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 Setup

00:47 Portugal vs North Korea 1966

03:40 Goodison Shock and Comeback

08:32 Eusebio Takes Over

10:10 Legacy and Middlesbrough Bond

16:19 Germany vs Argentina 2006

17:20 Klinsmann Revolution Explained

23:27 Match Drama and Lehmann Note

26:11 Argentina vs Netherlands 2022

30:33 Battle of Lusail Chaos

34:48 Penalties And Tragedy

36:04 Mussolini World Cup Clash

41:41 Replay And Brutality

42:58 England Debate Sunderland Joke

44:43 Rossi Sinks Brazil 1982

49:50 Romance Dies Guardiola Inspired

51:57 France Brazil 1986 Classic

57:43 Shootout Controversy Carlos Story

01:00:31 Legacy And Wrap Up

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Throughout the World Cup Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are recording weekly live Q&As, exclusively for our Patreon subscribers.

This week, all eyes were on England's win over DR Congo, sparking a debate on their reliance on Harry Kane. A worry, or a strength? There's a look at Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, a debate on what's happened to Germany, and so much more in this week's World Cup mailbag.

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Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson conclude their four-part series on England’s 1966 World Cup win, picking up from the semi-final against Portugal and Eusébio, where Alf Ramsey sticks with Geoff Hurst over the media-favoured Jimmy Greaves and England’s wingless 4-1-3-2 thrives, with Bobby Charlton scoring twice and Jack Charlton’s handball leading to a late penalty. They then set up the final against West Germany, including Ramsey’s instruction for Charlton to sit deeper and nullify Franz Beckenbauer, before revisiting a disjointed 4–2 match shaped by England’s direct play, West Germany’s controversial equaliser, Hurst’s debated goal off the bar, and his hat-trick. The episode also explores Ramsey’s vindication, England’s fitness and planning, and the broader cultural context of Swinging London, post-imperial Britain, and the night of celebrations after victory.

00:00 Doubting Ramsey

00:23 Series Setup

01:04 Semifinal Stakes

02:07 Bobby Charlton Anxiety

05:13 Greaves Or Hurst

07:12 Wingless Wonders Win

08:57 Charlton Double

11:44 Penalty Scare

12:50 Charlton Family Duty

14:53 1966 Life Off Pitch

17:47 Cinema And Trauma

20:13 Final Plan Mark Beckenbauer

22:20 Final Rewatch Context

24:03 Targeting Tilkowski

25:07 Final Goals Breakdown

26:26 German Equaliser Debate

28:13 Ramsey Team Talk Myth

29:26 Ramsey Mind Games

30:08 Fitness Wins Extra Time

30:34 Was It Over The Line

32:52 Pitch Invaders Fourth Goal

33:48 Hurst Becomes Immortal

35:01 Planning Versus Flair

36:52 Ramsey Vindicated

40:19 War Memory And Germany

43:05 Swinging London Soundtrack

45:19 Post Imperial Cool Britannia

50:48 Football Enters Mainstream

54:07 Night Of Celebration

57:05 Legacy And Farewell

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