It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast

Eusébio, Messi and the Best Ever World Cup Quarter-Finals

July 7, 2026·1h 5m
Episode Description from the Publisher

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 Setup00:47 Portugal vs North Korea 196603:40 Goodison Shock and Comeback08:32 Eusebio Takes Over10:10 Legacy and Middlesbrough Bond16:19 Germany vs Argentina 200617:20 Klinsmann Revolution Explained23:27 Match Drama and Lehmann Note26:11 Argentina vs Netherlands 202230:33 Battle of Lusail Chaos34:48 Penalties And Tragedy36:04 Mussolini World Cup Clash41:41 Replay And Brutality42:58 England Debate Sunderland Joke44:43 Rossi Sinks Brazil 198249:50 Romance Dies Guardiola Inspired51:57 France Brazil 1986 Classic57:43 Shootout Controversy Carlos Story01:00:31 Legacy And Wrap Up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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