These Football Times

The one where Gary Thacker breaks the podcast. Ahead of a new These Football Times magazine devoted to the might of Uruguayan football, the South America Files team tries to select the nation’s finest five-a-side team. Chaos ensues.

As Colombia prepare for their first Copa América final since 2001, Gary Thacker, Steven Scragg and Pete Watson trace the reasons for their renaissance under coach Néstor Loreno, look ahead to the final itself and discuss the domestic implications of their tournament exploits. 

Author Christopher James Evans finds himself in the Centre Circle to discuss his excellent book on the history of Athletic Club. We would call it the last word on the club, but as they keep winning trophies, he has to keep adding chapters.

Pending a new in-depth South America Files series coming your way shortly, the team have produced this pilot project: pick the greatest five-a-side team possible from each of South America’s constituent countries. Think of it as the South America Files meets Mount Rushmore. We road test it by trying to compile Argentina’s finest five-a-side team. 

The European Championship is finally upon us and a month of magical moments and shattered dreams lie ahead. Will Gareth Southgate lead England to tournament victory or will M&S be awash with returned cardigans from disenchanted fans before the group stages are over? Matthew Gibbs, Rob Fletcher and Gary Thacker may have the answers.

Aidan Williams takes Gary Thacker on a rollercoaster ride through what he considers to be the greatest match in European Championship history, France’s 3-2 win over Portugal in the semi-final of Euro 84. Iconic venue, iconic kit, Michel Platini at his peak and John Motson going all boy soprano. What’s not to love?

Many methods of deciding drawn cup ties have been tried done the years, from drawing lots and tossing coins to penalty shootouts and the golden goal, which was a part of the Euros in 1996 and 2000.

In the latter tournament, France rescued themselves from seemingly certain defeat, equalising against Italy in the 93rd minute of normal time before going on to win it with David Trezeguet’s extra-time golden goal. But what would VAR say about such shenanigans these days? Rob Fletcher and Gary Thacker look for an answer. 

The European Championship final of 1988 will always be remembered for that goal by Marco van Basten, but beyond that, it was the day when Rinus Michels, architect of the Total Football that took the Netherlands so close to the summit in 1974, finally won a major international tournament. Dr David Turner relives that day, that goal and that trophy. 

It’s a grand old team to write about and These Football Times is proving the point with a special magazine dedicated to Everton. Aidan Williams, Chris Lepkowski and true blue Evertonian Paul Mc Parlan talk you through some of the contents of the magazine, covering league and cup wins, great players and managers, and Goodison Park itself, and ruminate on Everton’s place in the wider scheme of English football, past and present.

It might not have been a Panenka, but when Stuart Pearce blasted his penalty into the Spanish net during the quarter-final shootout at Euro 96, he produced a penalty, and certainly a celebration, every bit as iconic. Dave Bowler and Gary Thacker debate the stones of steel shown by Pearce on a day when, after his penalty nightmare at Italia 90, lesser men might have found their way to the back of the bus queue.