The Inside Channel with Alex Crook and Sam Matterface
The Inside Channel - the official Star Sports World Cup 2026 podcast with Sam Matterface and Alex Crook. Sam and Alex are on the ground in America for the full tournament, bringing you expert analysis, World Cup betting tips, England match previews, Golden Boot predictions, and daily reaction to the biggest stories. From group stage to the final, this is your go-to football podcast for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. New episodes every week. Subscribe for World Cup coverage you won't get anywhere else. 🎙️ Hosted by Sam Matterface & Alex Crook 📍 Live from the USA ⚽ In partnership with Star Sports Bet World Cup 2026 | England Football | Football Podcast | Betting Tips | Sam Matterface | Alex Crook | Star Sports | FIFA World Cup USA 18+ | Please gamble responsibly | For support visit GambleAware.org | starsports.bet
Episodes
It's over. Spain are world champions. Sam Matterface and Alex Crook bring The Inside Channel to a close with the final episode of a series that has taken them across America for seven weeks and 20 episodes - from the launch in London to the World Cup Final in New York.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time thanks to a Ferran Torres goal, in a final that won't live long in the memory. Argentina failed to...
The World Cup Final. Argentina v Spain. This is the essential listen before kick-off.
Sam Matterface and Alex Crook deliver their definitive preview of Sunday's final - the key tactical battles, whether Spain can contain Messi as they contained France, how big a role the greatest player of his generation can play on the biggest stage of all, and their predictions.
Former England manager Sa...
England are out. Sam Matterface and Alex Crook react to a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Did Thomas Tuchel get his tactical decisions and substitutions wrong? Should he remain England manager? They give their verdicts on what comes next.
Former England and Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman gives his honest reaction to the elimination, his verdict on Tuchel's future, and his predi...
England v Argentina. The World Cup semi-final. The biggest game England have played in a generation - and Sam Matterface and Alex Crook are on hand with their preview.
The tactical battle, how England stop Messi, team selection, the history of one of football's greatest rivalries and both hosts' score predictions - fifteen minutes of essential England v Argentina content before kick-off.
Fo...
England are in the World Cup semi-finals. Sam Matterface and Alex Crook react to a breathless 2-1 extra time victory over Norway - and one question dominates: are we watching one of the greatest tournament performances by an England player in Jude Bellingham? Both hosts give their verdict.
But it is not all positive. Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel's post-match comments appear to put them at odds - Sa...
Sam and Alex are joined by a full squad of guests for a bumper preview of the World Cup quarter-finals, including England’s clash with Norway.
Joe Hart joins live to preview England v Norway - providing his read on the Norwegian threat, how England need to set up, his thoughts on Jordan Pickford, and his impression of the squad environment. Then David Seaman adds his own expert verdict on the quarter-final in a...
England are in the quarter-finals. A 3-2 victory at the Azteca - with ten men, in one of the most hostile atmospheres in world football - has sent Sam Matterface and Alex Crook into raptures. Was this England's greatest ever away World Cup performance? They give their verdict. Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew joins the show with his expert reaction to England's stunning win - his assessment of the performance, the key mo...
Fresh (ish) off a night out in New York city, Alex and Sam might be a little worse for wear, but they could be forgiven for not knowing when Mexico v England is going to kick off after Friday's drama. They discuss what actually happened and how we ended up right back where we started. They also preview the match, discuss the atmosphere at The Azteca and the threat posed by Mexico.
ITV's Gabriel Clarke also joins the show to discuss...
England beat DR Congo 2-1 in a nervy comeback to set up a last-16 tie with Mexico - but Alex and Sam were less than impressed by the performance. After just 20 minutes of impressive football in four matches so far, can England really raise their game as we get to the business end of the tournament? Our hosts give their full reaction.
Former DR Congo international Lomana LuaLua joins Sam Matterface and Alex Crook for an exclusive conversation ahead of England's Round of 32 tie against his home nation - the inside track on what England can expect and how DR Congo will approach one of the tournament's most anticipated knockout fixtures. Sam and Alex react to a dramatic start to the knockout stage - Brazil edged past Japan 2-1 in the pick of the early Round of 32 ...
The World Cup knockout stage is set, so Sam Matterface and Alex Crook map out every contender's route to the final. Who has the most favourable draw? Does the bracket change who they think wins it? And which side nobody was talking about before the tournament could go deep from their half?
Former Scotland international Charlie Adam joins the show for an exclusive conversation in the wake of Scotland's el...
Iraq national team assistant manager and former Manchester United coach René Meulensteen joins Sam Matterface and Alex Crook for an exclusive conversation - he shares his pride at helping bring Iraq to the biggest stage in International football and discusses their showing so far.
Scotland's World Cup hopes hang by a thread after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil. Sam and Alex give their honest verdict on Scotland's tournament as a whole - ha...
Sam and Alex give their full reaction to England's frustrating 0-0 draw with Ghana. Is it a case of second match syndrome once again? Or did Ghana's low block expose some of England's frailties? Arsenal and England legend Lee Dixon also joins to give his thoughts on the match and the World Cup so far.
With Cristiano Ronaldo's brace against Uzbekistan announcing his arrival to the party, they discuss his record breaking performance ...
Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler joins Sam Matterface and Alex Crook in an exclusive interview - we get his take on the 2026 World Cup, the tactical trends he's seeing and whether we could be seeing them in the Premier League next season.
Scotland suffered a second group stage defeat to Morocco, but their World Cup is far from over. Sam and Alex assess where Steve Clarke's side stand, what they might need from their game with Br...
Fox Sports' Rebecca Lowe joins Sam Matterface and Alex Crook for an exclusive conversation - giving her unique perspective on the 2026 World Cup from the heart of the action in America. One of the most respected voices in football broadcasting on either side of the Atlantic, Lowe gives her insight on how the tournament is resonating with the American public.
Sam and Alex deliver their full England v Croatia reaction - did Jude Bell...
Former West Ham and Croatia manager Slaven Bilic gives his expert verdict on England v Croatia in an exclusive interview ahead of one of the most anticipated group stage fixtures of the FIFA World Cup. Bilic gives us the inside track on Croatia's squad, his expectations for the match and reflects on his own tournament exploits.
Scotland have their first World Cup win in 36 years. Sam Matterface and Alex Crook react immediately after full-time as Steve Clarke's side edge past Haiti 1-0 in their World Cup 2026 opener. Where does the win leave Scotland? Are they a step closer to qualification or was 1-0 not enough? Sam and Alex give their verdict.
Also in the episode: Brazil and Morocco play out a fascinating draw in one of the most talked-about results of t...
Former Premier League goalkeeper Asmir Begovic joins Sam Matterface and Alex Crook for an exclusive conversation ahead of Canada v Bosnia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Begovic gives his verdict on both nations' chances, the key players to watch, and what the game means for Group D.
Sam and Alex also react to England's final pre-tournament friendly against Costa Rica and - for the first time - both name their starting XI for England's...
Chelsea and England legend Frank Lampard gives his verdict on England's 2026 World Cup chances in an exclusive conversation with Sam Matterface.
Lampard assesses the squad and identifies the players he's watching most closely, shares his memories of major tournament penalty shootouts and discusses THAT goal that never was against Germany — all in Episode 2 of The Inside Channel.
Sam and Alex also react to England's pre-tourna...
Sam Matterface and Alex Crook are heading to America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and this is where it all starts.
In the launch episode of The Inside Channel, ITV's Sam Matterface and talkSPORT's Alex Crook sit down for a full tournament preview, alongside Scott Minto: England's chances, the big nations, dark horses, Golden Boot picks, and the best betting markets ahead of the World Cup.
Plus, Sam and Alex kick off their head-to...
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