On The Continent - A European Football Podcast

It's a week of reunions over these World Cup quarter-finals. First up, a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco. It's funny how much (and also how little) can change in four years. Plus, Borussia Dortmund's two great exports of recent times face up as Erling Haaland's Norway prepares for battle with Jude Bellingham's England. Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to dive i...

Well, would you look at that! Norway, appearing at their first World Cup since 1998, have knocked five-time world champions Brazil out of the World Cup. But... are we really in a position to call that a shock? Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to debate that and discuss the problems they may cause England in the quarter-finals. Plus, the French juggernaut keeps on moving, despite Paraguay's be...

Belgium were down and out... until they weren't! Romelu Lukaku was the man to kick-start the Belgian revival in Seattle. But are they doing anything more than just covering the cracks? David Cartlidge joins Dotun and Andy to dissect last night's action. Plus, Kylian Mbappé's brilliance shines through once again and we have our first major European casualties! Despair for Germany as they lose on pe...

If you’ve ever wondered how elite clubs in Europe use the World Cup to improve things back home, you’ve come to the right place! On today’s OTC Special, Andy is joined by FC Augsburg CEO Michael Ströll and Sporting Director Benjamin Weber to discuss how they are utilising the world’s biggest tournament to benefit their club. Ask us a question on X , Instagram and TikTok , and email us here: otc@fo...

The 72-game group stage of the 2026 World Cup has come to an end and the knockouts have begun! So, after we've seen what our European sides have to offer, how are we feeling about their chances? Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to assess the main runners and riders (all still standing... for now). Are France and Spain still our favourites? Have Germany and the Netherlands been a pleasant surp...

Love him or loathe him, you simply cannot ignore Cristiano Ronaldo. "I'm back" was what he exclaimed down the camera lens after his two goals against Uzbekistan, but is he *really* back? David Cartlidge and Nicky Bandini join Dotun to debate that. Plus, Switzerland top Group B with victory over Canada. Can this tournament's quiet achievers trouble the knockout rounds? And finally, Norway are much...

Luckily for Spain, the arrival gates in the US were still open before their second game of this year's World Cup. After failing to put in a credible display against Cape Verde, they certainly righted that wrong with a convincing win against Saudi Arabia. Andy and Lars Sivertsen dial in from Dallas to tell Dotun what that comprehensive result could mean for their tournament. Plus, Belgian falter ag...

Another major tournament for Portugal, another debate on whether Cristiano Ronaldo should be starting for them. After his sub-par performance in Portugal's 1-1 World Cup draw with DR Congo, Lars Sivertsen joins Dotun and Andy to once again question why Roberto Martínez is sticking with his 41-year-old captain up top. Elsewhere, France get the better of Senegal in a thrilling encounter. Could this...

The World Cup is up and running! We were treated to an excellent selection of games over the opening weekend, but was Netherlands 2-2 Japan the pick of the bunch? David Cartlidge and Jonathan Johnson join Dotun to dissect that match. Plus, Germany dominate Curaçao (but not without a brief scare) & Türkiye start their World Cup campaign in the worst possible way with defeat to Australia. Ask us...

The World Cup is underway, and while a record 48 countries began the tournament, only one will lift the trophy. Most people think it’s a two-horse race between France and Spain - but who will emerge victorious? Dotun and Andy are joined by Nicky Bandini to answer that, and more of your World Cup questions! Which group will be the most competitive? What unknown player will make the biggest splash?...

By now we're well used to World Cups build-ups being overshadowed by controversies in the host country, or in this case countries. Usually, those issues begin to fade from the headlines once the football starts, but is that really going to be the case this year? Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the plethora of issues affecting this year's World Cup. Meanwhile, of course, there is stil...

Didier Deschamps' titans enter this year's World Cup as the team to beat. Champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, Les Bleus are the favourites in North America. But can they reclaim this most coveted crown? Andy is joined by OTC regular Jonathan Johnson to dissect France's star-studded squad. Is Kylian Mbappé's influence helpful - or harmful? How do Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué...

Spain made history in 2010 when Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner delivered their first World Cup. Sixteen years later, a new generation of La Roja head to North America - but how do they emulate the success of those that came before them? Andy is joined by Spanish football journalist Álvaro Romeo to chronicle how Luis de la Fuente transformed Spain and how their tactical unpredictability makes t...

With the World Cup just days away, we turn our attention to one of the unlikely stories at this summer's tournament: the return of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Andy is joined by Bosnian football writer Saša Ibrulj as they chart the team's recent history of underperforming and how they've fallen at the final qualification hurdle so many times. But, thanks in part to the excellent work of coach Sergej Ba...

In the first of our series of nation previews ahead of the World Cup, we take a close look at the summer's popular dark horses: Norway. Back on the world stage for the first time since 1998 - and with some big players in their ranks - the Norwegians are certainly getting a lot of attention. But can this golden generation handle the pressure? Dotun and Andy are joined by the best person to ask, Lar...

The start of North America's first World Cup in over 30 years is just days away, but despite the excitement reverberating around the world ahead of kick-off at the Azteca, are the three host nations really ready to host the world's game on their turf? North American football expert Jon Arnold joins Dotun and Andy to discuss how things are feeling on the ground in the US, Canada & Mexico. Plus,...

Paris Saint-Germain have done it again! It's back to back Champions League victories for Luis Enrique and his post-Mbappé project, so how long can they keep it up for? Lars Sivertsen joins Andy to dissect the game and explore the options PSG have going into the off-season. Can they resist the temptation of returning to the superstars? Will they reach further into the talent bank that is the city o...

Anthony Gordon’s blistering rise has made him one of football’s hottest properties, but even we couldn't have predicted a move to Barcelona for a reported €80 million. Where does he fit into Hansi Flick's star-studded attack, if at all? Nicky Bandini joins Andy and Dotun for the final round of questions of this domestic season! Can Gennaro Gattuso revive Lazio? Are Bayer Leverkusen taking a risk o...

European football's premier competition has rarely experienced a season with quite so much drama. And as it reaches its denouement, can anybody really predict the outcome of this year's Champions League final between the French champions PSG, and England's title-winners Arsenal? Perhaps you can't, but Dotun is joined by Andy and Nicky Bandini to give you the lowdown on what you can predict. PSG's...

Before last week’s Europa League final, Dotun and Andy flew to Istanbul to meet former Beşiktaş manager and Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær and record a special episode in front of a live audience! Ole told us all about his life in Istanbul, his fond memories of the city and, of course, his incredible time at Manchester United as both a player and a coach. Thank you to official UEFA E...

As the 2025/26 season across Europe enters its swansong, Andy is joined by Jonathan Johnson and Lars Sivertsen to answer more of your questions! Are there parallels between Vincent Kompany and Christian Chivu after their stellar domestic seasons? Why are Marseille heading towards a financial crisis? And despite not being the bookies’ favourites, could Rayo Vallecano find a way to beat Crystal Pala...

Unai Emery makes it five Europa League titles as a manager. How has he done it? Dotun and Andy are in Istanbul to break it down for us. Plus, could we have asked more from Freiburg? And what does back-to-back English wins mean for the future of the competition? Ask us a question on  X ,  Instagram  and  TikTok , and email us here:  otc@footballramble.com . For ad-free show...

Excellence. Discipline. Sacrifice. Few clubs embody these tenets like Real Madrid. Their relentless pursuit of success has made them the biggest institution in world football - but how was that identity built, and does it fit in the modern game? Andy is joined by Miguel Pereira, author of The Greatest: Real Madrid's Never Ending Story , to reveal the power, politics and mythology behind Los Blanco...

Eight turbulent months at Real Madrid arguably told us more about the squad's shortcomings than they did Xabi Alonso's coaching credentials. So why, with Europe's elite circling one of football's most sought-after coaches, are Chelsea leading the race for his signature? Jonathan Johnson joins Andy and Dotun to answer that and more of your burning questions! What’s the fan-player dynamic like at St...

We all know that the current state of Ligue 1 doesn't exactly provide the foundations for a title race which goes down to the wire. This year, it very nearly did though. Lens have been excellent, capitalising on the major underperformances we've seen from Marseille and Monaco, but do they stand any chance of challenging the Parisians in the years to come? Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to d...