The Optus Sport Football Podcast

Join Schwarzie, Phil, and Juls as they break down a thrilling night of Nations League quarter-finals action, which featured 21 goals on Optus Sport!The guys are buzzing about the high-scoring drama, but they still end up asking the age-old question: Should Ronaldo be starting for Portugal?Juls takes a bold stance, suggesting that Michael Olise might just be the next Antoine Griezmann for France, while Schwarzie is loving what he’s seeing from Germany… at least in the first half against Italy!Phil also weighs in on Spain’s nail-biting penalty win over the Netherlands, a match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.Every Nations League and European Qualifier is live and exclusive on Optus Sport.

'... He's like the perfect sperm sample that's ever been created!...'We have Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Michael Bridges as they look forward to a weekend of more than 60 matches across five competitions... in particular the UEFA Nations League and World Cup Qualifiers!Thomas Tuchel's England squad gets put under the spotlight, including ONE very controversial selection. Should fans get to have a say on TWO picks in a country's squad? Bridgey thinks so! Schwarzie lays down the challenge to the Socceroos: 'if they don't beat Indonesia, they don't deserve to automatically qualify'. And we hear from Michelle and Ash with the Women's Super League live and exclusively on Optus Sport this weekend!Watch UEFA Nations League and Europe's World Cup Qualifiers on Optus Sport. -----------Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series: Football Belongs, charting the cultural threads of Australian society through the lens of nine football matches:Acast: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AzBek8ub2oEsWLYHWetg7Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/football-belongs-australias-football-identity-by-optus/id1543067162

'Who would've said at the start of the season that we are talking about Manchester City v Brighton as a six-pointer for the Champions League!...'We have Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Jay Bothroyd on board to look ahead to this weekend's Premier League action!While Jay brings his habitual stirring to the occasion, Mark and Phil have their own big lines to drop on the crew as they look ahead to a weekend featuring:A huge one between classic rivals Arsenal and Chelsea - and how the guys think each side can get over the other. Manchester City v Brighton shows up as one of the most unlikely must-watch matches of late!And why YOU must watch Leicester City v Manchester United this weekend... it's a pretty compelling argument!Watch EVERY Premier League and Emirates FA Cup match on Optus Sport. -----------Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series: Football Belongs, charting the cultural threads of Australian society through the lens of nine football matches:Acast: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AzBek8ub2oEsWLYHWetg7Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/football-belongs-australias-football-identity-by-optus/id1543067162

Schwarzie and Phil are joined by a riled-up Jay Bothroyd this week, as his beloved Arsenal trail Liverpool in the title race by a staggering 15 points. Jay doesn't hold back, slamming Mikel Arteta as 'tactically inept,' while Schwarzie takes a deep dive into the set-up of the wall for Bruno Fernandes' free-kick. Speaking of Bruno, Jay boldly claims Manchester United would be facing relegation without him - at least based on this season’s form.Schwarzie also reveals that Brighton's Fabian Hürzeler used to coach his son at FC Pipinsried in the lower leagues of Germany - reflecting on how he has evolved as manager and a man in that time. Every match of the Premier League is live and exclusive on Optus Sport.

'Arsenal are a WOUNDED ANIMAL right now...'Nothing beats the rampaging return of the Premier League this weekend on Optus Sport, and Michael Bridges joins Mark Schwarzer to run a comb through a few of the mouth-watering fixtures to come this week:Arsenal are smarting, according to the lads, and despite their midweek Champions League boilover, they will struggle against Manchester United!Tottenham v Bournemouth has the makings of a very entertaining match - predictions of many, many goals!How can Nottingham Forest arrest their fall off of recent weeks? They take on a Manchester City side that may well put them to the sword!Watch EVERY Premier League and Emirates FA Cup match on Optus Sport. -----------Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series: Football Belongs, charting the cultural threads of Australian society through the lens of nine football matches:Acast: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AzBek8ub2oEsWLYHWetg7Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/football-belongs-australias-football-identity-by-optus/id1543067162

Schwarzie and Bridgey are at Old Trafford reflecting on another disappointing night for Manchester United, as Fulham knock them out of the FA Cup on penalties. The guys also reflect on Danny Welbeck 'aging like a fine wine' as Brighton find a late winner against Newcastle - which leaves Bridgey wondering when the pressure will start to mount on Eddie Howe. Schwarzie is also still baffled by Matheus Cunha's outburst which led to his sending off against Bournemouth, whilst Bridgey compares himself to Will Smith. You'll have to hear it to believe it!Every game of the FA Cup is live and exclusive on Optus Sport.

Preston North End v Burnley is 'an underrated...HATE-FILLED DERBY!'We cannot wait for the final 16 of the FA Cup to line up in this weekend's fifth round, with the lads Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens discussing:Manchester United taking on Fulham, and how even a possible FA Cup trophy lift won't do anything for United after the season they have had.The gloves are off and the claws are out as Preston North End prepares to host (but not happily!) their bitter rivals Burnley!Can Jean-Philippe Mateta be the difference the boys claim he will be against Aussie-favourites Millwall?Quarter-final spots go up for grabs so do NOT miss this weekend!Watch EVERY Emirates FA Cup match on Optus Sport. -----------Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series: Football Belongs, charting the cultural threads of Australian society through the lens of nine football matches:Acast: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AzBek8ub2oEsWLYHWetg7Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/football-belongs-australias-football-identity-by-optus/id1543067162

Schwarzie, Phil, and Juls are back, and this week they're asking: should we just hand Liverpool the Premier League crown already? Plus, Mo Salah’s record-breaking season shows no signs of slowing down - is he destined for the Ballon d'Or? The guys also discuss whether Manchester City's style of football is becoming outdated in England.So with Arsenal looking like their race is run in terms of the title race, we turn our attention to the European spots and Juls has a bold shout: could Bournemouth really sneak into the Champions League?The guys also dive into Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio hitting the ground running at Villa Park, plus the bizarre stat that home and away goals perfectly balanced in the Premier League this season.Every game of the Premier League is live and exclusive on Optus Sport.