3d ago

FIFA Barbarians '26

FIFA Barbarians 26: The World Cup Team FIFA Forgot Should FIFA create a World Cup Barbarians team for future men’s and women’s tournaments? In this special episode of By Far The Greatest Team, we take one of football’s most ridiculous ideas and, naturally, start treating it far more seriously than we probably should. What if FIFA held back one slot at future World Cups for a Barbarians-style football team — a mixed squad made up of players whose nations failed to qualify, players left out of final squads, and the great talents the tournament simply does not get to show? No, not to replace national teams. No, not to steal anyone’s place. But to give football’s biggest tournament one more story. Welcome to the FIFA Barbarians 26. Using our own selection rules — players must either come from nations that failed to qualify or have been left out by countries that did, with a maximum of three players from any one nation — we build a fantasy squad good enough to make FIFA’s marketing department reach for a whiteboard. There are elite goalkeepers denied the stage. There are defenders from Italy, England and beyond. There are midfielders with Premier League power, Champions League class and World Cup heartbreak. There are forwards who would terrify most international back lines. And yes, there is a manager. A very particular manager. We name-drop, argue over, and eventually select from players including Jan Oblak, Donnarumma, Ramsdale, Matty Cash, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Alessandro Bastoni, Sandro Tonali, Dominik Szoboszlai, Foden, Palmer, Kvaratskhelia, Bryan Mbeumo, Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Robert Lewandowski, João Pedro and many more. But who actually makes the final XI? Who gets squeezed out by the three-player-per-nation rule? And which manager is trusted to lead football’s most chaotic tournament experiment? That is where the fun begins. Takeaways Why a World Cup Barbarians team might be a ridiculous idea FIFA should actually take seriouslyHow players from failed nations and major squad snubs could form a genuine elite sideWhy modern football, fantasy football culture and global fandom make this idea more relevant than everThe case for including a Barbarians team in future men’s and women’s FIFA World CupsThe rules behind our FIFA Barbarians 26 selection processWhy the missing-player pool is much stronger than it first appearsHow the three-player-per-nation rule creates some brutal selection callsAnd why this is not just a fantasy XI — it is a proper football argumentIf you love football history, World Cup debate, fantasy XIs, classic tournament stories, tactical arguments, forgotten stars, cult heroes, and slightly absurd ideas taken far too seriously, this one is for you. Follow By Far The Greatest Team for more football history, legendary teams, forgotten sides, cult heroes, World Cup stories and the search for the greatest football team of all time. If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 16m

Jun 4

France 1992-1993

How Great Were France 1994, the team nthat never reached USA '94 How can a team featuring Eric Cantona, Jean-Pierre Papin, David Ginola, Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly and Laurent Blanc fail to qualify for a World Cup? In this special episode of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham and Jamie are joined by author James Bennett, whose fascinating book No Shows explores some of football's greatest qualification failures. Together, they put Gérard Houllier's France of 1992–93 under the Greatness Index microscope and investigate one of international football's most astonishing collapses. France appeared destined for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. With a squad packed with world-class talent and needing only a single point from their final two qualifiers against Israel and Bulgaria, qualification looked certain. Instead, two dramatic defeats produced one of football's most infamous disasters and left a generation of French stars watching USA '94 from home. The episode explores the rise and fall of Houllier's France, the controversial scapegoating of David Ginola following his famous cross against Bulgaria, the leadership of Cantona and Papin, and whether this glamorous but fragile side was ultimately a necessary stepping stone towards France's World Cup triumph in 1998. Was this one of football's greatest qualification failures? Did France 1993 have to fail for France 1998 to succeed? And can a team achieve greatness despite never reaching the tournament they seemed destined to play in? Takeaways Why France were overwhelming favourites to qualify for USA '94 The rise of Gérard Houllier's talented but fragile French side The dramatic defeats to Israel and Bulgaria that changed football history David Ginola's infamous cross and the debate over blame and scapegoating Eric Cantona's international career and the World Cup he never played in How the failure shaped the future World Cup-winning France team Insights from James Bennett's book No Shows Whether France 1992–93 deserve a place among football's great "what if?" teams If you enjoy football history, forgotten stories, great teams, tragic collapses and lively debate, subscribe to By Far The Greatest Team wherever you get your podcasts. Follow, rate and review the show to help more football fans discover the greatest stories from the history of the game. #France1993 #France94 #DavidGinola #EricCantona #JeanPierrePapin #GerardHoullier #WorldCup1994 #USA94 #FootballHistory #ByFarTheGreatestTeam #NoShows #JamesBennett #InternationalFootball #FranceNationalTeam #GreatnessIndex If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 4m

May 28

England 1986

How Great Were England 1986? Bobby Robson, Maradona and the World Cup That Became Myth Was England’s 1986 World Cup campaign a glorious failure, a missed opportunity, or simply the moment Bobby Robson’s side ran into Diego Maradona at the peak of his powers? In this traditional end-of-season England special of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham and Jamie are joined by Steve Double to place Bobby Robson’s England 1986 under the ranking microscope. From the chaos of Mexico’s heat and altitude to England’s stuttering start, Bryan Robson’s injury, Ray Wilkins’ red card, Gary Lineker’s Golden Boot surge, and the tactical reshuffle that accidentally brought Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid and Steve Hodge into sharper focus, this is a deep dive into one of England’s most fascinating World Cup campaigns. And then, of course, there is Argentina. The quarter-final at the Azteca gave football two of its most famous goals: The Hand of God and The Goal of the Century. One England could never forgive. One England could never deny. We revisit the build-up, the Falklands shadow, Maradona’s genius, Peter Shilton’s protest, Terry Butcher and Terry Fenwick’s pursuit, and the late arrival of John Barnes — whose cameo almost changed the entire story. We also explore the afterlife of the match, including Steve Hodge’s swap with Maradona and the famous shirt that decades later sold for a world-record fee. Key Takeaways How Bobby Robson was viewed before Mexico 86Why England’s original shape struggledHow injuries and suspension forced a better tactical balanceGary Lineker’s rise from pressure to Golden Boot winnerWhy England vs Argentina became more than just a quarter-finalThe two Maradona goals: controversy, genius and football immortalityJohn Barnes’ late impact and the great “what if?”Steve Hodge, Maradona’s shirt and the mythology of football objectsWhere England 1986 belongs in the Greatness Rankings Keywords: 1986 World Cup, England football, Bobby Robson, Diego Maradona, Hand of God, Goal of the Century, England vs Argentina, Gary Lineker, Steve Hodge, John Barnes, Ray Wilkins, Bryan Robson, football history, World Cup analysis, By Far The Greatest Team If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 10m

May 21

World Cup USA 1994

How great was World Cup USA 1994 — and did it change football forever? In a special change of direction for By Far The Greatest Team, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney step away from ranking a club or national team to debate the greatness of an entire tournament: World Cup USA 1994. And who better to guide us through it than legendary US soccer writer Michael Lewis, a journalist who has covered World Cups since 1986 and witnessed first-hand the rise, fall and rebirth of soccer in America. The 1994 World Cup arrived in the United States surrounded by scepticism. Could a country obsessed with NFL, baseball and basketball really host football’s greatest tournament? Would American crowds understand it? Would the world embrace a World Cup played in giant stadiums, under summer heat, in a nation still searching for its soccer identity? The answer, as history now shows, was far bigger than anyone expected. This episode explores how USA 94 became one of the most important World Cups in modern football history. From record-breaking attendances and packed stadiums to the commercial explosion that followed, the tournament helped prove that soccer could work in America. It laid the foundations for Major League Soccer, changed perceptions of the sport in the United States, and gave FIFA a glimpse of football’s huge commercial future. But this was not just a business story. USA 94 gave us unforgettable football drama: Brazil’s fourth World Cup triumph, Romário and Bebeto, Roberto Baggio’s penalty heartbreak, Bulgaria’s golden run, Ireland shocking Italy, Maradona’s failed drugs test, the tragedy of Andrés Escobar, and a tournament that mixed sunshine, spectacle, controversy and genuine sporting greatness. Graham, Jamie and Michael debate whether USA 1994 deserves to be remembered as a great World Cup, a commercially important World Cup, or one of the true turning points in football history. And, of course, it all ends with the big question: Where does World Cup USA 1994 rank in the Greatness Index of World Cup finals? Takeaways USA 94 changed soccer in America The tournament helped shift soccer from a niche sport in the United States into something with mainstream potential. It helped create Major League Soccer The success of the World Cup directly contributed to the launch of MLS in 1996, giving American soccer a professional foundation. It proved football could sell in the US Huge crowds, major sponsorships and global attention showed FIFA the commercial power of the American market. The tournament was packed with iconic moments From Baggio’s missed penalty to Maradona’s exit, Brazil’s triumph and Bulgaria’s shock run, USA 94 delivered unforgettable stories. Its legacy is still being felt today With the World Cup returning to North America in 2026, the shadow of 1994 still hangs over the future of football in the United States. If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 28m

May 14

FA Cup Pioneers: Wanderers 1872-1883

How great were the FA Cup pioneers — and were Wanderers the first truly great cup team? In this special episode of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by brilliant football history guest Phil Craig to travel right back to the birth of the FA Cup — from its Victorian amateur origins to the moment football began its journey from gentlemanly pastime to national obsession. This is the story of the world’s oldest football competition before it became the FA Cup we know today: no fixed pitch markings, teams changing ends after goals, clubs withdrawing at will, replays, byes, railway journeys, public-school networks, and a cast of extraordinary football pioneers. At the centre of it all stands Charles Alcock, the organiser and visionary behind the competition, and Wanderers, the wandering, aristocratic, brilliantly connected team who dominated the earliest years of the Cup. But this episode is about much more than one club. Graham, Jamie and Phil explore the rise of early FA Cup giants like Royal Engineers, Oxford University, Queen’s Park, Old Etonians, Marlow, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Olympic and Blackburn Rovers, tracing how the competition evolved from an amateur southern gentleman’s tournament into the proving ground for professionalism, northern power and the modern game. From the first FA Cup final in 1872 to the symbolic working-class breakthrough of Blackburn Olympic in 1883, this is a story of changing rules, changing tactics, changing class structures — and football slowly becoming the people’s game. Were Wanderers simply the best connected team of their age, or should they be remembered as one of football’s first great sides? The FA Cup was chaotic from the start The early tournament featured withdrawals, walkovers, replays, unusual rules and teams who barely resembled modern clubs. Wanderers were football’s first cup specialists With five FA Cup wins in the competition’s first seven seasons, Wanderers became the defining team of the FA Cup’s earliest era. Charles Alcock helped invent football’s competitive future His vision for a national knockout tournament gave football one of its most enduring institutions. The Cup tells the story of football’s social shift From public schools and old boys’ networks to mill towns, factories and northern professionalism, the FA Cup became a mirror of Victorian Britain. Blackburn Olympic changed everything Their 1883 victory over Old Etonians marked one of the great symbolic turning points in football history. If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 25m

May 7

Leyton Orient 1994-1995

How Great Were Leyton Orient 1994–1995? | Football Club for a Fiver, John Sitton & Football’s Rawest Documentary What happens when a football documentary captures not the glory of the game, but the collapse — emotional, financial, tactical and human — of a club fighting for survival? Most football fans remember the trophies, the great teams, the title races and the last-minute winners. But sometimes, the most revealing football stories are found far away from the glamour — in failing dressing rooms, broken boardrooms, empty terraces and lower-league clubs trying desperately to stay alive. In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham and Jamie are joined by London regular Stuart Burgess to explore one of the most infamous, raw and unforgettable football seasons ever captured on film: Leyton Orient 1994–95. Centred around the legendary documentary Orient: Club for a Fiver, this is the story of a club in crisis, a young filmmaker given extraordinary access, and a manager, John Sitton, whose emotional dressing-room rants became some of the most quoted — and most uncomfortable — moments in football documentary history. But this episode is about far more than one infamous team talk. We dig into Leyton Orient’s wider history, from their East London roots and multiple name changes to their unlikely highs of the 1970s, FA Cup adventures, near-misses, financial instability and long struggle for identity in the shadow of bigger London clubs. We ask why Club for a Fiver still matters. Was it a brutal but honest snapshot of lower-league football? Was John Sitton unfairly exposed by a new kind of fly-on-the-wall filmmaking? And did the documentary reveal something football had spent decades trying to hide: that behind the romance of the game are real people, fragile careers, chaotic ownership structures and clubs permanently walking a financial tightrope? This is not a tale of greatness in the traditional sense. It is a story of survival, humiliation, loyalty, desperation and documentary immortality. Leyton Orient 1994–95 may not have been a great team — but they became part of one of football’s greatest cautionary tales. Takeaways Why Orient: Club for a Fiver remains one of football’s most authentic documentaries The story behind John Sitton’s infamous dressing-room breakdown How Leyton Orient’s 1994–95 season became a symbol of lower-league football chaos The club’s deeper history, from Clapton Orient to Leyton Orient Why Barry Hearn’s arrival matters in understanding the documentary How the episode reflects football before the modern media-trained era Whether this disastrous season deserves a place in the Greatness Index conversationIf you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 25m

Apr 30

Brighton & Hove Albion 1982-1983

How great were Brighton & Hove Albion 1982–1983? In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by South Coast Jamie Wilson to tell the story of one of English football’s great contradiction seasons: Brighton & Hove Albion 1982–83. This was a campaign that ended in relegation from the First Division — but also took Brighton to the first FA Cup Final in the club’s history. A season of struggle, chaos, colour, character and one immortal Wembley moment. We look back at Brighton’s wider journey through football history, from their formation in 1901 and Southern League roots, through the Brian Clough interlude, the Alan Mullery era, Peter Ward’s goals, and the rise that carried the club into the top flight. Then we focus on 1982–83 itself: Jimmy Melia’s unlikely FA Cup adventure, the key players who carried Albion to Wembley, and the unforgettable final against Manchester United. The first game ended 2–2, giving Brighton one of the most famous near-misses in FA Cup history: “And Smith must score…” Was Gordon Smith’s chance the moment that defined Brighton’s past? Or has it unfairly overshadowed a remarkable achievement from a team fighting battles on every front? With players like Steve Foster, Jimmy Case, Michael Robinson, Gary Stevens, Tony Grealish, Graham Moseley and Gordon Smith, Brighton 1982–83 may not look like an obvious candidate for greatness. But sometimes greatness is not just about trophies. Sometimes it is about story, identity, resilience, and how close a team came to changing everything. So where do Brighton & Hove Albion 1982–83 belong in our Table of Greatness? Takeaways Brighton’s rise from Southern League roots to the First Division The importance of Alan Mullery, Brian Clough and Peter Ward in the wider Brighton story Why the 1982–83 season was both a disaster and a fairytale Jimmy Melia’s colourful and chaotic FA Cup run The key players behind Brighton’s Wembley journey The 1983 FA Cup Final against Manchester United Why “And Smith must score” remains one of the great FA Cup moments Whether a relegated side can still be considered great Listen now and join us as we decide whether Brighton & Hove Albion 1982–1983 were truly one of football’s greatest teams. If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 23m

Apr 23

FC Twente 2009-2011

How Great Were FC Twente 2009–2011? | Steve McClaren, Bryan Ruiz, and the Club That Broke the Dutch Order Were FC Twente 2009–2011 one of the great outsider stories of modern European football — a provincial club from Enschede rising to the top of Dutch football under a manager England had already written off? In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by lifelong Twente supporter Lars Kuizenga to explore the most successful spell in the club’s history: the years that took FC Twente from strong regional side to Eredivisie champions. This is the story of a club outside the Dutch “big three,” but with its own proud identity, deep local support, and a city behind it. Twente had history, but they had never won the Dutch title. Then came Steve McClaren — mocked in England, ambitious in Holland — and one of the most remarkable title wins in recent European football. The episode explores Twente’s rise in the context of Dutch football history, the influence of coaching culture in the Netherlands, and the role McClaren played in shaping a disciplined, resilient, tactically smart side. With Bryan Ruiz, Theo Janssen, Douglas, Peter Wisgerhof, Blaise Nkufo, Sander Boschker and others, Twente built a team capable not only of competing, but of holding their nerve under extraordinary pressure. Because what makes this story even better is the finish. In 2009/10, Ajax won their final 14 league matches — and still did not win the title. Twente held them off by a single point to become Dutch champions for the first time in club history. Along the way, the episode also gets into McClaren’s Dutch adventure, the “Wally with the Brolly” baggage, the famous Dutch-accent moment, supporter pride in Enschede, and what this team really represented to the city. So how great were FC Twente 2009–2011? A brilliant one-off? A true Dutch modern great? Or one of football history’s most underrated champions? Takeaways: How FC Twente rose from financial uncertainty to Dutch championsWhy Steve McClaren worked so well in the NetherlandsThe key players behind Twente’s golden eraWhy the 2009/10 title race remains one of the most dramatic in Eredivisie historyWhat Twente meant to Enschede and its supportersWhere this side belongs in the Greatness Rankings#FCTwente #SteveMcClaren #DutchFootball #Eredivisie #FootballHistory #BryanRuiz #TheoJanssen #EuropeanFootball #ByFarTheGreatestTeam #FootballPodcast If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

1h 16m

By Far The Greatest Team Football Podcast

FIFA Barbarians '26

France 1992-1993

England 1986

World Cup USA 1994

FA Cup Pioneers: Wanderers 1872-1883

Leyton Orient 1994-1995

Brighton & Hove Albion 1982-1983

FC Twente 2009-2011

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By Far The Greatest Team Football Podcast

Episodes

FIFA Barbarians '26

France 1992-1993

England 1986

World Cup USA 1994

FA Cup Pioneers: Wanderers 1872-1883

Leyton Orient 1994-1995

Brighton & Hove Albion 1982-1983

FC Twente 2009-2011

Trailer

About

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