Laura Woods on Football's Main Event: Iconic Kits, Unsung Heroes & Three Lions on Repeat
World Cup fever has well and truly hit the nation – and BetMGM ambassador Laura Woods is no different even though she’s out in the States for the occasion.
Ahead of the main event, we put Laura to the test by quizzing her about some of her favourite and most fundamental World Cup memories…
What’s your earliest World Cup memory?
It’s France in 1998 – just an amazing tournament.
I remember watching the final in the lounge between France and Brazil, Emmanuel Petit’s goal, and France winning.
And there’s Michael Owen’s goal vs Argentina, he was only 18. It was an incredible finish and just such a moment. I remember celebrating it… wildly!
What’s the single greatest World Cup goal ever scored?
Picking just from my memory, it’s Owen’s in 1998 or Ronaldinho's in 2002 against us – from a free-kick over the top of David Seaman. I was heartbroken!
Who is your favourite World Cup 'unsung hero'?
Alexis Mac Allister in Qatar for Argentina.
Solid in midfield, never stopped running, got overshadowed of course by Lionel Messi in the final and Emiliano Martinez for that incredible save, but was so vital to their success that year.
If you could change one single moment in World Cup history, what would it be?
It would be the 1990 World Cup penalty misses, Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle.
I was too young to remember it but I’ve watched it back (a lot!) and I wish I could erase that moment for Stuart, because I love him as a player and a person.
And who knows what could have happened if we made it through those penalties. Maybe we wouldn’t have such a hoodoo!
Stadium vs pub vs couch: Where is the ultimate best place for you to watch a massive World Cup game?
I know I work in football so I get spoiled with going to games but some of my absolute best moments watching football have been in the pub with my friends or at home with my family on the couch, so I’ll go with the pub with my friends and family.
What’s your most powerful non-football World Cup memory?
Driving home from the rugby club where we watched England get knocked out in 1998 by Argentina on penalties!
We were all in silence, absolutely gutted, with my family playing ‘Three Lions’ on a cassette on repeat and just turning the tape over each time.
What’s the single most iconic World Cup kit of all time?
The old school Brazil, yellow with a round neck from 1970, way before my time but iconic.
Really any of the yellow Brazil ones I love, to be honest. But that one's iconic.
Also Germany's from 1990 and Nigeria’s from the World Cup in Russia, that was so good!
