Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this first part of our three-part special on Colombian football and the tragedy of Andrés Escobar.

Co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper explore the extraordinary history of Colombian football leading up to the 1994 World Cup. This episode covers the intersection of football and narco-culture, Pablo Escobar's involvement in the sport, the tense rivalry with Argentina, and the dramatic road to qualification culminating in the legendary 5-0 victory at El Monumental.

You can listen to this episode ad-free over on our Patreon - Follow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was. You will also get access to our World Cup countdown, magazine retrospectives and bonus episodes as well as a monthly Q&A with Rob and Jonathan.

01:39 The El Dorado League & Early Colombian Football

10:11 Francisco Maturana: The Dentist Who Revolutionised Colombian Football

19:02 Maturana's Influences: Total Football Meets South American Flair

27:43 Navigating Narco-Culture: Pablo Escobar

36:11 René Higuita: The Sweeper-Keeper & The Kidnapping

41:25 Building Rivalry: Colombia vs Argentina at Copa América 1993

48:12 World Cup Qualifying Begins: Asprilla's Controversies

54:03 The Road to Buenos Aires: Setting Up the Five-Nil

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