England went out with a whimper against Argentina in the semi-final. Even beyond the subjective judgements on the tactics when the team retreated into the lowest of low blocks and allowed the opposition to dictate play and also the substitutions, Ezri Konsa for goalscorer Antony Gordon, Dan Burn for Declan Rice, the stats are damning. Continue reading “World Cup Week 5”
Category Archives: England
World Cup Week 3
So England squeaked past DR Congo with Harry Kane yet again the saviour and in the process stretches his record as England’s leading scorer at World Cup finals with thirteen, three ahead of Gary Lineker. England’s reliance on Kane is clear to see and he has scored 62.5% of our goals in this tournament soContinue reading “World Cup Week 3”
World Cup Week 2
After the rash of red cards in the opening match when two South Africans and one Mexican was sent off in a frenetic second half, things have calmed down somewhat but there still have been eight in total up to Thursday 25th June which matches the number sent off in the last two World CupsContinue reading “World Cup Week 2”
World Cup 2026 Week 1 Football 7th Heaven Quiz
2026 World Cup Week 1 Nuggets 1. Rash of red cards then… There were three reds issued in the space of 43 minutes of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. In the next 24 games nobody was sent off. Then in the first batch of second round matches three players received reds, includingContinue reading “World Cup 2026 Week 1 Football 7th Heaven Quiz”
It Started with a Kick Episode 112 – John Roder and a World Cup Quiz
It Started With a Kick Episode 112 : John Roder John Roder is this week’s guest who joins a glittering list of commentators on this pod, which include Guy Mowbray, Peter Drury, John Helm and most recently Mike Minay. John has been at the chalk face of commentary with a host of broadcasters such asContinue reading “It Started with a Kick Episode 112 – John Roder and a World Cup Quiz”
‘It Started With a Kick’ Episode 107 – Mark Davison
It Started With a Kick Episode 107 : Mark Davison Mark Davison is one of the first comedians we have had on this pod, Kevin Day being the first. Mark’s alter ego is Ian Fiveankles, a hoary ex-footballer who has little truck with the modern game. He is also one of the Exploding Heads duoContinue reading “‘It Started With a Kick’ Episode 107 – Mark Davison”
‘It Started with a Kick’ Episode 100
It Started With a Kick Episode 100 : special edition Welcome to this special episode of ‘It Started With a Kick’, which features a collection of some of the best clips from a vast array of guests over the last two years. It’s basically this podcast’s version of Match of the Day and sheds lightContinue reading “‘It Started with a Kick’ Episode 100”
It Started With a Kick Episode 97 – Charlotte Nicol
It Started With a Kick Episode 97 : Charlotte Nicol Charlotte has been at the heart of BBC Sport for the last few decades, having started as a producer in 1990 and clocking up half a dozen World Cups plus European Championships alongside the regular domestic league programme through Match of the Day. This stintContinue reading “It Started With a Kick Episode 97 – Charlotte Nicol”
‘It Started With a Kick’ Episodes 89 Kevin Hatchard and 90 Patrick Rodgers
It Started With a Kick Episode 89 : Kevin Hatchard Kevin will be a familiar voice to many of you and especially those who watch the Bundesliga on which Kevin has been commentating for over a decade and he also covers Premier League and Champions League, Europa League and hopefully that hugely important competition theContinue reading “‘It Started With a Kick’ Episodes 89 Kevin Hatchard and 90 Patrick Rodgers”
‘It Started With a Kick’ Episode 88 : Derek Rae
It Started With a Kick Episode 88 : Derek Rae Derek is a commentator who mainly covers the Bundesliga for ESPN as well as La Liga. He is also the voice of various incarnations of FIFA. Growing up in Aberdeen naturally his first visit to a football stadium was at Pittodrie and he cut hisContinue reading “‘It Started With a Kick’ Episode 88 : Derek Rae”
The Football Mine 