The Game Football Podcast

It’s nearly back! Leagues One and Two kick off this weekend.

Following two successive relegations Luton are among the favourites in League One alongside the likes of Cardiff, Stockport and Bolton. At the other end could it be a long season for Rotherham, Peterborough or Wimbledon? In League Two Walsall will try to go again while Gillingham and MK Dons have high hopes. Who will be fighting to stay in the football league at the botto...

England are still European Champions! The Lionesses beat Spain in a nail-biting penalty shootout. It was revenge over a Spanish team who had beaten them in the World Cup Final two years ago.

It is the first major trophy won by England on foreign soil and once again the hero was Chloe Kelly, who this time scored the winning penalty having scored the winning goal in the final three years ago.

Manager Sarina Wiegman has now won the las...

England have done it again, but wow did they leave it late. In the very last second, they scored a dramatic equaliser. Then with only a minute left of extra time they did it again, this time with a rebound penalty. The result was memorable but the performance less so. Can their resilience and winning mentality carry them over the line, or will it take a higher level of performance in the final against either Spain or Germany?

England face Italy in the Euro semi final tomorrow night but Which England will turn up? The team that demolished Wales and dominated the Netherlands; or the team which struggled against France and Sweden? Sarina Wiegman is plagued with injury worries over host of players, notably captain Lea Williamson and full back Lucy Bronze. Kit Shepard and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to asses England’s chances against the surprise packag...

England are through to the Semi-finals, just. In a nerve-wracking game where they looked second best for large parts England refused to give in. Individual heroics, force of will and some super subs dragged them level with Sweden. Then came the penalties, high on drama low on quality. But the main thing, England won!

What of the ninety minutes, can the shoot out even be analysed and will they have eleven fit players to face Italy i...

Stop the press Chelsea are champions of the world. Who saw that coming? They didn’t just win; they won in style dominating a PSG team who had previously swept all before them.

Chelsea reporter Pete Rutzler was in New York for the game and joins Tom Clarke to discuss Chelsea’s performance.  Was it a Maresca masterclass? Have they created a blueprint of how to beat PSG?

Are Chelsea now serious title contenders? Might they eve...

England got a convincing but expected win against Wales. Next up in the quarter finals it’s Sweden. Just how good are the Swedes?

Former England International Izzy Christiansen and Times women’s football reporter Kit Shepard join Tom Clarke to assess England’s performance against Wales and look ahead to Sweden.

Izzy and Kit both think Sweden will pose a serious threat as an organised physical team with direct fast wingers. Prediction...

On Sunday Chelsea take on PSG for the title of World Club Champions! Times report Pete Rutzler will be at the game in New York - what chance does he give Chelsea against the PSG juggernaut?

With new signing Joao Pedro making an immediate impact up front, Brazilian signing Willian Estevao looking good and Cole Palmer on form Chelsea certainly pose a threat. 

After the break a round up of the latest transfer action: Gibbs White, M...

Manchester City looked back to their dominant best in parts of the Club World Cup…but they also showed signs of the same wide open defensive frailties as well. So was the Club World Cup a success? What next for Pep Guardiola’s team this summer?

Across the city the red half of Manchester still have much business to do. They need to off load as many as ten players according to some…who will they be, how much money will they generate a...

Former England international Izzy Christiansen and Kit Shepard the women’s football reporter for the Times and Sunday Times join Tom Clarke to assess England’s poor start to the defence of their European title.

Where did it go wrong against France? Was it selection, tactics, substitutions? The team look at where England can improve how they might react to being under pressure this early in the tournament. Lastly they look ahead to w...

Chief Correspondent for The Times and Sunday Times Martin Samuel joins Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson to pay tribute to Portugal and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota following his tragic death in a car accident.

After a pause Martin reflects on the Club World Cup and its potential to become an enduring tournament and a look at how the English teams have approached it. 

Hoste...

England enter the tournament as defending Champions, but their preparation has not been smooth. With three senior players either retiring or making themselves unavailable, how will that affect Sarina Wiegman’s squad?

Tom Clarke is joined by former England international Izzy Christiansen and women’s football reporter for the Times and Sunday Times Kit Shepard.

They discuss England’s key players, the ‘group of death’ and the who are t...

England are European U21 Champions again.

Lee Carley's side defended their title with an impressive 3-2 extra time win over Germany 

So, what next for a talented squad and their manger? Player of the tournament Harvey Elliot has to decide if his future lies with Liverpool while many of the team now ply their trade in top European leagues 

Should Carsley want to move in to league management there are plenty of moves in the fo...

The Club World Cup is up and running, with some serious prize money on offer. Judging by the line ups of Chelsea and Manchester City in their first games, they’re talking it seriously. Pete Rutzler is in Philadelphia following Chelsea; he has been assessing local interest in the tournament and also gives an update on the blues new signings and other potential transfer business.

After the break, what’s in a football shirt? We’ve all...

It has already been a busy summer of transfer activity. Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all brought big signings in to their teams.

In this episode we hear the latest from Manchester City’s camp as they welcome new signing Rayan Cherki to their Club World Cup campaign and from our Liverpool reporter Paul Joyce as they prepare to break the British record transfer fee for Florian Wirtz.

Plus, a low ...

First, they were embarrassed, then they were humiliated. It wasn’t the start Thomas Tuchel had in mind for his England team.

How big are the problems he faces – a full rebuild or just cosmetic? To make matters worse Tuchel gave an interview in which he referred to his star player Jude Bellingham. He suggested his behaviour could be perceived as repulsive by some. Were the comments a distraction from a loss to Senegal, or a hint at d...