Platini Played For Kuwait

There's not much better than a cup final...except maybe a semi-final? We delved into what makes semi-finals so great and looked at some of our personal favourite semi-final games. Matt Choices 1. England v West Germany - 1990 World Cup 2. Germany v Italy - 2006 World Cup 3. Chelsea v Barcelona - 2009 Champions League Marc's Choices 1. The 1990 FA Cup sem-finals 2. Alesandro Costacurta getting suspended both the 1994 Champions League and World Cup semi-final 3. Suwon v Al Sadd - 2011 AFC Champions League You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

For this episode, we discussed arguably the Premier League's greatest cult side - loved and feared in equal measures. From the days of Djorkaeff to the final throes of this great team being led by Anelka, we looked at what made this team so much fun and so well-remembered. Of course, we talked about their glorious leader too: Sam 'Big Sam' Allardyce. To herald Big Sam, we were joined by Bolotn fan Joseph 'Gibbo' Gibbons. Matt and Marc's Choices 1. Youri Djorkaeff 2. Gary Speed's 500th Premier League appearance 3. Nicolas Anelka Gibbo's Choices 1. (Almost) signing Rivaldo 2. Sam Ashton 3. Qualifying for the UEFA Cup You can find Gibbo on Twitter at @JoeBillGibbo. You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

Everyone loves a diving headers, don't they? Well, here's a whole episode dedicated to them. From Argentinian football rituals to goalkeepers saving their team with their noggin', plus much more. Matt's Choices 1. Aldo Poy's 1971 header for Rosario Central v Newell's Old Boys 2. Jamie Mackie for QPR v Manchester City in the 'AGUEEERRROOOO game' 3- Michu's diving headers for Swansea Marc's Choices 1. Greogory Coupet's double save for Lyon v Barcelona 2. Diego Forlan's first ever professional goal 3. Gianluca Vialli's sliding header for Sampdoria v Bari You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

We went Down Under for this episode and explored the history of the Australian national team AKA The Socceroos. We discussed the Godfather of Australian football right up to the hipster footballer who has been the face of the current squad's recent penchant for social justice, plus all the heartaches and World Cup triumphs in between. Marc's Choices 1. Johnny Warren 2. Tim Cahill's volley v Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup 3. Australia's 2015 Asian Cup win Matt's Choices 1. Australia getting to the final of the 1997 Confederations Cup 2. Australia v Italy in the 2006 World Cup 3. Jackson Irvine You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

For many, Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning team are the greatest national team of all-time, with their fable five of Pele, Tostao, Rivelino, Gerson and Jairzinho. With his new book O Jogo Bonito!: Brazil's 1970 World Cup Samba Party coming out soon, we were joined by Gary Thacker (making his hatrick appearance on Platini Played for Kuwait) to discuss the joys that Brazil brought tto Mexico in 1970 - the players, the goals and even the team’s origins four years earlier. Gary’s Choices Brazil in the 1966 World CupRoginho’s replacementMario ZagalloMatt and Marc’s Choices Brazil v England at the 1970 World CupJairzinhoCarlos Alberto’s goal in the 1970 World Cup FinalYou can find Gary on Twitter at @All_Blue_Daze and you can find a Twitter dedicated to his new book O Jogo Bonito!: Brazil's 1970 World Cup Samba Party @O_Jogo_Bonito70 You can also pre-order Gary's new book O Jogo Bonito!: Brazil's 1970 World Cup Samba Party here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jogo-Bonito-Brazils-World-Samba/dp/1801506760 You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

Christmas is a time for family, friends, food and…the giving and receivng of video games and consoles. In that spirit, for our first podcast of the year, we looked at football in the virtual world and discussed those games, teams and players that have enchanted us in the 2D and 3D realms over the years. Matt and Marc’s Choices FIFA International SoccerTommy Svindal Larsen on Championship Manager 97/98Football-endorsed gamesAS Roma on Championship Manager 01/02The Pro Evolution Soccer Master League teamFIFA 10/FIFA 11You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

One of football's most glorious failures? They were certainly a glorious team whichever way you look at it. On this episode, we looked back on that incredible Bayer Leverkusen team that came agonisingly close to a Treble, but came away empty-handed. We were lucky to be joined by Gareth and Joe of The England B Team podcast to talk about a manager that started Leverkusen's late 90s/early 00s rise, the key games around their cruel 2001/2002 season and the characters on the pitch who made this such a great team. The England B Team's Choices 1. Christophe Daum 2. Michael Ballack 3. Ulf Kirsten Matt and Marc's Choices 1. Leverkusen's 2002 Champions League Campaign 2. Hamburg 1-1 Leverkusen 3. Hans-Jörg Butt You can follow the England B Team on Twitter and Instagram at @EnglandBTeamPod. You can check out their podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xIpLBRIEcL8jhNsusKTqp?si=c0bf05e271a544ec&nd=1&dlsi=3377a65565054fb5 And check out their YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandBTeamPod You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

For this episode we are going green and looking at those clubs who adorn themselves green shirts or house themselves in green stadiums. Joining us to discuss all things green-shirted was Yeovil supporter Alex Ashmore, co-host of the excellent Malaga fan podcast, Guiricast, and currently studying with Real Madrid. Alex's Choices 1. Yeovil's season in the Championship 2. Celtic 2-1 Barcelona in 2012/2013 3. Betis winning the 2022 Copa del Rey Matt and Marc's Choices 1. Rapid Vienna's Allianz Stadion 2. Grafite and Dzeko at Wolfsburg 3. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors You can find Alex on Twitter at @AlexHAshmore and on the excellent Guiricast podcast @GuiricastPod You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

Overhad kicks. Scopion kicks. Scissor kicks. We celebrated those goals that have seen players take to the air and soar and score. Matt's Choices 1. Laurent Robert v Fulham https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GxmOlqwsULc 2. Wayne Routledge v WBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-RMV5wjaRU 3. Morten Nordstrand v FC Copenhagen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqJ6qvWk91M Marc's Choices 1. Mauro Bressan v Barcelona https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g515yEVE7lU 2. Wayne Rooney v Manchester City https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZV9UWY5wwY 3. Nguyen Quang Hai v Ceres Negros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ussDB6VQ5pQ You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

For this episode, we discussed the adventures of Welsh clubs in Europe. From the first clubs to venture onto the continent through to some of the most iconic wins in the history of Welsh football. Matt's Choices 1. Borough United v Sliema Wanderers 2. Barry Town v Porto 3. Swansea City v Malmo Marc's Choices 1. Bangor City v Napoli 2. Cardiff City v Real Madrid 3. Merthyr Tydfil v Atalanta You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

With the Netlix Beckham documentary being a streaming hit this week, we thought we’d jump on the Beckham bandwagon too and do an episode devoted to one of football’s greatest icons - on and off the pitch. We discussed some of his greatest goals and assists, as well as some of the great shirts he wore on the pitch and how we all came to learn the word ‘metarsal’ because of him. Matt’s Choices Beckham’s lobbed goal v West Ham in 2002Beckham’s 2006/2007 La Liga winning seasonLA Galaxy shirts Marc’s Choices The halfway line goal against WimbledonBeckham’s metatarsal injuryBeckham’s assist to Ronaldo in Copa dely Rey semi-final in 2006 You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

On this episode, we looked back at those footballers who have found a final lease life of life in their careers in the most unlikeliest of places. From a 35-year-old going on a 5 trophy haul in the space of 6 months to a French striker going on to be possibly the best striker in the history of Mexican football, these are some of football's best Indian Summers. Matt's Choices 1. Christophe Dugarry at Birmingham City 2. Clarence Seedorf at Botafogo 3. Andre Gignac at Tigres Marc's Choices 1. Beppe Bergomi at the 1998 World Cup 2. Gary McAllister at Liverpool 3. Luca Toni at Verona You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

For the first episode after our summer break, we decided to celebrate one of the great teams of the late 90s/early 00s: Valencia CF. We looked back on how Claudio Ranieri kicked things off with the 1999 Copa del Rey winning team, how Héctor Cúper then took them to two consecutive Champions League finals, before Rafa Benitez made Valencia Spanish champions twice in the space of three years, as well as winning the UEFA Cup. To talk all things 'Los Che', we were delighted to be joined by football writer and podcaster Chris Lee - the host of the excellent Outside Write podcast and author of 'Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World' and 'The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism'. Chris' choices: 1. Claudio Ranieri and Valencia 2. Champions League final losses in 2000 and 2001 3. Rafa Benitez and Valencia Matt and Marc's Choices 1. Mestalla 2. Gaizka Mendieta's goal v Atletico Madrid in the 1999 Copa del Rey final 3. Pablo Aimar You can find Chris and his podcast on Twitter at @OutsideWrite. You can also find Chris' two books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chris-Lee/e/B091D5C6LB?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1694447421&sr=8-1 You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

For our final episode before our summer break, we went all reflective and made this episode’s topic a simple one: we looked back out our own 20022/2023 seasons. We looked at some of our highlights and some of the more interesting things we encountered on our football travels this season - from Kuwait in the Middle-East to Portugal in the very west of Europe, Matt’s Choices Kevin Medina at Gil VicenteVillarreal CF’s Estadi de la Ceràmica Pablo Hernández at CastellonMarc’s Choices Al Arabi 2-2 SalmiyaWomen’s football at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Emirates StadiumWales 2-4 ArmeniaYou can check out Matt's articles about Kevin and Pablo Hernández (plus a couple of other little Málaga bits) here: https://www.otbfootball.net/author/matt-harrison/ You can also find his fundraising page for his camino from Lisbon to San Sebastian here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/matthew-harrison-1687092527985?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=one_pa You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

For our latest club focus, we headed to Brazil and to the big boys of Brazil - to club some consider to have the biggest fanbase in the world: CR Flamengo. We went right back to the origins and their first real superstar all the way up to their recent success; of course we went through their history via some cult heroes, cult games and some of the greatest players of all-time. Joining us to talk all Mengão was football writer and podcast Stephen Brandt, whose latest book, Flamengo: Winning All The Cups, is to be published next month. Stephen’s choices Manuel Fleitas SolichZicoSantos 5-4 Flamengo July 2011 - Neymar v RonaldinhoMatt and Marc’s choices LeônidasDejan Petkovic and other Europeans at FlamengoGabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa and recent successes You can find Stephen on Twitter at @StephenCBrandt. You can pre-order Stephen’s book Flamengo: Winning All the Cups here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flamengo-Winning-Cups-Stephen-Brandt/dp/1801504539/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=flamengo+winning+all+the+cups&qid=1686770078&sprefix=flamengo+winning%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1 You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

We revisited the season where the razzmatazz of the Premier League all began (although, maybe it didn't quite have too much razzmatazz at the time). Joining us to talk all things 1992/1993 was football writer and podcaster Rob Fletcher; a perfect guest as Rob is the author of the book 1992: The Birth of Modern Football. Rob's Choices 1. Paul Gascoigne moving to Lazio 2. The 1992/1993 Premier League shirts 3. Oldham Athletic in 1992/1993 Matt and Marc's Choices 1. Dalian Atkinson's Goal of the Season 2. Brian Clough's final season as manager 3. Eric Cantona's move to Manchester United. You can find Rob on Twitter at @rob_fletcher_ and you can find a Twitter dedicated to his new book 1992: The Birth of Modern Football at @92FootballBook You can also buy Rob's book 1992: The Birth of Modern Football here https://www.amazon.co.uk/1992-Modern-Football-Rob-Fletcher/dp/1801504288 You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

With the latest AFC Champions League recently coming to its conclusion (congratulations to Urawa Red Diamonds), this week we looked at Asia’s biggest continental club trophy - from those famous teams crowned as champions to those famous players who have been named MVPs. Plus, a lot of ‘Hey, have you seen who manages this team in Asia these days?’ chat. Matt's Choices 1. Western Sydney Wanderers as winners in 2014 2. Omar Abdulrahman 3. Bafetimbi Gomis Marc's CHoices 1. Seongnam as winners in 2010 2. Dejan Damjanović 3. Johor Darul Ta'zim in the 2022 tournament You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

In this episode, we took a deep dive into those players who have broken the world record transfer fee. We look at those players who were going for tens of thousands in the first half of the century all the way up to the current record holder who moved for over €200 million. Matt Choices 1. Trevor Ford 2. Christian Vieri 3. Neymar Marc's Choices 1. Jackie Sewell 2. the 1992 Serie A transfer window 3. Kaka You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

Undoubtedly, the Ajax of the early 1970s was one of the greatest club sides ever as they dominated Dutch football and, more significantly, won 3 European Cups in a row between 1971 and 1973. We took a deep dive into Michels' famed 'Total Football' team and who better to join us than Gary Thacker, who is just about to release his new book, Dutch Masters: When Ajax's Totaalvoetbal Conquered Europe. Matt and Marc's Choices 1. Vic Buckingham 2. The Ajax shirt 3. Barry Hulshoff Gary's Choices 1. Ajax v Bayern Munich in the 1972/73 European Cup quarter-final 2. Gerrie Muhren's keepie-uppies at the Bernabeu 3. Cruyff leaving Ajax. You can find Gary on Twitter at @All_Blue_Daze and you can find a Twitter dedicated to his new book Dutch Masters at @DutchMasters73. You can also pre-order Gary's new book Dutch Masters: When Ajax's Totaalvoetbal Conquered Europe here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dutch-Masters-Totaalvoetbal-Conquered-Europe/dp/1801504415 You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig

We decided that it had been too long without us focusing solely on a topic linked to African football, so we decided to fix that and focus on - in our opinion - the coolest African national team side/era in football history: Nigeria in the 90s. Matt's Choices 1. Nigeria v Italy in USA 1994 2. Finidi George and Nwankwo Kanu at Ajax 3. Jay Jay Okocha in the 90s Marc's Choices 1. Nigeria's World Cup 94 away shirt 2. Celestine Babayaro's celebration in the Olympic 96 final 3. Sunday Oliseh's goal v Spain at France 98 You can find Matt on Twitter at @MattLostBoyo and Marc on Twitter at @MarcLostBoyo. And follow the podcast at @PlayedForKuwait. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods from and tell a friend about us. Also please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider. Music: Chimez by Dan Henig