Bend It Like Beckett

The USMNT had their first full-strength game under new coach Greg Berhalter, resulting in a 1-0 win over Ecuador. The goal came from a fluke shot, but there were some positive moments from the game as the team transitions to Berhalter's new style. Brian and Scott break that down along with discussing the other international games. Plus, will Barcelona really sell Coutinho already?

Cristiano Ronaldo guaranteed a hat trick and delivered one to defeat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this week. Meanwhile Bayern Munich and Liverpool played an epic game in Germany. Brian and Scott break down both games and discuss the upcoming Premier League fixtures as well as the call ups for the USMNT's friendlies. (sound had issues on this episode, will be fixed next time).

Was the handball call in the Manchester United/PSG Champions League game the right call? Brian and Scott, along with most other people, think it was the wrong call, but does that mean that UEFA needs to ditch VAR altogether or does it mean that changes need to be made? They also discuss the other controversial calls from the Roma/Porto and Ajax/Real Madrid games.

A lot has happened since our last episode! Brian and Scott break down the Kepa Arrizabalaga and Maurizio Sarri drama and fallout, Manchester United's injury crisis, the Premier League action and more. Plus they talk about the product release calendar for the upcoming year. Listen to the episode for a chance to win our card giveaway. Tweet the answer to the trivia question to @BeckettMedia!

Champions League action provided plenty of excitement, with PSG defeating Manchester United 2-0 in Manchester, meanwhile Tottenham dominated Borussia Dortmund. We talk about all of the action and preview the FA Cup games this weekend. Brian is also making his first foray into the coaching world by coaching his sons U13 team, we discuss his coaching philosophies to see if he's more Pep or Big Sam.

Brian and Scott preview the knockout rounds of the Champions League, discuss the Amazon Prime documentary "Make Us Dream" about Steven Gerrard, and Scott talks about the premiere of his own soccer documentary.

Greg Lansdowne, author of Stuck On You, recently attended the London Toy Fair where he spoke to Click Distribution who is the UK distributor for both Topps and Panini. Lansdowne discusses Panini's return to the Premier League, the first time since 1993 they've had the license to make sticker albums and cards for the PL.

The great Tim Howard announces that this upcoming season with the Colorado Rapids will be his final season as a player. Brian and Scott discuss his greatness and that Belgium match that solidified his legacy. They also discuss all the happenings at Chelsea, from the manager calling out Eden Hazard to the bizarre signing of Gonzalo Higuain.

Marcelo "Loco" Bielsa put on a masterful performance in his press conference defending his coaching tactics, but does that mean he was in the right when he sent a member of his staff to spy on Derby County's training sessions? Brian and Scott debate both sides of the issue which brings to mind a similar incident with the New England Patriots in the NFL. They also discuss the demise of Giuseppe Rossi, an article in The Athletic about Mike Piazza's ownership of AC Reggiana and more.

Brian and Scott predict what the second half of the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup will hold. From Liverpool and Manchester City battling it out for the Premier League title to the Champions League knockout rounds, there's a lot of fun coming up in the soccer world.

Brian and Scott break down the Christian Pulisic transfer to Chelsea, including what it might mean for card collectors. They also discuss the festive period Premier League games. And finally they talk about the Liverpool/Manchester City clash that resulted in a 2-1 win for Man City and reignited the title race.

Jose Mourinho has finally been sacked by Manchester United and Brian misses him in the Premier League already. He and Scott discuss Mourinho's most iconic and controversial moments. They also go through the Festive Period Premier League fixtures as well as the Champions League draw. And for Hobby Talk they talk about the Topps Museum Collection announcement.

Atlanta United wins MLS Cup in only their second season in existence behind the management of future El Tri manager Tata Martino, meanwhile all four English Premier League teams in the Champions League advanced to the round of 16. Brian and Scott discuss both of those things and more on this episode of Bend It Like Beckett

Bend It Like Beckett returns after a break of a few weeks and there is plenty to discuss! Luka Modric won the Ballon d'Or over Ronaldo, Messi and others. Did he deserve it or should it have been one of the two players who have won every award since 2008? The USMNT finally hired a coach in Greg Berhalter, Brian and Scott discuss their feelings about this. They also talk about Jurgen Klopp's celebration, Fellaini's hair pull and some new soccer card products.

Wayne Rooney played his farewell game for England and he went out a winner as the Three Lions dominated the USMNT 3-0. There were not many bright spots for the US in this one. Brian and Scott talk about what they want from the new USMNT manager, what has been happening in the MLS playoffs, and the English Premier League.

Our guest this week is the National Soccer Hall of Fame's Djorn Buchholz who tells us all about the brand new HOF opening in Frisco, TX. The Hall looks to be really cool, with some cutting edge technology and never-before-seen fan experiences. We are really excited to check it out as soon as we can!

Author of the book "Stuck On You: The Rise & Fall & Rise of Panini Stickers" Greg Lansdowne joins the show to talk about sticker collecting and his book. Greg recounts how he got into the hobby and how he came to write a book on the subject. We also talk about the state of the hobby today and the news that Panini has recently secured the exclusive Premier League license for the first time since the 1990s.

The international break is mercifully at it's end, so Scott and Brian take stock of all of the happenings, including the injuries that inevitably happened. Brian also attended the US Women's Semifinal World Cup qualifier this past week and he talks about his experience. All of that and more is discussed on this week's Bend It Like Beckett. Make sure to like, subscribe, and follow us on Soundcloud and in the iTunes store!

Brian and Scott talk about the USMNT's 4-2 to Colombia. There were some good moments mixed in with some very bad ones, plus some world class goals from the Colombian side. They also discuss Usain Bolt's debut brace for the Central Coast Mariners in Australia. And finally, Panini just announced that they've signed an exclusive contract with the Premier League.

The USMNT called up some familiar names in Michael Bradley and Brad Guzan, but was that the right decision? Should they be calling up players in their 30s? Brian and Scott debate this and break down the recent Champions League games, including Lionel Messi's masterclass, CSKA Moscow's win over Real Madrid and Liverpool's loss to Napoli.

Liverpool and Chelsea played twice last week and both games featured some incredible moments. The Caribao Cup game ended with a 2-1 to Chelsea while the Premier League game was a 1-1 draw. Brian, a Chelsea fan, and Scott, a Liverpool fan, break down each game and talk about what made them so great. They also get into the tension between Mourinho and Pogba at Manchester United.

The Champions League is back and, boy, was there ever some excitement in the first few games. Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for a hair pull in his first Champions League game for Juventus, Roberto Firmino bagged the winner for Liverpool despite playing with a laceration on his eye ball, and Lionel Messi had a hat trick against PSV. Brian and Scott talk about all of that and more on this episode, plus they say three secret words to be used for a giveaway. Listen to the episode and tweet the three secret words in one hashtag to @BeckettMedia to be entered to win some cool cards.

Matt Miazga provided the most memorable moment from the recent US friendlies when he got into it with Mexico's Diego Lainez, but Brian and Scott also talked about the other things that happene.d in the USMNT's games against Brazil and Mexico. They also say a secret word in the podcast that could make you a big winner, listen for the secret word and be the first to tweet it to @BeckettMedia and you could win some cool cards. Update: The secret word has been found and the winners have been chosen #funcannon.

Brian and Scott get you ready for the friendly between the United States and Brazil. The USMNT roster is full of young future stars like Tim Weah and they are excited about the prospect of watching these young guys take on a big time team like Brazil. They also discuss the UEFA Super League and the Amazon Prime series All or Nothing: Manchester City

Clint Dempsey announced his retirement, so Brian and Scott debate whether he's the greatest United States player of all time or whether Landon Donovan deserves the title. They also discuss the Premier League table and the Champions League Draw. Who do you think is the greatest USMNT player of all time?

The iconic Fernando Fiore was kind enough to join our show for a lengthy interview where he recounts his experiences in Russia, how he got into Panini sticker collecting, and more. "El Presidente" is a legendary figure in Spanish-language television and has made the transition over to the English side with Fox Sports. He hosted a nightly World Cup show in Russia and has only recently returned from the country. Check out the show and make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast!

Panini America Brand Manager Cory Hollingsworth joined the podcast to discuss Panini's upcoming products, including a new product that has never been released before that will include rookie cards for the first time. Brian and Scott also discuss the transfer window's final day and the upcoming Premier League season.

Brian is heading to The National so he gives a quick preview of what he expects to see and do in Cleveland. But the bulk of the show is spent debating the hypothetical question: Who will have the longer career between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? As both have likely played in their last World Cup, will either one play deep into their 30s? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Welcome to Bend It Like Beckett 2.0! Now that the World Cup is over, Brian and Scott catch up on all the transfer news around the world of soccer. Plus they break down the good and bad of the pre-season tournaments like the International Champions Cup. And finally they discuss upcoming soccer products, like the ultra high-end Panini Eminence.

The World Cup has come to an end, and just like Scott predicted, France has won! Brian and Scott break down the exciting game and talk about the incredible jump that Kylian Mbappe's sticker prices are experiencing. They also preview what Bend It Like Beckett will look like going forward. Make sure to subscribe and rate us on iTunes and Soundcloud!

The finals are set! England lose to Croatia 2-1 in extra time. Scott is over the moon about the results, as his World Cup winning pick of France makes the Final as well. Brian and Scott break down the two semifinals and prepare you for the Final (and the Third Place game). They also briefly discuss the massive news of Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Juventus. Like and subscribe to the show on Soundcloud and iTunes and send us your predictions on Twitter.

Is football really coming home? Can England continue their run all the way to the World Cup finals? Or is Sweden going to continue winning as the underdog? Will Belgium spell the end for Neymar and Brazil? Can Russia keep using the host country magic to carry them past Croatia? Without Edinson Cavani, is Uruguay doomed against France? We answer all these questions and more in this short Quarterfinals preview episode!

An unbelievable upset saw Russia beat Spain in penalties, Belgium makes a brilliant comeback, Kylian Mbappe announces himself on the world stage...yet all anyone wants to talk about is Neymar rolling around on the ground. Is he becoming a wrestling heel, the guy everyone loves to hate? We discuss this, all the games, and how Mbappe's cards and stickers have shot up in value after his performance against Argentina.

Wow! What an incredible group stage that was. Germany have crashed out of the tournament at a very unexpected time. Brian and Scott break down each group and then get ready for the knockout rounds by predicting each game. They also discuss the new Panini sticker release that includes all the players who unexpectedly made World Cup rosters.

Was Harry Kane's hat trick impressive or not? Brian and Scott debate the merits of a hat trick involving two penalties and a crazy deflected "shot" by Kane. They also talk about the goals of the tournament so far and update everyone on the success of their brackets. In Hobby Talk, Brian discusses the value of old Panini Sticker Albums.

Brian and Scott discuss all the World Cup happenings from the week, including Croatia's 3-0 win over Argentina. Is Argentina done for? How did they get here already? Plus they talk about the biggest surprises and the biggest disappointments of the tournament so far.

What a weekend! Mexico beats Germany, Iceland draws with Argentina, Switzerland draws with Brazil...There were upsets all over the place. Brian and Scott break down the weekends games and discuss which team is in the most trouble after the unexpected results. Plus they talk Panini Eminence, the super high-end product coming from Panini with some incredible autographs at a steep price.

The World Cup is here! Brian and Scott break down the opening game between Russia and Saudi Arabia, then they discuss Panini's release of their high-end National Treasures soccer product. They also break down the upcoming games from this weekend and talk Panini stickers. Listen in and be prepared for an epic weekend!

On the premiere episode of Bend It Like Beckett, hosts Scott Bedgood and Brian Fleischer break down the upcoming 2018 Fifa World Cup. They talk collecting, Panini products, how they got started following soccer, and their predictions for each group. They'll be recording two episodes a week during the World Cup, so follow along and send us your feedback via Twitter and Facebook!