Magnificent Goal!

Where does England's dramatic World Cup victory over Mexico rank alongside the greatest tournament wins in the nation's history? Steven Toplis is joined by journalist and author Robert Taylor to reflect on an unforgettable night at the Azteca Stadium and ask if this England's greatest ever victory at a major tournament. What makes a truly great England tournament match? Is it the quali...

In our final part of our look back at England's 1986 World Cup campaign, we revisit one of the most controversial matches in the history of the England team, and in the tournament's history. The 1986 quarter-final saw England face Argentina, led by the mercurial talent of Diego Maradona. The game at the Azteca Stadium has gone down in football folklore and we examine the 90 minutes here. S...

Magnificent Goal! continues its journey through England's 1986 World Cup campaign by reaching the finals themselves in Mexico. Steven Toplis is joined by writer and podcaster Michael Hamlen from @80s90sFootball as well as Asif Burhan, journalist and author of the new book 'The Other Side of the Hand of God' which chronicles England's World Cup exploits of 40 years ago. We take a lo...

Magnificent Goal! continue its look back through England's qualification campaign for Mexico '86. Steven Toplis is joined by writer and podcaster Michael Hamlen of @80s90sFootball fame and Asif Burhan, journalist and author of the new book 'The Other Side of the Hand of God'. We pick up the story in the summer of 1985, as England embark on a tour of Mexico and the United States to...

2026 marks 40 years since the unforgettable 1986 World Cup in Mexico and with the 2026 edition taking place in Mexico alongside the United States and Canada, Magnificent Goal! relieves England's Mexico '86 campaign 4 decades on. Steven Toplis is joined by writer and podcaster Michael Hamlen from @80s90sFootball on X as well as Asif Burhan, journalist and author of the brilliant new book &#...

In this special episode of Magnificent Goal! Steven Toplis is joined by one of the most familiar faces in British sports broadcasting, Gary Newbon. Across a remarkable career spanning over 50 years, Gary covered seven World Cups and numerous European Championships for ITV, enjoying a front-row seat to some of England's most memorable moments. Gary shares his memories of covering the Three Lion...

With England facing New Zealand in a World Cup warm-up friendly on Saturday, host Steven Toplis is joined by Glen Isherwood from EnglandFootballOnline.com to look back at the last time the two nations met - twice in the space of just five days in 1991. We look at how Graham Taylor's England side went on a lengthy tour that took in Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand, uncovering stories that go...

Magnificent Goal! is back for World Cup 2026 as we dive into Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the tournament. We assess the biggest selections, omissions and surprises before comparing Tuchel's choices with some of the most controversial and memorable England squad calls in Three Lions history; from Gazza's heartbreak in 1998 to Theo Walcott's surprise inclusion in 2006. Steven To...

In this episode of Magnificent Goal! we dive into one of the most thrilling friendlies in modern history; England v Argentina in November 2005. The game in Geneva was another memorable chaper in the history of England-Argentina fixtures. Far from a casual exhibition, this match delivered drama, world-class skill and a finish that still lives vividly in England fans' memories. Steven Toplis is...

Following Jude Bellingham's heroics against Slovakia at Euro 2024 on Sunday, Magnificent Goal! looks back at some other occasions when England left it late to score a crucial goal. Steven Toplis is joined by Davey Naylor from EnglandStats.com and writer and podcaster Michael Hamlen to examine those dramatic late strikes that changed the course of matches and, in some cases, football history. W...

This week Magnificent Goal! continues its Euro 2024 themed shows with a look back at a forgotten meeting between England and one of their most famous foes. The Three Lions were pitted in a tough group at Euro 2000, alongside Portugal, Romania and Germany and it's the meeting between England and Germany in Charleroi that we're taking a look at. The match was by no means a classic but at the...

This week Magnificent Goal! is doing something a bit different. To coincide with Euro 2024, we're picking an XI from players who have appeared for England at the European Championship. Steven Toplis is joined by David Walker from the Football Cliches podcast and author John McNicoll to choose their sides from the 138 players who have played for the Three Lions in the Euros (not including 2024)...

With Euro 2024 in full swing, Magnificent Goal! looks back at one of England's finest performances in the European Championship and of all time - their 4-1 dismantling of the Dutch 4-1 at Euro '96. Led by Terry Venables, the Three Lions needed a point from their final group game against Holland to finish top of the group and guarantee a return to Wembley for the quarter-final against Spain...

In the final part of our look back over England's Euro 2004 campaign we pick things up with Sven's men looking to bounce back from their dramatic defeat to France as they face Switzerland and Croatia - with a certain 18-year-old stealing the show. Then it's on to face the hosts in the quarter-finals on a night packed with drama, emotion, injustice and - yet again - penalties. Steven To...

Magnificent Goal! continues it's journey through England's Euro 2004 campaign by reaching the finals themselves in Portugal. Steven Toplis, Davey Naylor and James Dixon look back over the squad that Sven would take to the finals and revisit the dramatic opening group game against France, where it was all going so well until implosion and the genius of Zinedine Zidane kicked in.

Magnificent Goal! continues its look at England's qualification campaign for Euro 2004. Steven Toplis is joined by Davey Naylor from EnglandStats.com and author and podcaster James Dixon as Sven's England navigate a tricky tie away to Liechtenstein and overcome the off-field fallout of Rio Ferdinand's missed drug test, before going into their final qualifier in Turkey with qualificatio...

Euro 2024 is just around the corner, so Magnificent Goal! is taking a trip back 20 years to revisit England's Euro 2004 campaign in Portugal. Steven Toplis is joined by Davey Naylor from EnglandStats.com and author and podcaster James Dixon to look back on a tournament that to this day remains one of the Three Lions' great missed opportunities. Before we get to the tournament itself we hav...

Magnificent Goal! continues its tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton by looking at the latter period of his England career, from 1966 to 1970. Steven Toplis is joined by Glen Isherwood from England Football Online to chat about how Charlton's Three Lions career continued after glory in '66, including falling just short at Euro '68, winning his 100th cap in 1970, his involvement in the infamou...

Magnificent Goal! pays tribute to one of English football's true greats by looking back over the career of Sir Bobby Charlton. In a 12-year career for the Three Lions Charlton achieved the lot; he scored goals, broke records and won the greatest prize football has to offer. Steven Toplis is joined by Glen Isherwood from England Football Online to look back over Sir Bobby's England years. I...

There have been 15 England managers since the position was first created in 1946 and it's a job that brings with it pressure, expectation and a great deal of public interest. In this episode of Magnificent Goal!, Steven Toplis is joined by the returning Glen Isherwood from England Football Online and Davey Naylor from EnglandStats.com to pick out five of the most memorable England manager debu...

The fixture that started it all and the international that's been played more times than any other. Since the first meeting in 1872 in the very first international football match, England v Scotland has become the ultimate rivalry that still has relevance today. Steven Toplis is joined by Glen Isherwood from England Football Online and Davey Naylor from EnglandStats.com to look back at the his...

Magnificent Goal! is a new podcast that looks back through the history of the England team. Hosted by Steven Toplis, we'll be talking about the tournaments, qualification campaigns, players, managers and much more in between. Coming soon to your podcast feed, subscribe now to make sure you don't miss an episode!