ABC SPORT Daily

Spain has won its second men's World Cup after comprehensively outplaying Argentina. The South Americans embraced the dark arts, but all the tricks were no match for the Spanish class. Lionel Messi has possibly played his final World Cup game, but this young Spanish group is definitely just getting started. We also unpack an odd half-time show and ask Mark Schwarzer how we will remember the 2026 World Cup. Featured: Mark Schwarzer, Socceroos legend. To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

This World Cup has been a footballing feast. The big stars have shone, the little guys have punched above their weight, the Socceroos gave us reason to dream and ultimately we will have a highly anticipated final between the top two ranked nations. So, why is there still a sense of unease? The US presidential pardon. The hydration breaks. The sense of an erosion of trust. Craig Foster joins us to talk about what we've loved and what we have not.Featured: Craig Foster, football pundit and human rights activist.To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

It felt like a familiar story, England leading one-nil in a major semi-final before losing momentum and eventually the game. Manager Thomas Tuchel is already the focus of much blame, while Lionel Messi and Argentina showed they are never beaten. We pull apart a semi-final that crackled with animus before casting ahead to a final between Spain and Argentina.Featured: Mark Schwarzer, Socceroos legend. To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

In a tournament defined by stars, it was the collective excellence of Spain that sent them past France and into a World Cup final. Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps ends his epic tenure with bitter defeat, while captain and star Kylian Mbappe will rue a missed opportunity in his prime. How did Spain get it SO right? How did France get it SO wrong? We unpack it and cast ahead to the final. Featured: Niav Owens, football host, SBS Sport.To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Messi and Mbappe are globally recognisable stars, but knowing them is hard given the private nature of these identities. Thankfully, we have two authors who have literally written the book on the two champions. Guillem Balague and Julien Laurens join us to talk about how Messi and Mbappe have shone brightest in a World Cup cluttered with brilliance and peeling back the curtain to understanding these two footballing icons. Featured: Julien Laurens, football journalist, ESPN. Guillem Balague, football writer. To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter