Any Given Thursday

ACROSS THE CONTINENT returns with our 4th league preview – and this time we're heading over to Germany to take a look at the BUNDESLIGA. We begin by getting the Bayern and Dortmund plaudits out of the way, including complimenting Dortmund's summer business, before delving into teams we like and dislike. In the segment, we ask the hard questions. Can new coaches in Leipzig and Leverkusen put the pieces together in time to challenge for Champions League? Is Mainz's attack really this good? And is Gadblach destined for a relegation battle (recorded before the sacking of their coach)? Naturally, we're aligned on two of our favorites German clubs of late, Stuttgart and Freiburg. What makes them such models of consistency? Then we discuss the three promoted teams, including Elversberg's dream start to their first ever top flight campaign and Paderborn and Schalke's chances of survival. We also debate which established sides might find themselves in trouble come next spring. Finally, we reveal our official table predictions for the year and wonder who the hell Vincent Kompany's stylist is. Cheers to Vincent Kompany and Miron Muslić! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 06:16 – Bayern & Dortmund 10:41 – teams we're out on 22:40 – teams we're in on 31:57 – promoted teams & relegation candidates 43:04 – official table predictions

It's time for our annual Conference League league phase preview! We begin by going through our power rankings and identifying the primary contenders in the tournament. We explain why we think Brighton, Monaco, and Freiburg are a cut above the rest and why Atalanta has a lot of work to do. We also identify some of our favorite teams outside of the top echelon, including Copenhagen and Frankfurt, and some teams that have a lot to prove, like Trabzonspor. We move on to some of our favorites mixtures through the six match days, including blockbuster matchups between contenders, and discuss the hardest and easiest schedules. We also select some of our favorite upset candidates who could surprise. Next, we draft our top contenders to make the top 8 in the final table, thus securing the all-important bye to the round of 16, and finish the episode with another edition of New Fun Kids To Watch (In A Sporting & Not Creepy Way). Which Conference League youngsters are destined for stardom? Cheers to everyone (who's morally deserving)! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 24:52 – betting favorites 26:29 – fixtures, hardest + easiest schedules 33:14 – top 8 draft 40:48 – youngsters to watch

Our sister show, ACROSS THE CONTINENT, is back with a preview of LA LIGA. We begin with Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid. The early signs are positive – particularly his relationship with the likes of Mbappe and Bellingham – but can they sustain elite play? We debate whether they can keep pace with Rodri, Yamal, and Barcelona. We also discuss Atlético's chances of keeping pace after a summer of big business, as well as drama with star striker Julian Alvarez. Can they mend that relationship in time to threaten Barca and Madrid? Next, we make our predictions for the rest of the European spots, including why we're high on Real Betis, a little skeptical of Real Sociedad, and why Villarreal might need a little time to gel. Finally, we spotlight the three promoted clubs, take a stab at the relegation battle, and identify some clubs that might surprise and delight. Cheers to Hansi Flick and José Alberto López! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 01:58 – Madrid + Barcelona 11:23 – Atlético 14:01 – Champions League + European spots 22:32 – surprise teams 25:54 – promoted teams + relegation fight 32:19 – table predictions

It's time for our annual Europa League league phase preview! We start by discussing Italy's offering – Milan and Juventus – who should be tournament favorites. How good are they, and how much pressure should Italy feel to win the competition this year? We also spotlight a few clubs who have had notable summers. Leverkusen and Besiktas have spent lots of money to bring in attacking talent. How close are they to breaking through to contender status? Celtic have completed compelling business during the window, as well. Can they make noise under stalwart Martin O'Neill? Then we introduce our new, poorly-named segment: New Fun Kids To Watch (not creepy). Max picks 5 youngsters across the tournament loaded with promise and destined for big things. Keep the receipts! Next, David selects his favorite match-day 1 fixtures before we run through our league phase power rankings. Who lands in the top 8? Who falls outside knockouts qualification? Along the way, we touch on the unusual grouping of English sides, Bournemouth, Sunderland, and Palace, Benfica's claim as a tournament frontrunner, Union St Gilloise's ability to make a run, and Portuguese 2nd-tier Torreense's chances at competing. Finally, we make some bold predictions, including our winners of the whole competition. Cheers to everyone (except the French)! Timecodes: 00:00 – the start 02:13 – Italian favorites | Milan & Juventus 10:07 – teams to watch | Leverkusen, Besiktas, Celtic 22:17 – teams that might surprise | Union St Gilloise 24:31 – youngsters to watch 32:11 – best match-day 1 fixtures 37:15 – power rankings 50:24 – table surprise & we pick our winners

It's the second episode of ACROSS THE CONTINENT, our sister show where we discuss subjects outside of our usual Europa and Conference League bubble. Today, we're doing a preview of Italy's SERIE A. We begin by examining the state of the league's annual coaching carousel. Who got it right and who got it terribly wrong? And what fresh faces have a chance to be successful? Next, we discuss the league's recent youth movement after many years of prioritizing veteran players. We share some of our favorite transfer business and forecast which youngsters could make the biggest impact. Then David and Maxwell go through their table predictions, debating which relegation contenders will stay up, whether Lazio can remain intact, if Fiorentina's youth movement will be successful, and who will grab the precious Champions League Spots. We also share some hot on whether anyone can challenge Inter for the title. Cheers to Cristian Chivu & Giovanni Stroppa! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 01:52 – manager carousel 10:41 – youth movement 20:58 – relegation contenders 22:57 – mid-table predictions 29:01 – top 7 34:09 – title condenders 42:02 – rapid-fire takes

The Europa and Conference League playoff qualifying came to a scintillating conclusion this week, and we're breaking it all down for you. Beginning in Europa, Ferencvaros completed its 2-leg humiliation of Mo Salah's Trabzonspor – a game so bad the coach tried to quit and the club wouldn't let him. It's all very Turkish football. What's going on over there? We also discuss Viktoria Plzen's massive comeback from a 3-goal deficit to beat Red Star Belgrade. But is there VAR controversy involved? Then we tackle a host of drama in the Conference League, where 8 ties when to extra time and/or penalties and a number of others were decided in added time. It was a horrible week for Scottish teams, with only Hearts emerging triumphant, while Rangers and Hibs fell in heartbreaking fashion. Twente and Panathinaikos both pulled off extra time victories on the road, while Lincoln Red Imps shocked Larne, coming from 2 goals down with just 10 minutes to go. Finally, Inter Club d'Escaldes became the first Andorran side to qualify for a European group stage/league phase! Next, we do the Big Boy Check-In, where all 5 clubs qualified for the league phase. Brighton, Monaco, and Freiburg all did so with style, while Atalanta and Getafe scraped through. What does this mean moving forward? And does Ajax's scintillating attacking football qualify them for this group? Finally, we share our initial reactions about the draws in both competitions, and we're welcomed back into David's Coefficient Corner. Cheers to Felip Ortiz! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 02:07 – UEL main stories | Trabzonspor, Viktoria Plzen 10:05 – UEL whip-around 14:55 – crazy drama in UECL | Rangers is out 19:17 – Twente + Panathinaikos 24:36 – Inter Club d'Escaldes 28:16 – Lincoln Red Imps 32:49 – Hearts + Hibs 40:00 – Brann vs PAOK 43:15 – Big Boy Check-In 52:16 – Ajax 56:46 – draw reactions 01:01:14 – David's Coefficient Corner

It's the very first episode of our spinoff show, AROUND THE CONTINENT, where we will discuss subjects in European football outside our usual Europa & Conference League bubble! To kick things off, we're doing six weeks of league previews, and first up is England's PREMIER LEAGUE. We dig into our table predictions, starting with the likely relegation contenders. Can any of the promoted sides survive the drop? And why are we worried about Fulham and Crystal Palace? Next, we look at the mid table, full of teams either in Europe this season or with strong European ambitions. Can Bournemouth and Brighton manage the extra slate of games? Can new-look Newcastle cope with a first-year coach and a much younger squad? Is Glasner the perfect man to lead Nottingham Forest? And will Brentford's stability lead them to the top of this group? We then discuss Champions League contenders. Arsenal is the heavy favorite to repeat, but how will it shake out behind them in a messy field? Finally, we do some quick hits, including who will get the sack first, golden boot winner, and more. Cheers to Frank Lampard! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 06:35 – relegation contenders 16:49 – mid-table 24:47 – top 7 40:28 – rapid fire

We're back to talk first legs of the final qualifying round! We begin by complaining about streaming availability for these matches. Why does Paramount license the competitions and not show any of the qualifying games? Then we move to Europa League, which was marked by a couple of startling results. First, we investigate Thun's humiliating 7-0 defeat at the hands of Lech Poznan. What's going wrong with the Swiss champions? Then we head over to Mo Salah's European debut with Trabzonspor, which ended in a narrow defeat to Ferencvaros. How long will it take for the Turk's new signings to click? We also take a look at Benfica's vibrant squad and ask if they should be among the tournament favorites. Over in the Conference League, we begin with the Big Boy Check-In. Both Brighton and Atalanta came away with 0-0 results. Brighton put in an okay performance in Tromsø despite conceding the biggest chance of the game, while Atalanta laid a major egg while hosting Hapoel Tel Aviv. What do both clubs have to do to ensure qualifying for the league phase? Getafe and Monaco also faced stiff challenges from Partizan Belgrade and Górnik Zabrze respectively, but each came out winners. And finally, Freiburg saw off a pesky Motherwell in Scotland, thanks to a bland of the old and the new. Elsewhere, we check in on Ajax, who seems to be turning a new leaf under recent hire Míchel, Panathinaikos, who blew a 2-goal lead late, an entertaining Hearts-Rapid match, and much more. Cheers to Felip Ortiz! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 04:37 – Europa League | Main Stories 15:34 – Europa League | Whip-Around 24:36 – Conference League | Big Boy Check-In 41:50 – Conference League | Whip-Around

We're back! Any Given Thursday is full go for the 2026-27 Europa and Conference League seasons and we're kicking things off with a check-in on qualifying. We're through the 3rd qualifiying round across all three UEFA competitions and with the final hurdle racing towards us, we look at some of the best head-to-head matchups, what's at stake for big clubs, who's likely to be upset, and some of the best stories so far. Finally, David's Coefficient Corner returns to give you all the juicy mathematics. Cheers to Vesa Vasara! Chapters: 00:00 - the start 03:12 - favorites games so far 4:43 - Champions League qualifying 06:53 - Europa League qualifying 21:03 - Conference League qualifying 40:55 - ultimate losers 42:15 - David's Coefficient Corner

It's our very last World Cup podcast of the summer! It's a bittersweet moment as we look back on 7 weeks of non stop football. Thank you to everyone who's listened! We use this show as an opportunity to reflect on the tournament as a whole, beginning with a wide ranging discussion on the future of international football, including whether Spain and France are destined to dominate future tournaments and a potential crossroads for South American nations. We also discuss whether the Premier League is actually bad for the English national team and how USA and Mexico take another step in 2030. We then address the tournament awards – do we agree with the winning players? Next, we give out our highly prestigious James Rodriguez award to one lucky fella. We also reexamine and update our pre-tournament James 11-man lineup and go through some tournament superlatives. Finally, we re-rank all 48 teams that competed at the World Cup. We're headed on a brief holiday until August, when we'll be back with our regularly scheduled Europa/Conference League programming, more Club Spotlights, and some surprise content to be announced soon. See you soon, and cheers to you all! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 02:49 – how are we feeling? 04:52 – tournament reflections, will Spain and France continue to dominate? 07:47 – is the Premier League bad for English team? 14:35 – state of South America 21:31 – USA and Mexico 31:14 – pros and cons of expanded tournament 38:57 – tournament awards 43:33 – James Rodriguez Award 01:01:17 – superlatives 01:10:18 – re-ranking teams

Spain are your 2026 World Cup champions! We're talking all about Spain's 1-0 extra time triumph over holders Argentina, including Argentina's negative approach, their lack of chances and poor behavior postgame, and how Spain once again controlled all facets of the game. Additionally, we debate each side's place among the pantheon of great international sides, as well as Golden Boot-winner Rodri's place among the pantheon of great midfielders, and project whether Spain is a budding dynasty. Cheers to Luis de la Fuente and España! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 01:02 – immediate reactions 09:48 – what went wrong for Argentina? 32:08 – Spain is really good, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams 39:22 – Rodri 44:31 – is Spain building a dynasty? 47:09 – what is this Argentina side's legacy? 53:57 – Trump, the halftime show, & "New York New Jersey" Stadium 58:07 – 3rd place game – France 4-6 England

The World Cup final kicks off tomorrow, and we're breaking it all down for you on our Spain-Argentina preview! We begin revisiting each nation's World Cup pasts and what's at stake for each in the historical pantheon. We also discuss the country's relationships to one another. Though they've only previously played once at a World Cup, they are steeped in shared culture and footballing history, including Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, and of course, Lionel Messi (yes, we talk about the bathing photo). Then we move on to discuss the unique tactical battle between two sides that operate very differently. Can Argentina affect Spain's metronomic midfield? How will Spain defend Messi? Can Argentina challenge Spain's immaculate defensive record? Additionally, we tackle the key personnel and wonder if Argentina is still underrated – as crazy as that sounds – before picking a combined 11 between the teams. Cheers to us all! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 03:17 – Spain & Argentina's World Cup histories 13:02 – footballing connections between the countries 20:40 – tactical profiles & keys to the game 39:36 – combined 11 51:30 – predictions

Our Club Spotlight series is returning for a special World Cup edition! At this season's tournament, we have four nations competing at their first ever World Cup: Curaçao, Cabo Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. As the competition progresses, we will be highlighting each footballing nation – exploring their political, geographical, and sporting histories and learning how they got here. The final episode in our series is about Uzbekistan, the first Central Asian nation to qualify for a World Cup – and also the region's largest by population. We delve into the country's rich history, from its ancient roots to its time under Soviet control, to its modern era of independence. Often defined for its economic isolation and horrific civil rights record, we at its slow evolution in the past ten years as its steadily opened up to the rest of the world and how it is addressing improvements in civil and social reforms. Next, we move to their footballing history, which dates back before the 1920s, and detail their path from limited opportunities under Soviet rule to the formation of the White Wolves in the 90s, as well their infamously arduous and frustrating path to qualifying for their first World Cup. Finally, we talk about their appointment of Fabio Cannavaro as manager, their exciting youth development and evolving roster, plus a look back at how they performed in their debut on the world stage. Cheers to the footballing nation of Uzbekistan! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 01:29 – Uzbekistan facts 03:02 – historical background 05:05 – government & civil rights 11:20 – footballing history 16:54 – World Cup qualifying trials & tribulations 23:22 – current roster 26:12 – Cannavaro, tactics, & how did they do? Sources: https://www.beinsports.com/en-asia/football/fifa-world-cup-2026/articles/uzbekistans-world-cup-exit-was-brutal-says-cannavaro-2026-06-28 https://www.youngpioneertours.com/the-worlds-only-double-landlocked-countries/ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16218112 https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/eastern-europe-and-central-asia/uzbekistan/report-uzbekistan/ https://wrasse.plymouth.ac.uk/ac-news/uzbekistan-football-federation-a-deep-dive-1767647931 https://web.archive.org/web/20160923175048/http://www.espnfc.com/story/341697/uzbekistan-and-bahrain-to-play-it-again https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/10/uzbekistan-world-cup-2026-team-guide https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7157871/2026/03/31/uzbekistan-world-cup-2026/

And then there were two. The World Cup final is set, but how did we get there? We're break down all the details and reactions from two scintillating semifinals! First, we delve into the latest edition of English heartbreak, as they fell 2-1 in yet another dramatic Argentine comeback. We discuss the disastrous negative tactics that led them to failure and why we're having this conversation at yet another major tournament. Why can't they get out of their own way? And should Tuchel be sacked? Additionally, we commend the usual Argentine resolve, Messi's continued brilliance, and enjoy Lautaro's much-awaited big moment for his country. We also discuss how national teams should be hiring coaches. Does it work to lure big-name club managers, or should they be building and promoting through the youth ranks? Next, we move to Spain's comprehensive 2-0 victory of France, debating what Deschamps got wrong in his final game in charge. We question his lineup and substitution choices, while also singing the praises of the brilliant performances from the Spanish midfield and fullbacks. Cheers to Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni! Chapters: 00:00 – the start, thoughts on a Spain-Argentina final 06:23 – England vs Argentina, what went wrong for England? 22:03 – Argentina's comeback 31:14 – Tuchel's future, how should you find a national team coach? 40:47 – Spain vs France, what happened to France? 58:43 – Spain are cool customers 01:01:55 – referee performances

We're back to talk all things World Cup Quarterfinals! Naturally, we have to start with the spectacle that was England-Norway – a match that featured maximum drama on and off the pitch. Jude Bellingham once again starred, scoring both of England's goals, but the game could've easily gone the other way thanks to a number of key moments. We talk how Solbakken and his players baited England in a false sense of security early in the game, before jumping on them post hydration break, and how close they were to being up 2-0 if only Sorloth laid the ball off to Erling Haaland. Then we delve into the VAR controversies – first the potential sky cam interference in the build up to Bellingham's equalizer, then Norway's disallowed go-ahead in the second half. We also discuss Nyland's tough moment in goal, leading to Jude's winner in extra time. How did England survive another close shave? Are they built for the moment or too reliant on individual moments? Next, we address further officiating controversies in Argentina-Switzerland, where Embolo was sent off for simulation thanks to VAR intervention. Do we think the right decision was reached here? Why does this one feel like an existential crisis? England-Argentina is a semifinal for the ages – both for on and off the pitch reasons. Who do we think has the edge in this great rivalry and why? Finally, we move on to Spain's narrow win over Belgium and France's walk in the park against Morocco. We debate whether either team has been properly challenged yet, what Spain has been missing in the attacking third, and what to expect in a star-studded matchup. Cheers to Ståle Solbakken! Ro! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 05:09 – England 2-1 Norway 11:29 – Sorloth's 2 v 1 16:30 – Bellingham + sky cam 20:11 – Norway's strong 2nd half 28:47 – Tuchel's subs + Jude's winner 33:41 – big picture for England 37:21 – Argentina 2-1 Switzerland 38:20 – the Embolo red 46:27 – England-Argentina preview 49:15 – England-Argentina's past World Cup meetings 52:18 – Spain 2-1 Belgium 53:39 – Belgium's bizarre tournament 54:42 – Spain's issues in attack 59:10 – France 2-0 Morocco 01:05:17 – some love for Didier Deschamps 01:09:01 – disappointment in Morocco

And just like that, only 8 remains. The World Cup Round of 16 has come and gone, and we've broken down all the big moments. And unfortunately for the Americans, we must start with a USMNT audit after their all-time stinker on Monday night, losing to Belgium 4-1 in Seattle. What went wrong for this team after such a promising June? We examine the team's mental weaknesses, the dreadful individual performances, including Dest, Freese, Ream, and of course, Pulisic, and wonder if Pulisic should continue to be the face of this team. We also address the Balogun situation and Trump's intervention, expressing our frustration on the damage this does to American soccer's perception across the globe. Then we recap an instant classic at the Azteca, where England held on to beat Mexico 3-2. What went right and wrong for a Mexico side that left it all out there but couldn't find a decisive moment of quality? And did England prove something to themselves and to the world with their mental fortitude? Egypt nearly shocked holders Argentina in another all-timer in Atlanta on Tuesday, but much of the conversation is mired in VAR and refereeing decisions. How did Egypt nearly accomplish a historic upset and went wrong in the final 20 minutes? And is there any merit to claims that this was rigged for Argentina? Next, we perform autopsies on eliminated Brazil and Portugal, two contenders than never reached their potentials. We discuss first how Carlo approached the Norway game – did he get it wrong? Or was the team just undone by poor finishing? And on a larger scale, does Brazil even know who they are anymore? There's a lot of blame to go around on the Portuguese side, and we delve into why Roberto Martinez got everything wrong this unbelievably talented group of players. We also hail Norway's greatest ever win, with a predictable star turn from Haaland and an unpredictable one from Nyland in goal, as well as some brave decision from their coach, Solbakken. Finally, we briefly touch on France withstanding Paraguay's aggression and the defensive showcase that was Switzerland-Colombia. Cheers to Murat Yakin and Switzerland! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 02:20 – USA 1 - 4 Belgium 05:37 – USMNT's mental weakness 08:24 – Trump's interference 13:08 – what Belgium did well 15:34 – Pulisic 22:30 – Mexico 2 - 3 England – Mexico's thrilling send off 28:43 – how did England withstand the Azteca? 34:37 – Canada 0 - 3 Morocco 37:11 – Argentina 3 - 2 Egypt – how did Egypt almost pull it off? 39:58 – VAR controversies – were Egypt robbed? 47:21 – Brazil 1 - 2 Norway – a Brazilian autopsy 53:20 – Haaland, Nyland, Solbakken – Norway's triump 56:00 – Spain 1 - 0 Portugal – Roberto Martinez gets it all wrong 01:01:25 – France 1 - 0 Paraguay 01:02:08 – Switzerland (pens) 0 - 0 Colombia 01:03:40 – the World Cup of stars & power rankings 01:05:17 – quick Quarterfinal thoughts

We're back after a thrilling and dramatic inaugural Round of 32 at the World Cup! We were going to lead off the pod with Germany, but then Cabo Verde happened (again). What a story and what a performance (again) from the Blue Sharks, who took Messi and the defending champions to the very brink in Miami, and in the process, provided one of the greatest World Cup games of the century. We spend some time heaping love on their performance, from the heroic individual performances to the brilliance of Bubista's tactics to their undying belief and stamina. What a moment, what a team. Next, we move on to tournament disappointments, including Germany, The Netherlands, and Senegal. First, we wonder what should Germany's identity be moving forward and why couldn't Nagelsmann get it right with this group. Then we tackle Koeman's catastrophe versus Morocco, where he seemed to sabotage his own team's chances for success, before asking what went wrong for a Senegal group that was fully in control with ten minutes to play against Belgium. Elsewhere, all six pre-tournament favorites advanced, but only France and Spain comfortably. England were pushed to the brink by a terrific DR Congo, with Harry Kane coming up huge again. Is this a sign of trouble for the Three Lions or were Congo just awesome? Brazil also need a late winner to send Japan home, but a promising second half performance has us wondering if we're foolishly doubting Carlo once again. Portugal, too, were up against it, with some questionable VAR interventions salvaging Ramos' stoppage time go-ahead. We debate if Croatia were unfairly treated, how they bossed the second half, and whether this version of Portugal has any chance against Spain. We also officially welcome Morocco and Norway into our Official Contenders circle. Congrats to all involved. All 3 hosts have advanced, so we look ahead to each's chances to reach the quarterfinals. The U.S. is, like, better than Belgium right? Can Mexico really knock out England in the Azteca? And can Canada hang with Morocco? And finally, we power rank the remaining 16 nations and identify the round's best games. One final cheers to maestro, Bubista! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 01:28 – Cabo Verde 11:42 – Germany 21:17 – Netherlands 29:27 – Senegal-Belgium 33:50 – England-DR Congo 40:53 – Brazil 43:48 – Spain & France 45:12 – Portugal-Croatia 54:10 – Argentina 57:43 – Morocco & Norway are contenders 01:01:39 – Hosts advance: USA, Mexico, Canada 01:13:22 – Farewell Ivory Coast, Japan 01:19:24 – Round of 16, power rankings 01:22:51 – Round of 16, pick 'em

Our Club Spotlight series is returning for a special World Cup edition! At this season's tournament, we have four nations competing at their first ever World Cup: Curaçao, Cabo Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. As the competition progresses, we will be highlighting each footballing nation – exploring their political, geographical, and sporting histories and learning how they got here. Next up is Jordan, a middle eastern country with a rich and ancient past, with a population just under 12 million. We talk about Jordan's history dating back 60,000 years, its relationship to English colonization, and the complexities of its geographical positioning. We also discuss their unusually progressive policies towards immigration and refugees and how that has impacted its sporting landscape. Next, we learn about its history in football, including its relatively stable domestic league, the rise of the national team, and how they finally qualified for the big one. Finally, we lament the insanely difficult group they were drawn into, as it limits the heights they can reach at their inaugural World Cup.* Cheers to Jordan! *Note: This podcast was recorded before Jordan's group stage matches. Naturally, they did not pick up any points, but they did acquit themselves well! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 03:00 – history & geography 06:43 – politics & immigration 11:35 – Jordanian domestic league 15:57 – the national team 24:10 – the world cup draw

We pick all 16 Round of 32 games as the knockout stage kicks off at the World Cup. Which favorites will coast? Which will be upset? Find out here! Plus, we look ahead to some possible matchups in future rounds. Cheers!

We're back to talk about the last round of the group stage! Teams advanced. Teams went home. We have thoughts. First, we acknowledge Canada advancing past South Africa in their first ever knockout appearance, before moving on to the ways in which FIFA has detracted from the drama of the group stage, including the new head-to-head tiebreaker and the expanded format. Next, we discuss some of the positive developments, including Ecuador and Bosnia and Herzegovina getting through, and the strength evident in the African contingent. Did we underestimate the depth from the continent's nations? How far Ivory Coast go? Uruguay, Scotland, and South Korea were all dumped out unceremoniously, and we spend some time on what went wrong for each, including why Bielsa and Uruguay never meshed. We close the segment with a power ranking of all the eliminated teams. Finally, we check in on the tournament favorites as they enter the knockouts, including considering new entries to the exclusive club. Does Colombia officially belong? Cheers to Didier Deschamps, Lionel Scaloni, and Javier Aguirre! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 01:08 – Canada-South Africa 03:07 – FIFA frustrations 13:09 – Saturday's games 17:07 – African succes 27:10 – more nice stories 31:25 – Scotland 37:34 – Uruguay 46:09 – South Korea 51:29 – power ranking eliminated teams 01:01:44 – favorites check-in

Another highly entertaining round of group stage football is behind us, and we're having deja vu! That's thanks to Capo Verde, who once again held a former World Cup champion to a draw – this time Biela's Uruguay. Who did the African islanders put together such a high-octane performance in the Miami heat? Fellow debutants Curaçao also shocked a South American dark horse favorite in Ecuador with a 0-0 draw. We praise Eloy Room's historic 15-save performance, as well as Dick Advocaat's resolute outfield players. Then we move on to discuss the tournament disappointments so far. Uruguay and Ecuador are on the brink of elimination, Turkey's been dumped out already, and Senegal and Belgium have much work to do. What's gone wrong for these talented groups? Next, we touch on some tournament big boys, including much-needed responses from Portugal and Spain, a come-from-behind win for Germany over Ivory Coast, and a comedown draw for England against a resolute Ghana. We also luxuriate in another world-class Messi performance and wax poetic about Argentina's excellence. Finally, we do our superlatives, a check-in on our James Rodriguez Award contenders, and look ahead to a spicy slate of games in the upcoming days. Cheers to Dick Advocaat and Bubista! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 02:05 – Cabo Verde + Curaçao 09:35 – disappointments (Uruguay, Ecuador, Senegal, Belgium) 25:25 – Portugal 30:25 – Spain 32:10 – Germany 38:00 – England 41:15 – Argentina 45:45 – CONCACAF 46:45 – superlatives 56:10 – James Rodriguez Award

In honor of the NBA draft this week, our special series, Any Given Redraft returns, along with star guest Jacob Hill! Today, we tackle a strong 2014 crop of players, including Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon, and Zach Lavine. We begin by revisiting the big storylines heading into the night, the broadcast on ESPN starring Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, and Jay Bilas, and pick an all-time injury starting 5. Then we move into the Redraft, each selecting a team of 8 destined to do battle head-to-head. If you're a basketball sicko, this one's for you. Cheers! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 05:25 – draft preview 20:15 – broadcast 31:55 – injury starting 5 48:55 – prelude to picks, Jokic 01:04:20 – picks 2-3 01:13:15 – picks 4-6 01:27:15 – picks 7-9 01:37:10 – picks 10-16

We've got another World Cup bonus episode for you on the most important goings-on from the past couple days. First, we check in on the soaring hosts – USA and Mexico have already topped their group and advanced, and Canada are not far behind. Who looks the best out of the trio and why? Then we take a look at the fiasco that is the Türkiye national team, who bowed out of the tournament after just two matches. What went wrong for perpetual "dark horses?" How did their coach get this so wrong? Next up is the scintillating Netherlands-Sweden game, which ended in a 5-1 Dutch romp but felt much closer than that. We discuss Brian Brobbey's breakout day, Malen vs. Summerville on the right, and what Koemen got right, as well as Potter's decision to go all in and whether that could cost them heading into their final game against Japan. Finally, we do quick hits on Brazil and Germany. Brazil picked up a comfortable win over Haiti, but did they answer any of our questions about their midfield and defense? Germany, meanwhile, earned a tough come-from-behind win over a frisky Ivory Coast. What should be done about Leroy Sane? Should Undav start? Cheers to Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koemen! Chapters: 00:00 – the start 01:05 – wins for all 3 hosts 03:00 – which host looks the best? 09:05 – Turkish tragedy 16:20 – Dutch delight, Swedes go all out 21:30 – questions about Brazil 25:20 – Germans come from behind

Our Club Spotlight series is returning for a special World Cup edition! At this season's tournament, we have four nations competing at their first World Cup: Curaçao, Cabo Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. As the competition progresses, we will be highlighting each footballing nation – exploring their political, geographical, and sporting histories and learning how they got here. Next up is Cabo Verde, an island nation off the coast of Western Africa, with a population of just over 500,000. We detail how the country journeyed from being completely uninhabited by humans in the 15th century to earning a point off Spain in a 21st century World Cup, including its colonial history, push to independence, and current place in world ecosystem. Then we discuss the football – how did a relative outsider qualify for the World Cup in Africa's competitive qualifying? David explains the growth of their program, their legendary coach Bubista, the international player recruitment, and the tactics that led them past African giants like Cameroon. We also reflect on how all these factors led them to their history draw against tournament favorites Spain. Cheers to Bubista!

We're back to talk the first round of games in the World Cup group stage! We start by discussing the quality and depth throughout the tournament, from South Korea to Jordan to New Zealand and Iran. Has there ever been so much quality at a World Cup? Then we give our flowers to Cabo Verde and DR Congo, who picked up historic results against Spain and Portugal, respectively. We examine how they achieved these most epic of points and enjoy Verdean keeper Vozinha's rise to global fame. We also check in on the tournament favorites, who enjoyed a mixed opening round. England were brilliant in a high-octane win over Croatia and France demonstrated the immense power of their attacking talent in a brilliant second half steamrolling of Senegal. But elsewhere, Brazil struggled to cope in the midfield against Morocco, and Spain and Portugal encountered low-blocks they couldn't solve. We delve in Portugal's issues against Congo, from Ronaldo to the sameness of many of their creative midfielders. Finally, we move onto our superlatives, decreeing the first group stage round's best and worst games, players, moments, and much more. Cheers to Bubista and Sébastien Desabre! Chapters: 0:00 – the start 3:18 – top stories (Cabo Verde, DR Congo, + parity) 16:20 – England 20:39 – France 23:50 – Brazil & Germany 27:27 – Spain & Portugal 35:50 – CONCACAF check-in 41:32 – Superlatives 58:17 – James Rodriguez Award check-in

We've got a special bonus episode for you on 3 World Cup topics we simply couldn't resist. First, we break down how the United States turned up to the tournament in such style, running circles around Paraguay in a 4-1 victory. How did Poch get the lads humming and what were the tactical moves that allowed them such freedom? We also look ahead to their second match against Australia, who shocked Turkey in their opener. What different threats will the Aussies pose? Then, we discuss the first sacking of the tournament – Sabri Lamouchi, after his Tunisian side was humiliated 5-1 to Sweden in a shocking performance. What happened to Tunisia and what comes next with new man Herve Renard swooping in as replacement? Finally, David allows Maxwell to rant about his beloved Oranje for a few minutes, bitterly complaining about their approach in the final 20 minutes against Japan, Ronald Koemen's tactical prowess, and the state of Dutch coaching. Cheers to Mauricio Pochettino!

Our Club Spotlight series is returning for a special World Cup edition! At this season's tournament, we have four nations competing at their first World Cup: Curaçao, Cabo Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. As the competition progresses, we will be highlighting each footballing nation – exploring their political, geographical, and sporting histories and learning how they got here. First up is Curaçao, the smallest nation by population to ever qualify for a World Cup! Only autonomous since 2010, the island has seen many centuries of colonial transition and tumult. We discuss its complex history with Europeans – namely The Netherlands, the slave trade, the oil industry, and its long road to independence. We then break down some its rich sporting culture. Competing as The Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao actually had a previous golden era of football in the 1940s and 50s, led by the legendary goalkeeper, Ergilio Hato. Why has this period been somewhat lost to history outside of the Caribbean? Finally we move to the present day, where we learn how the federation was able to build a new era of footballing success, with help from Patrick Kluivert, Dick Advocaat, and players recruited from the mainland Netherlands. What should viewers expect from this edition of the Curaçao side? How do they set up? What are their chances in a stacked Group E? Cheers to Curaçao and The Blue Wave! Sources: https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/23878 https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/curacaos-miraculous-world-cup-2026-qualification/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnTEBdfEEIQ https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48757275/curacao-reinstate-dick-advocaat-deny-change-due-external-pressure https://www.si.com/soccer/curacao-2026-world-cup-preview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCpJ1qv7lts https://www.reddit.com/r/curacao/comments/1rudfso/historical_video_of_willemstad_cura%C3%A7ao/ https://dutchcaribbeanheritage.org/en/information/a-bridge-named-emma/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezBzl59cZgY

We're wrapping up our World Cup Preview series with an unfortunate but necessary conversation about the political and logistical state of the tournament in the United States. There's a lot of kerfuffle about the heat, American football stadiums, American soccer culture in general, and so on – but these are not reasons to host a World Cup. In fact, they're part of the reason we host them on every continent. We begin the episode having a little bit fun at the expense of Europeans and their inflexibilities. However, there are other, much more serious reasons why the U.S. should not be hosting this competition. The Iran team will be unable to stay overnight in the country, forced to fly in and out of Mexico on game days and nights. A Somali referee was not granted entry despite being appointed by FIFA and widely considered one of the best African officials. Participating players are being detained at airports. Fans' visas are being denied despite booking extended trips. ICE agents will be prowling near host sites full of fans from Latin American communities. These are simply unacceptable and unavoidable facts that are unprecedented in the history of the World Cup – even despite FIFA's corrupt history – and they will continue to plague the tournament throughout its duration. We discuss all these factors, why it should disqualify us as hosts, how it projects us to the world, FIFA's role in all this, and much, much more. It's not our usual fare, and certainly not what we enjoy talking about, but hey – you get the cards you're dealt. North America 2026, baby! Cheers!

It's a CONCACAF World Cup for the first time in 32 years, so it's only right that we take a look at the 3 host nations, as well as their confederation-mates from Central America and the Caribbean. Who has the strongest squad? Who's got the best shot to go deep? Who's most likely to crash and burn? We begin with the always-drama-filled United States and Mexico, where we compare and contrast strengths and weaknesses and debate their respective ceilings. Does the U.S. have a midfield problem? Who's scoring the goals for El Tri? How far can Mexico's Azteca advantage take them? Then we look into Jesse Marsch's unique Canada's squad, who win with continuity and high work-rate, but have been plagued by the injury bug. Can Alphonso Davies return in time to inspire a knockouts run? We also take a look at Panama's veteran group who play a classic CONCACAF style and appreciate the incredible stories of Haiti and Curaçao, who overcame great odds to be at the tournament. Cheers! Note: This was originally scheduled as the 7th preview, but was moved up a day. The final preview episode will be up tomorrow! Chapters: 3:55 - USA 18:15 - Mexico 25:05 - Canada 31:35 - Panama 36:05 - Haiti 38:55 - Curaçao

On our 5th of 7 World Cup preview episodes, we dive into some stats and storylines that are flying under-the-radar heading into the tournament. We're talking 40 year-olds, teenagers, the state of South American football, weather, rule changes, non-league footballers and more. Be sure to tune to get all the niche details that will impress your friends. And don't forget to like and subscribe and follow us on the socials! Cheers! Chapters: 04:40 - Old men & teenagers 13:00 - South American leagues 16:05 - Deschamps & France 18:45 - new rules & North American weather 27:40 - Non-leaguers

Our 7-day march to opening kick off of the World Cup continues with a deep dive into who might take home the tournaments most coveted prize – the James Rodríguez Award. This special trophy is awarded to the World Cup's most electric young player, but with a catch. First, you must be 22 or younger by the conclusion of the competition. Second, you cannot already be a global star playing for a megaclub (Yamal, Zaire-Emery, Güler). And third, you ideally don't play for one of the biggest international footballing nations (Endrick, Nico Paz). The James Rodriguez winner, much like its namesake, will capture the hearts and minds of soccer fans everywhere and will be launched into stardom. Our mission is to build a starting 11 of contenders who we deem most likely to take home this honor (in addition to a hearty bench). Will your favorite youngster make our roster? Find out on World Cup Preview 4 of 7. 3 more to go! Cheers! Chapters: 01:15 - the premise & close omissions 08:00 - Goalkeeper 10:00 - Centerbacks 14:15 - Fullbacks 16:00 - Midfielders 20:45 - Forwards 26:05 - Bench & honorable mentions 31:15 - Our picks for the James Rodríguez Award

On the third edition of our World Cup previews, we talk teams that could be headed for disappointment at this year's tournament. Can Argentina keep up with the demands of yet another deep run? Is Belgium's golden generation finally out of gas? Is Mexico good enough to carry the national burden of "el quinto partido?" Has Saudi Arabi lost their luster as a Middle Eastern footballing power? We select a nation from each from 9 tiers of World Cup contention that we developed and explain why we think they could be in for an underwhelming – or downright embarrassing – showing in North America 2026. 4 more previews to go! Cheers! Chapters: 01:50 - the tier system 3:00 - Tier 1: Argentina 05:48 - Tier 2: Germany + Brazil 07:15 - Tier 3: Croatia 8:50 - Tier 4: Belgium 10:10 - Tier 5: Uruguay 10:55 - Tier 6: Mexico 12:20 - Tier 7: Egypt 15:20 - Tier 8: Saudi Arabia 17:20 - Tier 9: what's reasonable to expect?

On our second World Cup preview episode, we're diving into the BEST OF THE REST to determine who will could be this year's Morocco. We examine the credentials of more established squads like Colombia and Switzerland, some high-flying newcomers like Norway, and some international outsiders like Japan and Austria with distinct and exciting styles of play. Finally, we take a look at some long-shot nations we think are being criminally underrated. You'll have to tune in to find out how foolish our selections are. Cheers! Chapters: 00:00 - the start 02:30 - Colomobia 04:40 - Norway 08:15 - why Belgium wasn't considered 09:20 - Japan 11:55 - Ecuador 14:20 - Austria & Switzerland 18:30 - Sweden & Turkey 21:20 - Longer shots

We're kicking off our World Cup Preview series by discussing the 7.5 teams we think can actually win the whole thing. We share why each of Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain can hoist the trophy in July, plus one mystery team who may be in with a shout. We also discuss the reasons why each nation won't go the distance, plus place them in tiers within this elite grouping. Tune in for our extensive World Cup 2026 coverage throughout the summer. Let us know if you agree with our assessments, and don't forget to like and subscribe. Cheers! Chapters: 00:00 - the start 3:43 - France 11:21 - Spain 18:11 - Argentina 25:08 - England 31:47 - Brazil 38:20 - Germany 44:05 - Portugal 48:48 - mystery team 52:58 - who's winning?

It's the final show of the 2025-26 season! We're back to wrap up the Europa and Conference League, looking at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace's paths to victory, plus sharing some of the best moments from the league phase and knockouts, and revealing our Team of the Season in both tournaments. Finally, we look at who has qualified for next year's editions, including some powerhouse Italian clubs and surprising English contenders. And don't forget to tune in to our World Cup coverage, beginning June 1. Cheers to Unai Emery, Oliver Glasner, and all the listeners out there! Timecodes: The start, Europa League in review – Europa Team of the Season – Next year's Europa participants – Conference League in review – Conference Team of the Season – Next year's Conference participants –

Crystal Palace are your 2026 Conference League champions! The Eagles hoist their very first European trophy in their very first European campaign thanks to a Mateta put-back, beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0. We talk how Palace's pace and off-ball execution were able to snuff out Rayo's build-up and attack, the general chaotic nature of the match, and why Glasner deserves so much credit for his work at the club the past year. We also eulogize Rayo's valiant run to the final and applaud both sets of supporters for an incredible atmosphere in Leipzig. This is exactly the kind of meeting the Conference League was built for! Finally, we consider next steps for each club, with both head coaches departing this summer, as well as a few key players. What does Palace need to do to take the next step in the Europa League next season? And can Rayo maintain their recent success under new management with the current condition of the club? Cheers to Oliver Glasner (and of course, el puto Rayo)!

We're back to talk Conference League final! Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano face off in what some are calling the most wholesome final of all time. We talk all about their respective journeys to the final, their very brief European journeys of the past, and what it would mean to capture a first continental trophy. We also revisit some of the more extraordinary off-the-pitch circumstances Rayo has had to overcome to be here, thanks to their diabolical owner. Finally, we give our 3 keys to victory for each side and deliberate on which tactics may be deployed to gain advantages in what is likely to be a matchup with a razor-thin margin. We may even take a brief detour on our beloved Intertoto Cup. Cheers Oliver Glasner and Iñigo Pérez!

It's official – Aston Villa is your 2026 Europa League champion! We recap how Villa triumphed over SC Freiburg for their first European trophy since 1982 (and Emery's 5th!), discussing how they dominated virtually every phase of the game, the phenomenal goals from Tielemans, Buendia, and Rogers, Emery's usual tactical mastery, Emi doing Emi things, and much more. Then we review what went wrong for Freiburg, whose magical run ended with a bitter pill, including why they missed Suzuki, Grifo and Beste's lack of involvement, and Manzambi's lively efforts. Finally, we debate what each side needs to accomplish over the summer to push on to another season of Europe (Villa in the Champions League, Freiburg in the Conference). Can Villa and Emery build on this triumph and strengthen the squad? Can Freiburg replace some of their aging veterans? Major credit to both clubs for a wonderful season, but Villa were the form team throughout the competition and rolled through the knockouts. Thoroughly deserved champions. Big cheers to Unai Emery and the Villains!

The Europa League final between Aston Villa and Freiburg is nye upon us, and we're breaking down everything you need to know before Wednesday's kickoff! We've got a fascinating matchup between two clubs with vastly different backgrounds, but clubs that actually share a lot in common on the pitch. We discuss the paths each side took to reach the summit of Europa League mountain, their respective European histories, and explain why it would mean so much for each to hoist the trophy. Then we breakdown keys to victory for each side. Can Freiburg find success on set pieces? Can Aston Villa win the midfield battle, and how will Lindelof cope in the 6? How will Freiburg cope as the heavy underdog? We also discuss each club's incredible continuity from the top down in recent years and what sort effect that may have on the match. Plus, what's at stake as they hope to win their first European silverware in 44 years (Villa) and first top-flight silverware ever (Freiburg). Spoiler: a lot! All that, some predictions, and more on the show. Cheers to Unai Emery and Julian Schuster! Timecodes: 0:00 – The start + World Cup announcement 11:31 – Freiburg's path to the final 13:56 – Villa's path to the final 24:53 – Keys to victory 38:30 – Freiburg & Villa rosters & tactics 55:53 – Predictions & cheers

The final European Thursday of the season has come and gone, and we have two pairs of finalists to show for it! We express our excitement at the spectacle, as 3 of our 4 winners qualified for their first ever major European final (and the 4th, Aston Villa, returns to one after 44 years). First we tackle the Europa League, where Villa dismantled a shoddy and somewhat short-handed Nottingham Forest. Can anyone beat Villa when they're their best? And is Emery just inevitable in this competition? We then discuss how Freiburg handled 10-men Braga, thanks in part to an early red card and the young Swiss #10 Manzambi. In the Conference League, Palace punished a vibrant but naive Shakhtar with ruthless counter-attacking and an experience Rayo Vallecano pressed the life out of the youthful Strasbourg. We explore how both Rayo and Palace controlled their respective games without the ball, each in very different ways, and look ahead to how these styles might clash in the final. Finally, we make our tentative predictions for the showdowns in Istanbul and Wrocław. Cheers to Iñigo Pérez! Timecodes: 00:50 – the start, clubs rotating players ahead of semifinals 7:28 – Aston Villa-Nottingham Forest 21:15 – Freiburg-Braga 34:47 – Quick UEL final thoughts 38:06 – Crystal Palace-Shakhtar Donetsk 50:47 – RC Strasbourg-Rayo Vallecano 01:12:13 – Quick UECL final thoughts 01:16:28 – Are we at risk of English clubs dominating the UEL & UECL?

It was a compelling day of Europa and Conference League football, with 3 of the 4 home sides taking goal-advantages in the 1st leg of the semifinals. Braga strengthened their case as the UEL's team of destiny, delighting their fans with a stoppage-time winner over Freiburg, while Forest edged past Villa 1-0 thanks to Chris Wood penalty. In the UECL, Rayo Vallecano rode a confident 2nd-half display to take a narrow lead into Strasbourg next Thursday, and Crystal Palace impressed with a brutally efficient 3-1 display over Shakhtar. We discuss how each victor earned their results, our level of concern for each loser, and what we think will be different in the 2nd legs. Plus, everyone's favorite – a contentious and bitter takedown of VAR! Hooray! Cheers Oliver Glasner!

It was another scintillating showcase of Europa and Conference League football Thursday, with more goals abounding. The headline of the night is of course Braga's wild comeback in Seville, where they shocked Real Betis with four consecutive goals to advance. How has Braga become such a resilient group? And what went wrong for Betis? Nottingham Forest squeaked through Porto thanks to a very silly red card and a deflected shot. Are they the 2024-25 Tottenham of this year's competition? Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Freiburg took care of business in impressive fashion. Are they our new favorites to meet in next month's final? Over in the Conference, we witnessed two brilliant comeback attempts, with Strasbourg overwhelming Mainz and AEK Athens falling just short to Rayo Vallecano despite Zine's career night. We also discuss Crystal Palace managing Fiorentina and Shakhtar extinguishing AZ Alkmaar. Finally, we close with some brief thoughts on each eliminated team. What does each club need to do to replicate their European journeys and to go a step further? Cheers to Carlos Vicens (and sub-cheers to Gary O'Neil)!

We're back for the 1st legs of the Europa and Conference League quarterfinals and we got a jam-packed Thursday full of goals! We tackle all the best action from both competitions, from Forest's improbable draw in Porto to Freiburg's demolition of Celta Vigo, from Fiorentina's humiliation in South London to Shakhtar's shocking late rout of AZ Alkmaar. Plus we answer all of your most pressing questions: How has Urs Fischer turns Mainz around so dramatically, and how did he out-maneuver Gary O'Neil's injury-riddled Strasbourg? What went wrong for Bologna after a promising opening against Villa, and is Jonathan Rowe an emerging star? Could Braga actually upset Betis in Sevilla, and why is Max always so mean to them? All that, a lookahead to the 2nd legs, and of course, a pitstop at David's Coefficient Corner. Cheers to Urs Fischer!

We're back to talk Europa and Conference League quarterfinals! In honor of 8 terrific ties kicking off this week, we're breaking down keys to victory for each side heading into Thursday. What does Nottingham Forest need to combat Porto's stellar defensive record and get on the scoresheet? How will Bologna manage Unai Emergy's tactical mastery of the UEL? Can Strasbourg overcome their injury crisis while taking on the suddenly-red-hot Mainz? Can Crystal Palace and Fiorentina get out of their own way as they prepare to face off? All these questions and more answered for you on this week's episode. Cheers to Brad Underwood and Sergej Barbarez!

We are BACK! A DR vacation is nice, but it's nothing compared to Europa and Conference League 2nd legs. That's right, we're here to talk all of Thursday's best action beginning with Bologna's surprise triumph in Roma in extra time and Nottingham Forest's comeback quest in Midtjylland (including some unfortunate penalties). We also have lots of praise for the UEL's Spanish offerings in Betis and Celta Vigo, who are hitting their European strides at the right time, and elevate Porto to a top tier contender after a mightily impressive dismissal of Stuttgart. Meanwhile, in the UECL, Palace fails to beat AEK Larnaca in 90 minutes for the THIRD time this season, but both they and Fiorentina do what they do (and squeak through). We discuss how on earth they manage this and what we can expect when these two very movable forces meet each other in the next round. Additionally, we have lots of praise for AZ and AEK Athens, who look like confident sleepers to make a run. We also do an impromptu title power rankings in each competition as we look ahead to the exciting Quarterfinals matchups, assessing which clubs have our confidence and what's changed in the past month. Cheers to Francesco Farioli!

The Playoff Knockout Round is behind us, and we're here to break it all down. It was a day in which favorites prevailed, though not without strife. Fiorentina did a Fiorentina and survived by the skin of their teeth, while Nottingham Forest performed a decent impression for 50 minutes. Elsewhere, Celta Vigo and Stuttgart stake their claim as major players in deciding the Europa League crown, Lille turns things around in Belgrade, Panathinaikos prevails on penalties, VAR drama, and Crystal Palace muddles through. We also take a moment to look ahead to the Round of 16 draw, featuring some stellar matchups in both divisions. All that and much more on today's show! Cheers to Claudio Giráldez!

We got our first taste of Europa and Conference League knockouts in 2026 and we're here to break down all the action. Nottingham Forest won the day with a dominant display in Istanbul in Vitor Pereira's first match in charge, re-staking their claim as a tournament favorite. Stuttgart, Celta, and Bologna also came through with big road wins to take control of their ties, and we take stock of each's chances moving forward. Meanwhile, Lille put themselves in a major hole against Red Star to cap off a disastrous run in the new year – why can't they score? Next, we turn to the Conference League, where Fiorentina put in an excellent 2nd half performance in Bialystok to boost confidence. Is this finally the start of a turnaround for the relegation-threatened Viola? We also address Crystal Palace's strife after a putrid draw in Bosnia & Herzegovina, wonder at AZ's ugly road form in the competition, and marvel at Celje's striker factory. Finally, we give an update on the Women's Europa Cup , that saw Frankfurt, Häcken, Hammarby, and Sparta qualify for the tournament's inaugural semifinals. Cheers to Igor Štimac!

An extra special day on the pod – our friend Jacob Hill returns for a new episode of our special edition series, Any Given Redraft! And we've got a doozy this time: the 2023 NBA Draft, inarguably one of the worst in league history. It's the year Anthony Bennet went number one, the year only one All Star was picked in the lottery, the year the Bucks drafted one of the greatest players of all time just after, and the year that the Podfather, Bill Simmons, went undefeated on ESPN's broadcast. We begin by breaking down how the night unfolded at Barclays Center, with David Stern going full heel and riling up the Brooklyn crowd. Naturally, we discuss Bill Simmons' big night, including his iconic reaction to Cleveland's selection of Anthony Bennett, Victor Oladipo's case for the number one pick, Giannis' upside, CJ McCollum's Patriot League representation, just to name a few. We also hit on the numerous lottery disappointments, from Nerlens Noel to MCW to Shabazz Muhammad. Finally, we get to our redraft, where we each draft teams of 8 players. Along the way, we marvel at Giannis' accomplishments to date, debate the selection of McCollum vs. the Stifle Tower, wonder at Oladipo's ceiling if health hadn't failed him, and slog through some abominable bench selections towards the back end. This one's for the sickos. Enjoy. Cheers to Bill Simmons and David Stern!

The Europa League league phase's final match-day as come and gone, and the knockouts are finally set! We take you through the play-by-play of how all the drama unfolded, including how Lyon and Aston Villa claimed top seeding in the knockouts, how Roma secured the final bye to the Round of 16 despite an early red card in Athens, and Brann clung to the final knockout spot thanks to Young Boys' conceding a devastatingly late equalizer in Stuttgart. Then we move on to our title power rankings. Which clubs are in the top tier of likeliest tournament winners? Who's on the outside looking in? And what underdogs could pull shocks as the rounds progress? We close with a look-ahead to the first knockout round, which features some elite matchups (looking at you Forest-Fenerbahce) and a whole bunch of tossups, and of course a healthy dollop of David's Coefficient Corner. Cheers Per-Mathias Høgmo!

The Europa League is finally back, and we're covering all of the best Match-Day 7 action! Big boys fell across the continent Thursday, including Roma and Celta Vigo besting Stuttgart and Lille, and Nottingham Forest and Real Betis putting up stinkers on the road. Elsewhere, Lyon and Villa become the first clubs to seal top 8 and qualify for the Round of 16, Celtic embarks on their second resurgence under Martin O'Neill this season, Brann and Midtjylland gift us a six-goal thriller mired in VAR decisions, and Nice FINALLY WINS A EUROPA LEAGUE MATCH! What a time. We break down the day's best action, check in on the favorites, and work through the table and Match-Day 8 fixtures – all 18 of which will have an impact on the final standings and qualification. Finally, we take a look at last week's Conference League knockout draw, including a tasty matchup between Fiorentina and Jagiellonia, and give some love to our Any Given Thursday alumni making some waves in the Champions League – Qarabag, Bodø, Pafos, and Olympiacos. Cheers Martin O'Neill!

We're back from winter holidays to talk about the wild coaching carousel January has brought us – particularly in the UK. Our main story is Chelsea, who parted with Enzo Maresca and replaced him with Strasbourg's Liam Rosenior. But was he ever really Strasbourg's? We discuss Chelsea's treatment of the proud French club as a minor league feeder team and why UEFA refuses to enforce its own rules. We also speculate on Rosenior's success at the Bridge. Can he make it longer than Maresca? Is he too corny to relate to players? Next, we address other Any Given Thursday alumni struggling for direction in Britain – Manchester United is out a manager yet again, and we spend some time admonishing their business practices, as well as Spurs' and West Ham's. Are these badly-run clubs making the Premier League less watchable? We then turn to Glasgow, where Celtic cut ties with Wilfried Nancy after a catastrophic 33 days in charge. We debate what went wrong for Nancy, where Celtic go from here, and why clubs continue to make the same mistakes in their coaching hires. Finally, we move to the continent, where we comment on floundering Mainz welcoming new manager Urs Fischer to the fold. Can he save them from the German Conference League curse and relegation? All that and a bit of transfer business from Italy and Portugal. Cheers to Ron Jans!