The Optus Sport Football Podcast

We are back for another ripper episode of the Optus Sport Football Podcast, and this week Mark Schwarzer and Phil Kitromilides have Michael Bridges along for the ride!The lads discuss: Why Bridgey filled a teammate's car with fish guts that he rang in as a favour!The 'classless' tweet from Nottingham Forest and why one of our panel think on that basis alone, he hopes they go down!Mark on why he could possibly be happy for Coventry City that they failed to make the FA Cup Final. How Bridgey was robbed of the Premier League Golden Boot because of one teammate pulling rank.A classic, El Clasico! Phil gives a full wrap on the match that stops Spain and the lads wax lyrical on just how good this young Englishman Jude Bellingham is!See every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024, Copa America 2024 and WSL live and on-demand 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

Well, as if firing up Antoine Griezmann wasn't enough last time he opened the mic on the Optus Sport Football Podcast, Jay Bothroyd is back to join Mark Schwarzer and (rile up!) Phil Kitromilides, as the guys tackle plenty and of course, ruffle a few feathers along the way:After two unexpected results for Liverpool and Arsenal, has City (AGAIN!) had the tide turn its way with just over a month to go?Could Manchester United be headed for its worst-ever League finish...and could Ten Hag be headed for the door?Jay does not hold back on his assessment of one player after Spurs' big loss to Newcastle United!Manchester City may - MAY - be on its way to a second consecutive treble. AMAZING, right? But, is it as impressive as Leverkusen's potential unbeaten treble?The 'vicious' atmosphere that awaits fans at this week's El Clasico (fans that will, notably, not include Phil Kitromilides).See every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024, Copa America 2024 and WSL live and on-demand 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

The Premier League title race has taken another twist; so Mark, Phil and Thomas Sorensen are here to assess it all. We also take a chance to look at the other end of the table, with seven teams in a battle against relegation. The guys also decide to isolate every Australian Wolves fan by all claiming their goal SHOULD have been disallowed at the weekend! See every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024, Copa America 2024 and WSL live and on-demand on Optus Sport.

WE didn't say that about Erling Haaland... promise! But you bet we debated it, and there was plenty more hearty discussion this week as Mark Schwarzer was joined by journalist Phil Kitromilides and former Leeds United striker Michael Bridges who dropped his moving boxes to put a rule across the weekend of football, including:An alleged 'title-deciding' match that didn't reach the heights we hoped for!Does Erling Haaland do enough with his vast array of skills, or is he doing exactly what he is supposed to, in his role for City?How good has Alexis Mac Allister been for Liverpool?Spurs win again - and come from behind to do it, AGAIN! What does Ange say at halftime...and why doesn't he say that same thing BEFORE the match?!Can Tottenham make the top four? One of our pundits says a resounding NO - and he's a Spurs fan!See every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024, Copa America 2024 and WSL live and on-demand 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

Well, well, well. After the social media firestorm that broke out after last week's episode, Jay Bothroyd left Mark Schwarzer to pick up the pieces on this week's show. With him were Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens as they held Mark to account for his comments that had the France and Atletico Madrid star hurling pizza emojis his way!As well, the trio discuss:France's poor showing against Brazil, is it an ominous sign for their Euros tilt?And, one fine young star, Endrick, with a pivotal moment for the Samba Kings!Should Gareth Southgate just gamble with Kobbie Mainoo?EURO Playoffs: three spots remain...who will get them? We give our definitive (and definitely not mean!) tips!The Premier League returns this weekend with perhaps the match that defines the title race: Manchester Cirty v Arsenal! We give a full preview of this bumper match.And could we be at the beginning of one of the greatest dynasties in sport with Real Madrid's unprecedented wave of youngsters seemingly at the top of their games?See every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024, Copa America 2024 and WSL live and on-demand 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

The gang is all together in London this week and as such, are pumped to chew the fat over everything in the football world...to the point that Phil almost missed his flight home! Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges, Phil Kitromilides, Julien Laurens and Jay Bothroyd discuss it all, including:A LIVELY debate about the talents and input of Antoine Griezmann!Nottingham Forest's financial sanctions... is it curtains for their season and time in the Premier League?Speaking of curtains... can Spurs fans still entertain the thought of top four this season?Did we see the greatest FA Cup match of all time between United and Liverpool?The WSL seems to now be a two-horse race!UEFA EURO 2024 is only months away... and the final spots will be decided in the next week!We make our EURO predictionsA stack of incredible international friendlies THIS WEEKEND!See every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024, European Qualifiers and WSL live and on-demand on Optus Sport.Listen to Ange Postecoglou on 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

While Mark Schwarzer is granted a hall pass for the week, Phil Kitromilides takes the driver’s wheel and is joined by Michael Bridges and Julien Laurens as they rip apart the title chases in the Premier League and LALIGA:Liverpool v Manchester City: is it one of the great 1-1 draws? We were exhausted!Disagreement over whose title it is going be! (from Bridgey - with himself - that is... we think he nominated all three at various stages!)Was it a penalty late in the game to Liverpool... an error that could prove costly for the Reds?Where on earth was Erling Haaland?HOW, with so many players out, are Liverpool competing at such a high level?Arsenal still well & truly in the picture - this is why.WILD predictions that Spurs could still run at the title... or at least cause some trouble at the pointy end!John McGinn MUST get his head right in the game. LALIGA's young gun brigade: THIS is why you need to keep watching this great competition. See every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024 and WSL live and on-demand on Optus Sport.Listen to Ange Postecoglou on 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

In this very special one-on-one between Tottenham Hotspur star Micky van de Ven and former Premier League goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, the Spurs lightning bolt details: Why Ange Postecoglou is the one he has learned the most from in his short careerThe difference he has found between the German and English leaguesHow he became the fastest player in Premier League historySee every match of the Premier League, LALIGA, UEFA EURO 2024 and WSL live and on-demand on Optus Sport.Listen to Ange Postecoglou on 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 this week by Thomas Sorensen after the Manchester derby went exactly how everyone expected it to, and react to Paul Scholes claiming Erik Ten Hag is set to be replaced in the summer. Meanwhile the guys delve into the refereeing controversies of the weekend: should Liverpool have been given the chance to score their late winner? Should Real Madrid have been stopped by the referees whistle? Phil thinks he's got a solution...It's also just over 100 days to go until the Euros on Optus Sport; so where does the in-form Ollie Watkins fit in?