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On The Continent - A European Football Podcast
Is time finally up for Cristiano Ronaldo?
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It's been 23 years since Cristiano Ronaldo made his Portugal debut. 234 appearances and 146 goals later, his time as a Portugal international might now be over. After abruptly leaving Jorge Jesus' camp, have we seen the last of him in a Portugal shirt?
Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the fallout to that. Plus, Lamine Yamal continues to shine for Spain and Jürgen Klopp risks becoming the first Germany boss to lose his first three games in charge of the national side.
Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.
For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.
***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***
On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.
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Ask OTC: Manchester City's downfall... Europe's opportunity?
28:51|All eyes are on Manchester City as the fallout from their guilty verdict continues to unravel. With the Premier League's dominance under renewed scrutiny, is this a chance for Europe's other top leagues to close the financial and competitive gap they’ve been chasing for so long?Jonathan Johnson joins Andy and Dotun to assess how the continent is reacting. Plus, has Zinedine Zidine's willingness to bring in new players been a welcome change for Les Bleus? Why have Greece been so good during the international break? And, after a vociferous celebration by the aforementioned France manager, we pick out some of our favourite manager celebrations. Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***A trip to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's Georgia
22:23|The emergence of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as one of European football's modern greats has been well-told at elite club level. After leaving Napoli for PSG in 2025 he hasn't looked back, winning two Champions League titles and becoming a firm contender for this year's Ballon d'Or.But at international level, the story is very different. Andy and Lars head to Kvaratskhelia's native Tbilisi to find out just how much of a significant figure he has become.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***What have we learned about Jürgen Klopp's Germany?
38:12|It wasn't just Jürgen Klopp who was starting his fresh project last night, but his opposite number too! Xavi's Netherlands side were the first to try their luck against Klopp's Germany, and in the end the points were shared. But what exactly did we learn from the former Liverpool boss' first game in charge?Kevin Hatchard joins Andy to discuss that. Plus, Jorge Jesus keeps Cristiano Ronaldo in the fold for his first game in charge, but only for 67 minutes. And Erling Haaland's brace helps Norway to victory over near neighbours Denmark.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***Zidane's the man
56:41|It's the dawn of a new era for both Italy and France on the international stage. Roberto Mancini, at the second time of asking, is set for his first game back in charge of the Azzurri. Can an old face bring fresh ideas to a nation so desperate for success?Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to preview what his second spell in charge might bring. Plus, France begin their new venture under the man, the myth, the legend Zinedine Zidane. Can he do what Didier Deschamps couldn't and finally put Spain to the sword? And finally, José Mourinho is back in the headlines. But will his latest tirade really wash with Real Madrid?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***An Egyptian masterclass in Türkiye
36:11|Even Mohamed Salah couldn't have dreamed up a better first outing against Galatasaray. A hat-trick and an assist later, are we witnessing the start of a beautiful partnership with Thomas Reis?Andy is joined by Turkish football expert Engin Kehale to unpack a dominant Trabzonspor performance and a sobering reality check for Galatasaray. Did Victor Osimhen's absence just expose Okan Buruk's over-reliance on his star striker? And why can't Gala’s wealth of attacking options fill the void?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***Ask OTC: What happened with Real Madrid and Ceuta?
35:39|The unfolding humanitarian crisis in Ceuta has made headlines all over the world, and some clubs in La Liga wanted to make their feelings known. But what happens when their own players want to carry a different message?Dotun and Andy are joined by Tom Allnutt to unpack the situation. Elsewhere, why have recently high-flying Lens sacked their manager already? Has Liam Rosenior found his new home in Paris? And can Deportivo de A Coruña continue their early season charge?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***We’re gonna score five more than you
47:05|There's something of the Kevin Keegan about Hansi Flick's Barcelona. 33 goals scored in their opening seven games of the season. Yes, you heard that right. Thirty-three! Their goalscoring exploits are without doubt the best in Europe, but their ability to keep the ball out of the net? Well, that's a different question...Tom Allnutt makes his OTC debut alongside Dotun and Andy to take a look at Barcelona's entertainers. Plus, it's a winning start for Sunderland in the Europa League, but will this be the year that English dominance of the competition comes to an end? And it's all-out chaos at Marseille as OM start the season in atrocious fashion. What has happened to that once great European giant?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***Willkommen in Elversberg
39:54|Welcome to Elversberg, make sure you’re wearing sturdy footwear and please mind the scaffolding.It was a proper David vs Goliath story in the Bundesliga this weekend as Bayern Munich travelled to new boys Elversberg. Today, Andy is joined by Archie Rhind-Tutt to assess what Bayern’s 2-1 win means for both sides. Plus, despite the romance of the Elversberg story, does the Bundesliga need more of the traditional big clubs to return to their former glory?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***