Soccer 101
All the soccer history and explainers you can handle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Messi and Argentina's Twenty-Year Story
With Messi's final Argentina farewell looming, Graham and Taylor take a look back at his time with the national team: from a red card on his debut to somehow still looking elite as a 39-year-old in 2026, we trace his time with Argentina to understand the lowest lows and the highest highs.
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Why isn't the national team of India better at football?
On this week's episode, we're diving into football in India: it's the world's most populous country, but why can't it qualify for a World Cup? We get into the history of the sport in the country, the growth of the domestic professional league, and the possible explanations for why the world's most popular sport still hasn't quite caught on yet.
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How has Como built such a successful club?
With young talent, a manager full of potential, wealth that would make Scrooge McDuck look like a pauper, and an idyllic location, Como has become one of the biggest stories in Italian football. How have they had such a meteoric rise? What role have players and tactics played in those successes? What does the future hold, both for this season and beyond? All that and much more on this week's episode!
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How did the Premier League become the dominant league in the world?
This week, we dive into the dominance of the Premier League: when did it take the top spot in terms of global popularity and league strength? What factors allowed it to become the dominant league in the world? Can any other leagues challenge them, anytime soon?
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What happened to Paul Pogba?
Paul Pogba went from teenage wonderkid to World Cup winner to a doping ban that nearly ended everything. And now, out at Monaco but battling fresh injury setbacks, his career is at another crossroads. We trace the full ride: his breakout at Juventus, his blockbuster return to Manchester United (and why it never quite clicked), the positive drug test that derailed everything, his comeback attempt in France, and what might come next — including whether MLS could be the final chapter.
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Ted Lasso returns! What are the origins of the show, how did it become so beloved, and what comes next?
Graham and Taylor are together again on the 101 feed to discuss the return of Ted Lasso! How did the show go from NBC ad to beloved series? What role has it played in helping grow the game in the US? What are our personal opinions on the show, the storylines, and what's worked (and not worked).
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Three Flags, One Badge: The Story of Bosnian Football
The Premier League of Bosnia was born in 2000 out of the wreckage of a brutal civil war, and served as a deliberate attempt to unite three separate ethnic football cultures under one roof. It hasn't always worked cleanly, but out of that turbulence came something remarkable: a golden generation that took a young, war-scarred nation to its first World Cup in 2014, and now back again in 2026.
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The 21st-century talent pipeline: domestic football in Ecuador
This week, we head back to South America to do a little World Cup previewing... and this week, it's Ecuador! How have they risen to such prominence so quickly? Where does their talent come from geographically, and what does that say about the socioeconomics of the region? Plus, biggest and most successful clubs, legendary players, and an insane ranking in terms of the league's quality. All that and much more!
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Bohemia, Communism and Petr Cech: Football in Czechia
We spend some time in the country that has been several other countries in its footballing history: Czechia. From uncommon German roots to the impact of The Iron Curtain to modern challengers to the conventional favorites, we get into it all!
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Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns: soccer in South Africa
This week, we're spending some time in a nation with a complicated soccer history that mirrors its own complicated history: South Africa! From apartheid pitches to match fixing scandals, how soccer in the country has grown from an act of resistance to the nation's most popular sport.
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Artificial Intelligence and Soccer: problems solved vs problems created
This week, we spend some time on a topic that seems absurd but is actually already widespread: Artificial Intelligence in modern soccer. What are its present applications, how common is it today (and who uses it), its positive uses versus negative drawbacks, and its future in the sport.
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From the Ottoman Empire to Osimhen: football in Turkiye
Disclaimer - This is Taylor. I edited this episode. I talk A LOT. Even by my standards. But it's the first time I've gotten to talk about Turkiye in detail in a very long time, from its massive history (soccer and non-soccer), political upheaval, 3-club-dominance, Kemalism, Gulen vs Erdogan, and much much more! Plus, why Hakan Suker went from national superstar and up-and-coming politician, to living in exile and driving Uber in the United States.
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Xhaka, Shaqiri and 128 years of footballing history: soccer in Switzerland
We're traveling to a land that tends to fly under-the-radar when it comes to the hype machine, but has been quietly influential in world soccer since the mid-19th century: Switzerland. What is the history of the country's top flight, how has the league evolved over time, who are its biggest and most successful clubs, and what role has the league played in shaping the Swiss national team.
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A tale of two clubs... 81% of the time: domestic football in Uruguay
This week, we're talking about THE dark horse candidate at every World Cup since 2010... it's Uruguay. The four-time world champion has one of the oldest leagues in South America, but how did it come to be, how has it evolved over time, and who are its dominant clubs? Plus, how Diego Godin helped kill a deal that was hurting the national team, why so many of their best players have so few caps for the massively successful clubs of the league, and much much more!
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What are the best World Cup balls, mascots and anthems?
In an effort to not only be depressing when discussing the World Cup, Graham and Taylor take a look at the lighter side of the tournament, and weigh in on the best balls, mascots and anthems in the tournament's history. Plus, what are sticker albums and why aren't they more common in the US?
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Kings, ultras, and unrest: Egyptian football explained
This week, Graham and Taylor spend some time trying to scratch the surface of the complicated history of soccer in Egypt: how did the sport rise to prominence, which club has dominated both the country and the continent, the occasionally hostile relationship between government and supporters, and much much more! Plus, how has the Egyptian Premier League, the country's top flight, helped shape Egypt national teams, past and present?
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An abbreviated history of World Cup disruptions: teams withdrawing, changing hosts and more!
On this week's episode, inspired by the latest chaos surrounding the 2026 World Cup, we take a look at the history of upheaval at the tournament: when have teams withdrawn, what happens when they do, have hosts ever had to drop out, what are the issues facing the upcoming iteration, and much much more!
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Youth development, colonialism, match fixing, and golden eras: a history of professional football in Belgium
This week, it's the country for whom De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku and Courtois have all played... just not in terms of the domestic league: Belgium! We trace the full arc of the top flight in the tiny nation, from the league's founding in 1895 through the golden era of the 1970s and 80s when Anderlecht and Club Brugge were genuine European forces, through the match-fixing scandals and the sprawling corruption investigation that rocked the sport in Belgium in the late 2010s, and into the present day. And along the way, we try to determine just why a country so rich...
Wrexham: America's Team, Capitalism's Posterchild, or both?
On this week's show, we spend probably way too much time discussing the Rise of Wrexham (TM). Just kidding. They've probably already got that trademarked. How have they succeeded so fast, so quickly? Can they stay alive in a Premier League world? Can a club be an underdog and a juggernaut, simultaneously? All that, and much much more!
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American managers in Europe: why haven't there been many and why aren't there more?
In honor of Pellegrino Matarazzo's strong start to life with Real Sociedad, Graham and Taylor spend some time discussing American managers in Europe's top five leagues. How many have their been, who was THE trailblazer, is there a stigma against them (and is it fair), possible candidates for future gigs, and much much more!
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Small nation, big results: How Croatia became football’s ultimate overachiever
How does a country of under four million people keep churning out World Cup semifinalists and all-time great midfielders? In this episode, we break down the history of Croatian football, from the founding of the HNL in the early 1990s to its modern role as a talent factor, and look at how clubs like Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, and Rijeka shaped a league built more on development than spending. We’ll explain where the Croatian league fits in Europe, why domestic dominance doesn’t tell the whole story, and how a clear footballing identity, elite coaching, and a relentless export p...
Why is the World Cup expanding? The positives and negatives of FIFA's shift for 2026
With the World Cup looming in the distance, Graham and Taylor discuss the decision to expand the tournament from 32 teams to 48. Who led the campaign? Is it all just for money? What are the perceived benefits and drawbacks to the change in format? Will FIFA stop at 48? All that and much much more!
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Balance and dominance: a brief history of Jordanian football
Graham and Taylor continue to preview the 2026 World Cup by taking a look at the domestic leagues of the participating nations, and this week it's Jordan's turn! How long has the league been around, who are its dominant club teams and how do they represent the country itself, and what role has the league played in shaping the national team. Plus, a potted history of Jordan as a nation, for those (like us) who need it!
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Does the Premier League have an English manager problem?
English managers were once the default in the Premier League; now, they’re a rarity. In this episode, we trace the sharp decline of English coaches across the Premier League and Europe’s “Big Five” leagues, unpacking how and why the numbers fell over time. Is this a failure of coaching education, a bias in club hiring, or a consequence of the modern, globalized game? Does the shortage of top English managers actually matter for English soccer, and could it be holding the national game back? Finally, we look ahead: could a new generation be poised to change the narrativ...
From coffee houses to energy drinks: a brief history of Austrian league football
Graham and Taylor continue to preview the 2026 World Cup by taking a look at the domestic leagues of the participating nations, and this week it's Austria's turn. How long has the league been around, how has it evolved from intellectual powerhouse to developmental hotbed, and what role has the league played in shaping the national team.
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How has punditry shaped our understanding of soccer, and what is its role in the modern game?
This week, Graham and Taylor are diving into the world of soccer punditry: what they do, why they do it, the early pioneers, the importance of ex-players in generating greater understanding of the game itself, and the best (and worst) examples of modern punditry.
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Northern lights and summer soccer: all about the Norwegian top flight
We continue to look at domestic soccer in the countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and this week it's our friends in the north: Norway. How has the Norwegian top flight evolved over the decades, why doesn't have the awesome name it used to have, a club that could never lose, and much much more! Plus, we ponder just how many goals Haaland could score if he took his talents to the south beach... of Oslo.
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Why do American and European stadiums look so different?
Why do American sports teams constantly build shiny new stadiums while many European clubs play in the same grounds that their supporters grandparents' attended? In this episode, we dig into the cultural, economic, and fan-experience factors that explain why stadium life looks so different on each side of the Atlantic. We explore whether U.S. fans secretly wish their venues had more European-style permanence, why European clubs are suddenly embracing American design trends, and what’s driving the wave of mega-renovations across the continent.
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How did Qatar arrive on the soccer landscape, and how has the Stars League been impacted by Saudi Arabia?
On this episode, we’re unpacking the Qatari Stars League — what it is, how it works, and how it’s evolved. We run through the league’s biggest clubs and current powerhouse, the stars who’ve defined it, and what the overall level of play actually looks like compared to the rest of the Gulf and Asia. We also dig into how the league fuels the national team and what all of this means for Qatar’s chances at the 2026 World Cup.
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The biggest and best rivalries of the Premier League Era
This week, we're talking mind games, vegetables and voyeurism: it's the best rivalries of the Premier League era. From entire teams to managers to individual players... and even all the way down to team mates: we're talking it all!
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Ivory Coast’s Soccer Factory: Where the Next Drogba Might Be Playing Right Now
We dive into Ligue 1 LONACI, the top flight of Ivorian football. How did it start, who dominates it today, and how does it stack up against the continent’s best? We try to determine why the league isn't stronger, where the young talent tends to go, and ask how the domestic game feeds into the national team’s success.
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Is Tottenham a big club, and when exactly did "Spursy" become a thing?
We come in peace, Spurs supporters! I promise you! No cheap shots or annoying jokes... or at least that's the goal.
Instead, this week, we're looking at the present state of Tottenham Hotspur. Are they a "big club" and also why does that matter? Plus, when did "Spursy" go from being a self-deferential bit to an outright joke at the club's expense? We also explore Tottenham's history (the good and the bad), and ponder a reality in which Poch is still at the helm.
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Soccer in Colombia: A 2026 World Cup primer
We're continuing our look into domestic soccer in the countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and this week... it's Colombia! The country of Valderrama and James Rodriguez features one of the oldest leagues in South America, has had years-long breaks with FIFA, was unintentionally impacted by the Clinton administration, and keeps on kicking. Who are the top flight's most decorated teams, what is the strength of the league relative to its confederation, and... what exactly is the name of the league itself? All that and much more!
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What are some of the best training facilities in soccer today?
Recording live from the TSS Podcast Training Facility, Graham and Taylor emerge from their state-of-the-art sleep pods to discuss all things training ground! When did teams first start building them, when did those construction efforts intensify, what are some of the best examples in world soccer, and much much more!
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Soccer in Morocco: a 2026 World Cup primer
This week, we're continuing our look into domestic soccer in the countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. It's time to talk Morocco. The national team of some of the biggest stars on the planet has not always been quite so relevant. How has soccer in the country evolved over time, why has it taken such a big jump more recently, what role has the Botola played in strengthening the national team, and much much more!
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A brief history of The Special One: the life and times of Jose Mourinho
With the news that Jose Mourinho has returned to Portugal to once-again coach Benfica, we take a lengthy look back at The Special One's career. How did he first rise to prominence? What are the major sources of that giant chip on his shoulder? What was he like at his peak and what caused him to fall off in recent years?
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Has it become more common to sack a manager?
This week, it's time to get fired! We're talking managerial sackings. Who makes the decision? Why might a club part ways with a manager? How do they let him or her know? Plus, the impact on results (or occasional lack thereof)!
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Everything you need to know about the Primera Division, Argentina's top league
It's the league of Boca and River... and so, so much more! That includes a confusing league structure, a collection of incredibly talented clubs with incredibly impressive histories, a tenuous relationship with promotion and relegation, and much much more!
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All about free kicks, including ideal distances for shooting and greatest takers of all-time
This week, we're tackling all-things freekick! When did they first become a part of the game? How have they evolved over time? What is the difference between direct and indirect opportunities? Plus, ideal distances for shooting, greatest takers of all-time, and much more!
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Shots Time! Are a bicycle kick and an overhead kick the same thing? What makes a volley a half volley, and more!
Why are there so many words for a shot? What is an overhead kick and is it different than a bicycle kick? Can a tatty-toe-bash be aesthetically pleasing? Those questions and more answered as we delve deep into the world of screaming efforts fired on target.
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