanta ahead of the second semi with Argentina. Can the Three Lions overcome Messi and co and reach their first World Cup final in 60 years?Bellingham inspires England to a semi-final with Argentina
50:19|The Three Lions are through to just their 4th World Cup semi-final after coming from behind to beat Norway. Jimbo is joined by Tim Spiers, Felipe Cardenas, Phil Hay and Michael Cox after extra-time in Miami. It wasn’t pretty for England but for the second match in a row, a Jude Bellingham brace did the job as the Norwegians row home. Where does Bellingham’s performance at this tournament rank in terms of all-time England performances? And do Thomas Tuchel’s team have what it takes to go all the way? Up next in the semi-finals, it will be holders Argentina! They overcome Switzerland after extra-time and after a second yellow for simulation for Breel Embolo. We cast an eye over the semi-final line-up which sees the top four ranked teams in the world go head to head. And England and Messi come face-to-face for the very first time!Spain set up France semi - can England join them in the last four?
42:46|More late drama from the sub Merino as Spain beat Belgium to tee up a clash with Les Bleus. Jimbo, Tom Williams, Felipe Cardenas and Michael Cox take in Day 29 at the World Cup and look ahead to a big Day 30. The Red Devils put up a brave fight but an error from Lammens leads to victory for La Roja. Do Luis De La Fuente’s side have the tools to stop France? Again? England face Norway in the quarter-finals. It’s Kane v Haaland. Rice v Odegaard. Everyone versus the lightning. Martin Sleipnes explains why the Norwegians have already won. Argentina then take on Switzerland. They’ve been on the ropes in the knockouts. Can the Swiss knock them out?France ease past Morocco - is it certain to be Spain in the semis?
39:27|The French find a way yet again as their class tells in the first quarter-final of this World Cup. Jimbo, Tom Williams and Tim Spiers are baking in the LA sunshine on Day 28 of the tournament. Kylian Mbappe misses a first-half penalty but then scores and assists as Les Bleus win 2-0 against the Atlas Lions. How do you stop them? They will face the winners of Friday’s quarter-final between Spain and Belgium. Pol Ballus isn’t worried about the Red Devils. Axel Brisart thinks he should be. And are they the world’s favourite team now? Plus are England in defensive crisis ahead of their clash with Norway?Argentina make historic comeback as the quarter-finals are set
46:50|The final day of the Last 16 brought yet more drama at the World Cup. Jimbo, Tom Williams and Felipe Cardenas are in LA taking in a 27th consecutive day of football. Holders Argentina were on the verge of elimination by Egypt. 2-0 down with 10 minutes to play before Messi and co turned things around in normal time and completed possibly the game of the tournament. Colombia v Switzerland wasn’t quite as good but it’s the Swiss who reach their first quarter-final since 1954 after winning via penalty shootout. The last 8 kicks off on Thursday with France taking on Morocco. It’s a rematch of their semi-final in Qatar. Can the Atlas Lions exact revenge? Maher Mezahi has more. And we take a look at the quarter-finals as a whole. Are we about to see a first-time winner?USA turned over by Belgium, as Spain end Ronaldo’s World Cup career
36:49|Day 26 saw European dominance in the last 16 continue at the World Cup. Jimbo is joined by Tom Williams and Felipe Cardenas in Los Angeles with three of the four quarter-finals now set in stone.After all the controversy, the USA’s World Cup adventure ends at the hands of a resurgent Belgium.They will take on Spain, who beat Portugal thanks to a last-gasp Mikel Merino goal. And so ends Roberto Martinez’s tenure as Portugal manager and Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. How will we remember him?24 hours on, Natalie Gedra is still trying to digest Brazil’s exit at the hands of Norway and what Carlo Ancelotti can do to bring the good times back.Plus we look ahead to the final last 16 ties with holders Argentina facing Egypt, and Colombia taking on Switzerland. Are we all underestimating the Swiss? David Lemos has more.