Gary Lineker and Cesc Fàbregas podcast on how to win a World Cup

The legendary England striker and Spanish midfielder explore what it takes to win the biggest prize in football.

In this fourteen-part Audible Original, How to Win a World Cup, the pair take a fun and entertaining look at what it takes to become world champions. They explore the importance of having a football genius in your side, a top manager, the best striker, the ultimate game plan and a huge amount of luck or some other elusive, magic ingredient.

Topics will include secret dressing room tales and amusing incidents from on and off the field.

Gary reveals a hilarious Bobby Robson team talk, Cesc recounts what it’s like sitting on the bench in the final, while desperately wanting a chance to make history. They also ask what went wrong for England’s ‘golden generation’ and whether Gareth Southgate’s current team can bring home the cup in Qatar.

Now a sports broadcaster, Gary earned 80 caps for England scoring 48 goals, including winning the Golden Boot as top scorer in the 1986 World Cup and he helped England to the World Cup semi-final’s in Italia 1990.

Cesc has played for Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea and currently for Como 1907 in the Italian Serie B league. He’s earned over a hundred caps, including from the 2010 World Cup final.

Gary says: “To win the World Cup is every footballer’s dream. I got reasonably close, but the absolute heartache of losing on penalties in the semi-final in 1990 remains my one major regret from my time as a player.

“Spending time with Cesc Fabregas was fantastic fun. His insight into what it takes to actually win the World Cup was brilliant. He played with and against the absolute legends of the game and lifted the greatest trophy of all. Not that I’m jealous. Ok, well maybe just a little bit.”

Cesc adds: “Winning the World Cup was the absolute highlight of my career and I’ll never forget that special night in Johannesburg with my family watching on.

“Chatting with Gary about what it takes to win the World Cup brought back loads of amazing memories. Plus, I loved hearing about his time as a player, facing legends like Diego Maradona. And it was fun to remind Gary that while he won the Golden Boot, I got to lift the golden trophy.”

The Audible Original, How to Win a World Cup is available from the Audible website from today, 10 November.