The Optus Sport Football Podcast

'Boom, boom, boom, boom...Mateta's in the room!'We are absolutely pumped up for the final EIGHT teams to line up in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup this weekend, with the lads Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens discussing:We are so excited that (aside from City!) one side may be able to break a long-standing trophy drought!Fulham and Palace meet in a London derby that, if Palace can field their talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, could prove very tense!Brighton and Forest clash - will that frightful 7-0 win by Forest not long ago come back to haunt the Seagulls?Bournemouth host City at the Vitality - Schwarzie can't wait for the atmosphere at that tight, old ground.Watch EVERY Emirates FA Cup match on Optus Sport. WATCH: Join Optus Sport's Mark Schwarzer as he returns to his former stomping ground Valley Parade, home of 1911 FA Cup winners Bradford and where the record-breaking Socceroos great's English football adventure began > https://watchoptus.tv/SchwarzerVisitsBradford

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

It's the morning after the night before and Bridgey is a bit worse for wear following Newcastle United lifting their first domestic trophy in 70 years. He speaks about what this trophy means to his family, the people of Newcastle and how Eddie Howe's men can now build on this in the future. Schwarzie reflects on when he played with Newcastle's hero Dan Burn at Fulham, whilst Phil found himself in the middle of a Geordie takeover in London over the weekend. The guys also chat about the weekend's Premier League where Chelsea continued to struggle and Nottingham Forest took another huge step towards Champions League football, whilst Michelle and Ash wrap up a big few days in the WSL and the Women's League Cup Final.Every game of the Premier League and WSL is live and exclusive on Optus Sport.

'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