What if we told you there were some tricks that your team could use to boost their odds of making a deep run in the World Cup? Sounds pretty good, right? Today, we’re talking about some of those tricks. On this special episode of Soccer 101, courtesy of The Backheeled Show, we dig into what makes good World Cup teams...good.
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#123 The Backheeled Show: How to win the World Cup, by the numbers

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On this episode. Graham and Taylor take a longer look at the Champions' League's less-heralded sibling, the Europa League. What is the history of the tournament? How is it different from its big sibling? What changes are in store for the competition's format starting next season? And why don't we spend much time discussing it over on The Total Soccer Show? Plus, is the official anthem a banger, or just a banger to Graham?

#169 What is the Europa League and why doesn't it get more coverage?

Graham and Taylor continue to talk video games on this week's episode! This time, it's Football Manager! What is it? Why is it so popular? How into the weeds can you wade? What has been its real-world impact? We're getting into it!

#168 What is Football Manager, and why is it so addictive?

Graham and Taylor are here to discuss a topic 21 years in the making: the FIFA video game series. How long has it been around? How have the games evolved over time? What are the different options to play and why you don't just have to fear mean teens on the Internet! Plus, the role the games have played in developing the game here in the US, and the future of the series with FIFA (the governing body) going their own way.

#167 The FIFA video game series and its lasting legacy

Graham and Taylor head to South America to discuss one of the longest-running, most prestigious club competitions in world soccer: the Copa Libertadores. What is it, how does it work, who can play in it, and how do they qualify? Plus, which clubs have been the most successful historically, and how have Brazilian clubs come to dominate it more recently?

#166 What is the Copa Libertadores and why are Brazilian clubs suddenly so dominant in it?

It's a Ripped-from-the-headlines-of-the-life-of-Graham Special! What are match programmes and why are they still around? Do they exist in other sports and in other countries around the globe? How long have they been a thing? What are some of Graham's favorites, and will anything ever top the one with John McGinn on the cover? Answer: no.

#123 The Backheeled Show: How to win the World Cup, by the numbers

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