Magnificent Goal! is a podcast dedicated to the history of England football team - from the iconic highs to the heartbreaking near-misses.
Hosted by England fan Steven Toplis, each episode revisits key chapters in England's history, looking back at the matches, players, tournaments and moments that have shaped the Three Lions over the decades.
Steven is joined by fellow fans and special guests to help unpick the legacy of the Three Lions. We take you back to those unforgettable moments in England's history and tell the stories behind them.
Whether you’ve followed the Three Lions for years or are just starting out as an England supporter, this podcast is for you.
England 3-2 Mexico: Is this England's greatest tournament win?
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 quality of the football, the drama, the opposition, or the significance of the occasion? And has this extraordinary game in Mexico City already earned its place in England football folklore?
Listen now and let us know your rankings. Where does England 3-2 Mexico sit in your all-time list?
Robert's book 'Tears for England: Obsession, Hope and Heartbreak with the England Football Team' is available in all good bookshops and through the links below.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tears-England-Obsession-Heartbreak-Football/dp/1836804210
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/tears-for-england/robert-taylor/9781836804215
TG Jones: https://www.tgjonesonline.co.uk/product/robert-taylor/tears-for-england--obsession-hope-and-heartbreak-with-the-england-football-team/15876496
Stanchion Books: https://stanchionbooks.com/products/tears-for-england-obsession-hope-and-heartbreak-with-the-england-football-team
5 Jul 2026
England at Mexico '86 40 years on - The Finals (Part 2) [England vs. Argentina, World Cup quarter-final 1986]
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.
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 dives into this game and England's wider exploits at Mexico '86.
We take a look at how England set themselves up to face Maradona in the searing heat of Mexico City. We revisit the way the diminutive genius single-handedly destroyed England's World Cup hopes with a moment of villany, followed by a moment of inspiration.
We also look at how England rallied thanks to John Barnes' cameo and talk about just how close the Three Lions came to salvaging the game in the dying stages.
You can find Michael by heading to @80s90sFootball on X and Bluesky.
Asif's book 'The Other Side of the Hand of God' is published by Pitch Publishing and available at all good book shops.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Side-Hand-God-Notorious/dp/1836805209
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-other-side-of-the-hand-of-god/asif-burhan/9781836805205
5 Jul 2026
England at Mexico '86 40 years on - The Finals (Part 1)
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 look at the squad that Bobby Robson picked for the tournament and examine a few high-profile names who missed the cut. Then we go on to England's opening game against Portugal where things begin to unravel, before they get even worse in the next match against Morocco.
We go into the changes that Bobby Robson made to his side in response to the Three Lions' poor start to the competition and look at the games against Poland and Paraguay, where England first of all redeem themselves to reach the knockout stages, before booking a place in the quarter-finals with an emphatic victory - with Gary Lineker proving himself to be one of the world's most clinical marksmen.
You can find Michael by heading to @80s90sFootball on X and Bluesky.
Asif's book 'The Other Side of the Hand of God' is published by Pitch Publishing and available at all good book shops.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Side-Hand-God-Notorious/dp/1836805209
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-other-side-of-the-hand-of-god/asif-burhan/9781836805205
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