As we approach the penultimate hurdle it is time to take a wider view of the two main protagonists at this World Cup. Dominic Hougham, author of ‘50 Great World Cup Matches…and why you should watch them’, joins Martyn to discuss Italy’s semi final with Bulgaria but also the tensions between free spirits and control-freak coaches and the national team’s performance in an era of league domination. Pete Watson returns to look at Brazil v Sweden, the importance of the World Cup to the Brazilian nation and how they look back on this more prosaic side 30 years on.

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