Libero

France v Spain and England v Argentina are the World Cup semi-finals FIFA wanted but they could not be more contrasting in terms of what they offer the viewing public. One side promises technical prowess and a game for the chin strokers, on the other a mess of emotions and brilliant moments. You work out which way around those are being billed. Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Rory Smith have this one.

P1: (00:12)

P2: (27:44)

For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to ⁠SC Libero⁠, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a penny. Join now: ⁠liberopodcast.com⁠.

—

Produced by: Tom Bassam

Email in via ⁠getintouch@liberopodcast.com⁠

Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠@liberopod⁠

Join our Discord ⁠@Libero Podcast⁠

Follow us on X ⁠@podcast_libero⁠

Follow us on Bluesky ⁠@liberopodcast⁠

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Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
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We 're down to the final stages of the World Cup. So who is going to win it?

Jack Pitt-Brooke, Jonathan Wilson and Miguel Delaney are on today’s episode, and start with discussion of Argentina who have won their last two games 3-2 in remarkable circumstances. Then focus turns to England, as Jack and Miguel discuss their historic win at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night.

Spain have gone under the radar so far, but could their controlled style get them through just as it did in South Africa in 2010? And finally the big story of the last-16 round was Belgium defeating the US after Folarin Balogun’s controversial suspended suspension. Just how damaging will this be for FIFA, and what does it tell us about Gianni Infantino?

P1: (04:47)

P2: (28:11)

For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a penny. Join now: liberopodcast.com.

—

Produced by: Tom Cole

Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod

Join our Discord @Libero Podcast

Follow us on X @podcast_libero

Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast

Follow us on Instagram @liberopod

Follow us on TikTok @liberopod

Follow us on Facebook @liberopod

Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
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It's been a busy start to the World Cup round of 16. England triumphed on a night of great drama in Mexico City and Norway dumped out a hapless Brazil. Are these results, especially the latter, symptomatic of modern international football? Are the game's traditional powers being caught by nations with better organised youth development?

Jack Pitt-Brooke and Miguel Delaney check in from the Azteca, with John Brewin, Jonathan Wilson and Rory Smith in situ for the main talking points.

P1: (01:25)

P2: (31:37)

For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a penny. Join now: liberopodcast.com.

—

Produced by: Tom Bassam

Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod

Join our Discord @Libero Podcast

Follow us on X @podcast_libero

Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast

Follow us on Instagram @liberopod

Follow us on TikTok @liberopod

Follow us on Facebook @liberopod

Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
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As traditional World Cup giants like Germany and the Netherlands fall, their flaws are exposed but how deep do they run? Are these football cultures that have been overtaken the changes in the modern international game? Why then are France excelling? John Brewin, Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson discuss the reasons behind these shifts, as well as where new ideas in international football are coming from. They also berate some refereeing decisions, for good measure.

P1: (02:03)

P2: (28:34)

For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a penny. Join now: liberopodcast.com.

—

Produced by: Tom Bassam

Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod

Join our Discord @Libero Podcast

Follow us on X @podcast_libero

Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast

Follow us on Instagram @liberopod

Follow us on TikTok @liberopod

Follow us on Facebook @liberopod

Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Memorable moments in the 2026 World Cup group stage were rare, with Lionel Messi, Iran and the late drama of Algeria v Austria providing the best of them. With jeopardy now back on the menu as we enter the knockouts, will the identity of the winner become clearer? Or is it foolish to draw any conclusions based the low-stakes football we've seen so far?

Jack Pitt-Brooke, Rory Smith and Tariq Panja chew over the tournament so far.

P1: (00:22)

P2: (27:40)

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For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a penny. Join now: liberopodcast.com.

—

Produced by: Tom Bassam

Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod

Join our Discord @Libero Podcast

Follow us on X @podcast_libero

Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast

Follow us on Instagram @liberopod

Follow us on TikTok @liberopod

Follow us on Facebook @liberopod

Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices