The Final Countdown - Football History's stories of glory and heartbreak in the biggest finals

A World Cup semi-final that had just about everything — drama, physical battles, and more than a little controversy.By the summer of 1966, West Germany had built a reputation as one of the tournament’s most theatrical sides — already involved in multiple fiery matches that had seen no fewer than four players sent off along the way. But beneath the drama, a new star was quietly emerging: a young Franz Beckenbauer, beginning to show the elegance and intelligence that would soon make him one of the game’s greats.In this episode, we revisit West Germany vs the Soviet Union, a semi-final between a disciplined but fiercely physical Soviet side — whose rugged style had become one of their trademarks — and a German team who combined efficiency with a touch of chaos.We also explore the Soviets’ unlikely connection with the North East of England, where their tournament base turned them into local favourites, and how this clash of styles set up one of the most intriguing matches of the 1966 World Cup.This is The Final Countdown — a podcast dedicated to the great finals (and the occasional semi-final) from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, dive deep — with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour — into one of football’s great showpieces.

A World Cup semi-final built on one brave decision.In the summer of 1966, England stood just one game away from a World Cup final on home soil — but manager Alf Ramsey faced a dilemma that could define his legacy. With star striker Jimmy Greaves finally fit again, Ramsey made the bold call to stick with Geoff Hurst, the man who had stepped in during the quarter-final.In this episode, we revisit England vs Portugal, a clash shaped by Ramsey’s nerve, by England’s discipline, and by a meeting of two of the finest footballers on the planet: Bobby Charlton and Eusébio.We break down how England tried to control the game through Charlton’s intelligence and timing, how Portugal relied on the brilliance and power of Eusébio, and how one of the biggest selection gambles in World Cup history became one of the tournament’s defining moments.This is The Final Countdown — a podcast dedicated to all the great finals (and the occasional semi-final) from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, take a deep dive — with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour — into one of the great showpieces of the game.

One of the most dramatic FA Cup Finals of the modern era.Played in front of a limited Wembley crowd as England slowly emerged from lockdown, the 2021 final felt like football’s grand return — tense, emotional, and balanced on a single moment of magic.In this episode, we revisit Leicester City vs Chelsea, a game defined by one thunderbolt from Youri Tielemans, a Foxes side refusing to be overawed, and a Chelsea team left stunned despite their recent European swagger.We break down how Leicester’s long climb back to the top led to their first ever FA Cup triumph, how Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea were caught between control and chaos, and why this victory meant everything to a club that had waited 137 years for this moment.This is The Final Countdown — a podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, take a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greatest showpieces the game has to offer.

The strangest FA Cup Final you’ll ever see.Played in an empty Wembley in the middle of August, the 2020 final felt less like a showpiece and more like a very serious, very tense behind-closed-doors league game — all thanks to Covid.In this episode, we revisit Arsenal vs Chelsea, a game shaped by one long ball, one calm captain in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and a Chelsea side sent into chaos by cat-botherer Kurt Zouma!We break down how the match unfolded on the pitch, how both teams’ league seasons fed directly into the final, and why this win mattered far more to Arsenal than it did to their opponents.This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

Manchester City didn’t just win the 2019 FA Cup Final — they dismantled Watford.In this episode, we revisit the most one-sided FA Cup Final of the modern era, as Pep Guardiola’s City completed the domestic treble with a ruthless 6–0 victory at Wembley. We break down how Watford’s dream day turned into a nightmare, why City gave absolutely no quarter, and how this final came to feel like a mismatch almost from kick-off.From early goals and Pep’s City going full ‘no mercy’, to Raheem Sterling running riot with alarming ease, we relive how this final completely ran away from Watford — and why it’s remembered less for drama and more for disbelief.This is The Final Countdown. A podcast looking back at great finals, within the game of Football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

Two massive clubs. Two deeply unhappy managers. One very joyless FA Cup Final.Chelsea and Manchester United arrived at Wembley like it was a chore rather than a final. Eden Hazard provided the only spark, while United dominated the ball but did absolutely nothing with it.Pogba missed the moment, Chelsea shut the door, Conte clung on, and Mourinho grew steadily more furious. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Lewis briefly merged Tim Cahill and Gary Cahill into one player, which somehow felt perfectly in keeping with how disorientating this final was.This is The Final Countdown.A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

It’s Christmas, the fixtures are piling up, and it’s time to see who actually knew what they were talking about.In this festive special, we revisit our pre-season predictions to see which ones still have legs… and which ones are already wrapped up and thrown in the bin. Then it’s time for TENSION! — our nerve-shredding quiz where confidence disappears, pressure builds, and festive goodwill goes straight out the window.Football chat, questionable takes, rising stress levels and plenty of laughs — the perfect way to round off the year.This is The Final Countdown.A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

Arsenal arrived at Wembley bruised, written off, and supposedly in decline. Chelsea arrived as newly crowned champions, dominant, confident, and strong favourites.What followed was a final that flipped the script.Arsenal court controversy, Aaron Ramsey arrived right on cue once again, and Arsène Wenger outmanoeuvred Antonio Conte to deliver one last Wembley masterclass.This episode revisits a final fuelled by tension, rivalry, and defiance. A Cup final that felt like a statement as well as a farewell of sorts.This is The Final Countdown.A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

Crystal Palace thought they’d written the ending. Jason Puncheon smashed them into the lead, Alan Pardew broke into that dance, and for about three minutes it looked like Wembley was about to witness a genuine upset.But then Wayne Rooney decided to turn into peak midfield Zidane and Fellaini started winning everything in orbit.Extra time brought even more drama — with a dramatic red card before Marcus “Flashford” Rashford stepped up his game. Ten men, no logic, pure FA Cup mayhem.We relive the goals, the scrappiness and the dance moves before Jesse Lingard stuck his name into Wembley folklore.This is The Final Countdown.A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

Arsenal returned to Wembley looking to defend their crown — and turned the 2015 FA Cup Final into a masterclass.Walcott opened the scoring, Sánchez unleashed thunder, and Wenger’s men ran riot under the arch. Aston Villa were simply swept aside.A performance of control, flair and pure red-and-white ruthlessness.Join us as we relive the goals, the dominance, and the day Arsenal made it look effortless.This is The Final Countdown.A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

Arsenal show up dreaming of ending nine years of trophy-less pain. Hull City show up… and immediately turn Arsenal’s dream into a nightmare.Alex Bruce is desperate to make his dad proud, Santi Cazorla puts on a free-kick masterclass and Aaron Ramsey writes his name into North London folklore with a 109th-minute winner.This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

Manchester City arrive expecting a parade. Wigan Athletic turn up hoping for mercy. 90 minutes later? Ben Watson, a man with a broken leg and a dream, headbutts football history into existence. City’s billionaires are stunned and Dave Whelan is crying. Join us as we rewind to the FA Cup Final that made everyone believe in magic again — except Roberto Mancini, who lost his job two days later.This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

It’s Wembley, it’s 2012, and somehow Andy Carroll is about to have the game of his Liverpool career. Chelsea, meanwhile, are busy juggling an FA Cup final with the small matter of a Champions League final in Munich. Didier Drogba does what Didier Drogba always does in a cup final, while Liverpool discover that leaving it late isn’t always a great strategy. We look back at the goals, the drama, and the bizarre moment where Carroll briefly looked like a £35 million bargain.This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

A classic David vs Goliath final as the newly rejuvenated Man City take on Tony Pulis' "old school" Stoke. We talk about Yaya Toure's status amongst the legends of this new look Manchester City team as well as the Stoke players that may well be the cast of walking with dinosaurs.This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

We jump headlong into the new season with some outrageous and (maybe) ill-informed predictions. We're talking top scorer, relegation candidates, title-winners, first manager to get the sack and some astonishingly bold "left-field" shouts. So come and have a laugh AT us or join in with your predictions in the comments!This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

It's a jam-packed episode this week as we catch up on the biggest talking points of the summer!We're talking transfers, MOTD controversy, the torture that was Man Utd vs Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, the pleasant surprise of Crystal Palace's FA Cup Victory and of course, the tragedy of Diogo Jota's passing. This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

What's better than winning the Euro's? Winning it twice and keeping football at home!!!What a tournament and what a final, join us as we recap the Women's Euro 2025 final between England and favorites Spain. We discuss the heroes of St George - Agymang, Hampton, Bronze and who else but Chloe Kelly and what next for Sarina Weigman's Lionesses!This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

It's a record-breaking final for numerous reasons as Premier League champions, Chelsea, look to complete their first-ever domestic double under Carlo Ancelotti's management and Portsmouth look for a silver lining in the storm clouds overhead.We also chat about Avram Grant and what counts as a successful season for a club! This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

This week's episode pays homage to the genuine brilliance of David Moyes' Everton and the relative heights he brought them to in his first spell at the club, but don't worry - we also make time to discuss Tony Hibbert's dreams being haunted by Florent Malouda and Nicky Butt's mysterious missing eyebrows!This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!

It's a real underdog story for the FA Cup as the finalists beat the odds - and the best teams in the country - to contest for their first taste of silverware in their modern history.It's a great pod for nostalgia as we discuss Kanu, Hasselbaink, Harry Redknapp and his 'adopted' son, Niko Kranjcar!This is The Final Countdown. A podcast dedicated to all the great finals from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, will do a deep dive (with a generous helping of nostalgia and humour) into one of the greats!