The Upshot

The year is 1990. Gazzamania is sweeping the nation. And a bewildered ostrich is on the loose at Tottenham’s training ground.The culprit? Paul Gascoigne, a Geordie midfield maestro with a craving for chaos.From breaking into bank vaults to wanking in 10 Downing Street, this is the scarcely believable story of Gazza: the early years…Videos from the pod:Gazza on turning down Alex Ferguson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HUqSfdZQFoItalia 90 yellow card: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt0xx3So6zw10 Downing Street story: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nxatSvpImlYFA Cup final tackles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aww54AjXiMAGet the week’s funniest stories in sport in 3 minutes with our free Friday email:http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink 

Are you a good, funny writer who loves sport? We’re hiring a writer for our newsletter and Twitter threads. It’s a paid role - email a sample of your writing to contact@upshot.email.Join Zach and Jack for Extra Shot, our Thursday pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.On the pod today: Gael Kakuta’s evil twin, Landon Donovan’s awful hair transplant and scandal hits the hot dog eating championship.Videos from the pod:Serbian president’s son trying to fight England fans: https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1802645963250479344 England fan woke up in stadium: https://x.com/FBAwayDays/status/1802735705996636235 Scotland fan horror movie hotel: https://x.com/RoryB96/status/1802282705406640637 Ronald Koeman picking his nose: https://x.com/JaNe6X/status/1802808103068704923 Landon Donovan’s hair transplant: https://x.com/magee18/status/1802881523231641717 Sign up for our Friday newsletter spilling more of sport’s funniest stories: http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink

Bastian Schweisteiger’s hot tub trouble, Declan Rice’s IRA sympathies, and the French star’s penis enlargement.Welcome to our alternative guide to the Euros…Videos from the pod:Grealish looking for Birmingham on a map: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e75rmX2Scv4 Grealish encyclopaedia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWLnQYvU6zA Scotland fan hit by motorbike: https://x.com/CrimeLdn/status/1405772662194917377 Artem Dzyuba pilots draw penis: https://x.com/ODDSbible/status/1329722263839576066 Peter Beardsley World in Motion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPh63Y6sSKA Get the week’s funniest stories in sport in 3 minutes with our free Friday email:http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink

Join Zach and Jack for Extra Shot, our Thursday pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.On the pod: Goalkeepers accused of modern slavery, the Brentford legend turned undercover ultra and boxer Ryan Garcia is in cuffs.Sign up for our Friday newsletter spilling more of sport’s funniest stories: http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink

The year is 2006. Borat is breaking box office records. Hips Don’t Lie is number one in the charts. And in the sleepy German spa town of Baden Baden, England touch down for the World Cup.But the tranquil resort is about to be turned upside down by a posse of WAGs led by Posh Spice, Cheryl Cole and Coleen Rooney.From secret affairs to cocaine scandals, this is the story of WAGs gone wild…Videos from the pod:England’s official anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vShTd-zjS4o Sven, Sven, Sven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q33sNrncVmIGet the week’s funniest stories in sport in 3 minutes with our free Friday email:http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink

Join Zach and Jack for Extra Shot, our Thursday pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.On the pod: Ronaldo’s crying, Messi’s movie debut and more misery for Man United staffVideos from the pod:Rio Ferdinand’s commentary: https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1797178287413702885Neymar’s prank: https://x.com/FootballJOE/status/1796464271599288433El Chiringuito on Mbappe in 2022: https://x.com/ElChiringuitoEN/status/1797683460129391084El Chiringuito on Mbappe in 2024: https://x.com/ElChiringuitoEN/status/1797682504419414248 Messi’s cameo: https://x.com/Messilizer/status/1795312142385877178 IShowSpeed v Man United fans: https://x.com/FBAwayDays/status/1794410443966124440Sign up for our Friday newsletter spilling more of sport’s funniest stories: http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink

Lurking beneath its slick, modernising image, German football is hiding some dark secrets.In fact, its 21st century has been truly scandalous.From chainsaw rampages to managers on coke, welcome to a mental 20 years of German football…Videos from the pod:Christoph Daum Romania meltdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=Jo4gaXGtpmsobz_s&t=113&v=XUeOhGOD7z8&feature=youtu.beSchalke’s final day heartbreak: https://youtu.be/X-5VI7Mq3uQ?si=_75ckV4UOcx-bqbK&t=91Joachim Low’s scratch n’ sniff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NtMpU5mo2USchalke ultras attack their own players: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRslSinqWFQJens Lehmann chainsaw cartoon: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FpfaHM2WIAA2t9G.jpg:largeGet the week’s funniest stories in sport in 3 minutes with our free Friday email:http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink

Join Zach and Jack for Extra Shot, our Thursday pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week.On the pod: The MLS star knocked out by a pro boxer in a restaurant, Todd Cantwell ends racism and hooligan scraps at motorway toll booths…Videos from the pod:Lyrics to the Champions League anthem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League_AnthemJamie O’Hara on Love Undercover: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13443863/jamie-ohara-love-undercover-peacock-soccer.htmlTodd Cantwell’s tireless struggle for racial equality: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17846426849171340/?hl=enDavid Guetta’s BLM song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEI7oX0XxJw Lyon and PSG ultras torch each other’s buses: https://x.com/Lambdactu/status/1794413255299051998Sign up for our Friday newsletter spilling more of sport’s funniest stories: http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink

For 26 seasons, Sir Alex Ferguson was the ruddy cheeked, acid-tounged genius who ruled English football.But behind the trophies and the bollockings, the United gaffer presided over a relentless torrent of sex, drugs and mindless violence…25 years on from Fergie’s famous treble, this is the story the history books won’t tell…Videos from the pod:Cantona karate kick in France: https://twitter.com/UpshotTowers/status/1616050468597239810 Rhodri Giggs Paddy Power advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBlkxsbtlgw Get the week’s funniest stories in sport in 3 minutes with our free Friday email:http://www.upshot.email?utm_source=podlink