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EPISODE · Jun 12, 2026 · 50 MIN

World Cup Special

from Book In · host Rupert Fordham and Charlie Fordham

It’s World Cup time again! As hope springs eternal for Harry Kane and Co, and as the nation becomes obsessed by whether England should play Rashford or Gordon, and how to fit in Jude Bellingham, Rupert and Charlie choose their own teams from the pages of (mainly) English literature. Recalling the style of the England teams of his youth, Charlie opts for a 4-4-2 formation, and selects players from clubs as diverse as Chaucer, Tolkein and Dickens. Rupert goes for the more sophisticated, continental 4-3-3, and relies fairly heavily on Milton, while also making use of C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald Fraser. Both, obviously, can’t ignore Shakespeare and Dickens. So which of the teams would give the French and Argentinians a run for their money, and is either good enough to go all the way and lift the Jules Rimet trophy?  Join Book In to get in the mood for this quadrennial footballfest, and decide for yourself. 

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 12, 2026

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It’s World Cup time again! As hope springs eternal for Harry Kane and Co, and as the nation becomes obsessed by whether England should play Rashford or Gordon, and how to fit in Jude Bellingham, Rupert and Charlie choose their own teams from the pages of (mainly) English literature. Recalling the style of the England teams of his youth, Charlie opts for a 4-4-2 formation, and selects players from clubs as diverse as Chaucer, Tolkein and Dickens. Rupert goes for the more sophisticated, contine...

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World Cup Special

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This episode was published on June 12, 2026.

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