With fans questioning Jude Bellingham’s shock omission from the latest England squad, Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward break down the reasoning behind Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave out the now fully-fit Real Madrid star. Once an automatic starter for his country, Bellingham’s exclusion has sparked intense debate - so what’s really behind Tuchel’s stance?

The discussion also revisits two of England’s most talked-about exclusions in football history - Paul Gascoigne and Jimmy Greaves - exploring what truly happened when both legends were famously dropped, and how those decisions played out with the public and the press.

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

"This race was an incredible exhibition of sprinting brilliance and power, but only because it came from a drugs bottle."

In the scorching heat of Seoul during the 1988 Olympic Games, the world watched as two titans of track and field prepared to battle for gold in the men’s 100m final. Carl Lewis, the outspoken American, faced off against Ben Johnson, the quiet Canadian powerhouse and world record holder. What followed wasn’t just the fastest race ever run at the time - it was the most controversial in Olympic history.

We revisit this episode of How It All Played Out, where hosts Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward unpack the dramatic story behind the dirtiest race in history, which changed the face of athletics forever.

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com

Get in touch on socials @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

At 17 years old boxer Barry McGuigan won Commonwealth Gold for Northern Ireland but just two years later he fought at the 1980 Moscow Olympics for the Republic.

So how did the Featherweight World Champion straddle the border and unite Ireland at the height of The Troubles, where bombs, bullets and killings were all too common?

Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com

And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts, Content and Production: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Russell Martin is looking for a new job after becoming the shortest serving manager in Rangers' 153 year history. As we record on Monday morning, Ange Postecoglou is clinging on at Nottingham Forest after the defeat at Newcastle - it’s no wins in 7 for Forest since the Australian took over 27 days ago.

If Postecoglou leaves soon he would become the shortest serving Premier League manager. But who currently has that unwanted title? What happened there? And which manager only lasted the length of a pressed conference? Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward open the history books.

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Join us to uncover a mystery that's still yet to be solved.

We're revisiting this episode of How It All Played Out, where Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward travelled to the home of Head Groom Jim Fitzgerald on a stormy night in County Kildare in the Republic of Ireland to investigate one of the most shocking stories from the 1980s: the kidnapping of prize racehorse Shergar.

This story involves the IRA, a ransom of £2 million and masked kidnappers with submachine guns, so travel back in time with us to explore a bizarre sporting story like no other.

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com

Get in touch on socials @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adem Waterman and Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

1965-1975: A time when Sport Was A Lot More Fun

In this episode of How It All Played Out, Paul Hayward takes Mark Pougatch on a personal journey through his favourite sporting decade - an era of flair, freedom, and unforgettable drama. From the dancing feet of Pelé to Johan Cruyff's total football, and Sir Gareth Edwards’ legendary try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973.

This is a celebration of sporting magic, unpredictability, artistry, and moments so jaw-dropping they may never come again.

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com

Executive Producers: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

The ‘Battering at Bethpage’, the ‘Legend of Long Island’... this weekend was a Ryder Cup for the history books. Europe held off a late comeback from the Americans to win 15-13 in New York - the first away win since the Miracle of Medina 2012.

Have other captains got it as wrong as Keegan Bradley before? Does history show that rowdy crowds have worked for the Americans in the past? And what is it about team golf that links world number one Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods? Mark is joined by the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman to discuss all that and more.

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Ball tampering, fans storming the golf course, bringing in the military... this is the story of how the Ryder Cup rivalry changed forever.

Can you believe that it was once a quiet, civilised exhibition between the UK and America? The War by the Shore and Battle of Brookline transformed all that.

So how did the Ryder Cup become the commercial juggernaut of colour, cash and controversy that we're seeing this week?

Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells