Football Weekly – “Scotland in Dreamland”

Date: November 19, 2025
Host: The Guardian
Panel: Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Ali Maxwell, Jim Burke, plus guests Ellis James and Felix White
Main Theme: Celebrating Scotland’s dramatic World Cup qualification and covering the latest international football headlines, with reflections on what these moments mean to fans and the game.

Episode Overview

This packed episode of Football Weekly is all about Scotland’s breathtaking return to the World Cup after 28 years following a sensational 4–2 victory over Denmark. The panel dives into the drama, emotion, and context of Scotland’s achievement, explores reaction among fans and players, and draws out the timeless magic of these football moments. There’s also time for a look at Wales’ historic 7–1 win, Curacao and Panama qualifying for the World Cup, a preview of Felix White’s new football book, and reflections on what makes football so deeply meaningful.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

Scotland's Road to the World Cup

(Begins ~01:04)

• Emotional Context:

  • Panelists and listeners express almost disbelief and unfiltered joy over Scotland’s qualification, their first since 1998.
  • Listener David: “I was nine when David Seaman saved Gary McAllister’s penalty... I’m 40 next year, and on this night, it all seemed worth it. Incredible goals. What a campaign.”
  • Listener Scott: “I was five when Scotland last made it to a World Cup... I can’t stop crying. Every time I say ‘we’re going to the World Cup,’ I burst into tears again.”

• Historical Weight:

  • Jim Burke: “The last time you were in the World Cup for me was two marriages, two countries, and three cities ago. Me, I never thought it was going to happen, ever.” (03:41)

• Campaign Character:

  • Scotland started well and “just kept getting worse”—including ugly wins and last-minute anxiety.
  • “There’s a reason you never hear the expression ‘luck of the Scottish’.” (Jim Burke, 03:41)

The Dramatic Match: Scotland 4–2 Denmark

• Iconic moments:

  • Kieran Tierney’s curling goal, Scott McTominay’s overhead kick, and Kenny McLean’s stunning late winner.
  • McLean’s goal described as “from the halfway line, hit the Proclaimers, Hampden goes wild” (Barry Glendenning, 01:04)

• Fan and panel reactions:

  • Barry: “I was weeping in a café in Melbourne... I couldn’t believe Tierney’s went in and then I couldn’t believe [McLean]...” (07:56)
  • Ali Maxwell: “Kieran Tierney sent Scotland to the World Cup... what an unbelievable connection to get the curl on it.” (08:30)

• The Overhead Kick:

  • “We’re 12 minutes in and we haven’t mentioned a Scotsman scoring an overhead kick.” (Barry, 12:31)
  • Jim: “I was petrified McTominay’s goal wouldn’t mean anything... To be a truly great goal, it’s gotta mean something.” (12:41)
  • McTominay’s overhead described as “about a seven” on the Trevor Sinclair scale: “To fly into the top corner is the dream... if it’s not flying high, it can never be above a seven.” (Max, 25:12)

• Controversy:

  • John McGinn “bought” Denmark’s red card: “At first it looked a stonewaller, then you looked at it again... We absolutely got away, we won then.” (Jim Burke, 13:15)
  • Even after Denmark went down to 10 men, tension remained: “Denmark actually got better with 10 men... you can’t believe that... how have they ballsed this up?” (Barry, 13:46)

The Human Side: Andy Robertson’s Tears and Jota Tribute

• Andy Robertson’s emotional post-match:
  • “I've been in bits today, I had my mate Diogo Jota in my head all day... I couldn't get him out of my head... I'm just so glad it's ended this way.” (Barry, 09:58)
• Max: “You could see him kind of welling up... for anyone struggling with grief... it kind of takes up a part of you—even in your highest moments, lowest moments, it’s always there. What he said will resonate with a lot of people.” (Max, 10:50)

Steve Clarke – From Criticisms to Scottish Legend

• “Steve Clarke... in a nation of dour old men, he is the dour old man other dour old men doff their caps to... beside himself with delight. Told BBC Radio he'd be going on the piss for the next three days—and why not?” (Barry and panelist, 16:28)
• Still, some concern he’ll “go defensive” at the World Cup but, as Barry notes, “there’s a case for him being Scotland’s most successful ever manager.”

Iconic Scottish Goals

• Three in four, possibly all-time great goals: “Three of those goals last night, with apologies to Lawrence Shankland, they’ve got to be in the top four Scottish goals of all.” (Panel, 05:48)
• Kieran Tierney’s discussed again for its technical brilliance and significance.

The Magic and Context of International Football

(~14:13 onward)

• Ali Maxwell: “Football is at its best when there is as much jeopardy on it as possible...these are better than anything league football can provide. Cup finals, sure. But moments like this on the international stage—even greater.” (14:13)
• Panel notes how nerves, stakes, and emotion strip away tactical conventions to make these games so raw and memorable.

The Tartan Army and Football Fandom

(21:08 and ongoing)

• Scotland fans recognized for their raucousness, positive impact, and unique, joyful presence.
  • “Whatever cities are lucky enough to have them will love them... an incredibly lovable, raucous, vibrant, likable bunch.” (Unidentified panelist, 21:37)
• Songs and celebration culture debated ("Freed from Desire," "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" etc.), with panelists fondly recalling moments of football-fan unity and the importance of “limbs” videos.

Wales 7–1 North Macedonia: Statement Win

(26:15 – 34:00)

• Ellis James’ voice note:
  • Profoundly emotional recap of Wales’ history-making 7–1 win to secure a favorable playoff seeding.
  • “We haven’t scored seven against anyone since before I was born... I wish we could carry on, play next week, and carry this momentum, because I’ve never seen anything like it; I am on cloud nine.” (Ellis James, 30:45)
• Ali Maxwell:
  • Bellamy’s tactical courage is praised; Wales’ attack hailed as best performance under Bellamy: “Brendan Johnson had his best game in a Wales shirt... Harry Wilson, when he’s not fit, we really, really miss him, and for him to score a hat trick... fantastic.” (31:05)

Around the World: Curacao, Panama, and the International Headlines

(34:02 onward)

• Smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup: “Curacao will be the smallest ever side to qualify... their manager, improbably, Dick Advocaat!” (Barry & Ali, 35:11)
• Scenes of celebration globally, including Panama and Haiti.
• “Just love watching grownups get so invested in this thing, it’s just amazing... a wonderful moment for them, isn’t it?” (Barry, 34:02 & 35:11)
• Offbeat: Dick Advocaat managing Curacao, Steve McClaren out after Jamaica’s playoff heartbreak.
• “Gattuso must be raging to see all these countries qualify...” (37:15, humorous aside)

Book Feature: “Whatever Will Be, Will Be” by Felix White

(38:10 – 59:02)

About the Book

• A journey through every round of the FA Cup, celebrating football's stories and meaning, rather than just scores.
• “I realized... you could tell the entire story of English football in 15 rounds. Trying to almost not write about the football at all, but the stories behind the places, what football means, why we love what we love.” (Felix White, 39:55)

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On football’s strange connections:

  • “You could base an entire friendship for 40 years on just saying things like Linvoy Primus...” (Felix White, 41:50)

• On childhood, loss, and supporting Fulham:

  • “Something about Fulham Football Club and Craven Cottage, the place spoke to me and said, this is a place that will hold your loss, disappointment, hurt... it gave me a digestible version of the feeling I was trying to process.” (Felix White, 47:20–50:48)

• Ali Maxwell on the book:

  • “Almost every listener of Football Weekly will enjoy it... the way you wrote about loving football as a child, what it means now as an adult, is incredible... the Championship Manager stuff... my mum died when I was young, and the way you wrote about the specifics of childhood grief... just incredible.” (45:37–47:20)

• On family tradition and club inheritance:

  • “Instead of giving Jet Fulham shirts, I should have just handed him a big box of sadness.” (Felix White, 51:24)

• On the existential impact of football:

  • “[When Palace won the Cup, it was] the most supernatural thing I’ve ever seen... people not knowing what having a feeling that not only they had never had before in their lives, but their parents, grandparents, had never had. Being completely overwhelmed with feeling. Football is religious.” (Felix White, 56:39–58:27)

The Red Carpet of Lower League Football

• Panel reflects on the unique warmth and authenticity of non-league clubs, how the “red carpet” is anything but, and how those spaces foster real community.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “He’s done him. He’s done him. Kenny McLean from the halfway line, hit the Proclaimers. Hampden goes wild!” — Barry Glendenning (01:04)
• “I can’t stop crying. Every time I say, ‘we’re going to the World Cup,’ I burst into tears again.” — Listener Scott (02:20)
• “Luck of the Scottish? We don’t get that stuff. But last night, oh my God.” — Jim Burke (03:41)
• “If he does nothing else in his career... he will always have that. Just watch it on a loop for the rest of his life. Show the grandkids.” — Unidentified Panelist, on Kenny McLean (05:48)
• “I was weeping in a café in Melbourne...” — Barry (07:56)
• “Andy Robertson... I couldn't get Diogo Jota out of my head today. I'm just so glad it's ended this way.” — Barry quoting Andy Robertson (09:58)
• “The last time you were in the World Cup for me was two marriages, two countries, and three cities ago.” — Jim Burke (03:41)
• “If my neighbours didn’t know I was Scottish, they do now. I think about five or six streets away, they would have heard me.” — Jim Burke (19:15)
• “Football is at its best when there is as much jeopardy on it as possible... better than anything league football can provide.” — Ali Maxwell (14:13)
• “The Tartan Army—whatever cities are lucky enough to have them will love them...” (21:37)
• Ellis James on Wales’ win: “We haven’t scored seven against anyone since before I was born... I am on cloud nine.” (30:45)
• “Curacao will be the smallest ever side to qualify for a World Cup... and their manager is Dick Advocaat!” (35:11)
• “You could base an entire friendship for 40 years on just saying things like Linvoy Primus...” — Felix White (41:50)
• “Instead of giving Jet Fulham shirts, I should have just handed him a big box of sadness.” — Felix White (51:24)
• “Football is religious. It genuinely was a religious experience...” — Felix White, on being in with Palace fans when they won the FA Cup (56:39)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Scotland match reaction, fan messages: 01:04–05:12
• Recap and analysis with panel: 05:12–15:49
• Andy Robertson’s tribute and emotional post-match: 09:58–12:31
• McTominay overhead and great goals: 12:31–13:12; also 25:12 (Trevor Sinclair scale)
• Debate on Steve Clarke: 16:13–18:11
• Tartan Army/fan culture: 21:08–22:31
• Ellis James voice note (Wales reaction): 26:15–30:45
• Wales performance analysis: 31:05–34:02
• Curacao/World football headlines: 34:02–37:34
• Felix White interview (book feature): 38:10–59:02

The Tone and Language

The episode is, as usual, by turns jubilant, irreverent, insightful, and deeply human—with panelists laughing, reminiscing, and getting emotional in turn. The banter is peppered with classic Football Weekly humor, but also with vulnerability and empathy when discussing the moments that make football matter.

Summary

This episode is a love letter to Scottish football, to the underdog’s day, and to the emotional hold of international football. With its blend of passionate fan testimony, tactical and narrative insight, and a moving detour through football’s meaning via Felix White’s new book, it’s essential listening for anyone who wants to understand not just what happened—Scotland making it to the World Cup, yes, but also why it means so much.