Semi-Informed Football

In this episode of The Semi-Informed Football Podcast , we dive into the biggest storylines heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals. The conversation begins with a spirited recap of Argentina's dramatic victory over Egypt, where we tackle one of the tournament's hottest debates: was the match influenced by controversial officiating, or did Argentina simply find another way to win? We an...

The knockout stage is where reputations are made—and shattered. In this episode of A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , Marko and Mark break down all the action from the completed Round of 16 matches, discussing the biggest upsets, standout individual performances, controversial moments, and the tactical decisions that shaped the tournament's first elimination games. From heavyweight nations proving...

The Round of 32 has officially turned the 2026 FIFA World Cup into must-watch football, and Marko and Matteo dive into all the biggest talking points. The episode opens with a spirited debate over Portugal's dramatic victory against Croatia, where Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match. Is Ronaldo still the player Portugal should build around, or is his l...

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is complete, and before diving headfirst into the knockout rounds, Marko, Mark, and Matteo take a step back to ask a bigger question: what has this tournament taught us so far? The trio discusses how the expanded 48-team format has created more competitive matches, why the gap between football's traditional powerhouses and smaller nations appears smaller...

The 2026 World Cup has sparked plenty of debate, but one thing has stood out to Marko, Mark, and Matteo: the gap between football’s traditional powerhouses and the rest of the world has never looked smaller. In this episode of A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , the trio explores how the expanded 48-team tournament has created more competitive matches, why nations once considered outsiders are now...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and after four days of group-stage action, we've finally got some answers - and a whole lot of new questions. In this episode of A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , Marko, Mark, and Matteo regroup after the opening wave of matches to assess what we've learned so far. Which favourites have looked like genuine title contenders? Which teams have already...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is unlike anything we've seen before. With 48 teams competing across 12 groups and eight third-place teams advancing to the knockout rounds, the path to glory has changed dramatically. In this episode of A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , Marko and Mark dive into the groups and storylines that will shape the tournament. Rather than predicting every single group, they focus...

Everyone is talking about France, Brazil, Argentina, and England—but what if the 2026 World Cup is won by someone else? In this episode, Marko, Mark, and Mateo break down six genuine dark horses capable of shaking up the tournament: Ecuador, Colombia, Norway, Ivory Coast, Japan, and Senegal. From Ecuador's elite defensive record and Colombia's devastating transition game to Norway's Haaland-Ødegaa...

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues as Marko, Mark, and Mateo make their first major tournament predictions. The trio opens by discussing their favorites to win the expanded World Cup, with France and Spain emerging as the consensus powerhouses while Marko makes the case for a talented and deep Portugal squad. From there, the conversation shifts to the players who could define the tourna...

Who are the young stars to watch out for this World Cup? Listen in as Mark and Matteo take picks and justify expected moments of brilliance. To contact us reach out to semiinformedfootball@gmail.com Follow us on X at @SemiFooty

PSG have done it again. The Champions League trophy is heading back to Paris after PSG claimed their second consecutive UEFA Champions League title , coming from behind to defeat Arsenal in a dramatic final. In this episode of A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , Marko, Mark, and Mateo break down the biggest talking points from the match: ⚽ Kai Havertz's early opener and Arsenal's defensive approac...

Welcome back to the Semi-Informed Football Podcast. This week, Marko and Mark take a deep dive into two leagues that had VERY different seasons: Serie A descended into absolute chaos while Bayern Munich restored their dominance over Germany. The guys break down Como’s unbelievable rise from Serie D to the Champions League under Cesc Fabregas, the disastrous collapses of Juventus and AC Milan, and...

The Premier League season is officially over — and in classic Semi-Informed fashion, Mark and Matteo dive headfirst into the chaos, controversy, and comedy that defined one of the wildest final matchdays in recent memory. The episode opens with Arsenal finally ending their 22-year Premier League drought, as Mark gives the Gunners their flowers while Matteo cautiously praises Arteta’s side… before...

This week on A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , the boys dive headfirst into the madness consuming European football. From a painfully dull FA Cup final to the growing chaos surrounding Real Madrid, Mourinho rumours, and the ever-spinning coaching carousel, there’s somehow more drama off the pitch than on it. Mark breaks down Chelsea’s disappointing cup performance and what Xabi Alonso’s reported...

If you’re just tuning in—this is peak football chaos. Arsenal suddenly look like they’ve got one hand on the Premier League title… but can they avoid a historic collapse? Manchester City drop crucial points—has the door officially opened? Chelsea are in freefall. Six losses in a row. What is actually happening? And then there’s the Champions League… where PSG vs Bayern might be the biggest non-fin...

The Champions League is down to four — and Mark and Mateo are not holding back. They kick things off with what feels like the true final : PSG vs Bayern . Mateo backs Bayern’s structure and firepower, while Mark flips the script and argues PSG’s balance, experience, and Luis Enrique edge could take them through. Injuries, midfield battles, and tactical depth all come into play — and somehow they b...

The Champions League gave us everything this week — drama, controversy, and some serious statements from Europe’s elite. PSG knock Liverpool out and raise big questions about their future. Barcelona fall to Atlético Madrid in a chaotic, red-card-filled tie. Bayern vs Real Madrid delivers one of the games of the season, while Arsenal quietly keep progressing… but not convincingly. Then the focus sh...

Second legs in the Champions League aren’t just football ... they’re chaos, pressure, and narrative overload. This week on The Semi-Informed Football Podcast , Marko and Mark break down a wild weekend across Europe before diving into the biggest question in football right now: 👉 Does momentum actually matter… or are we all just guessing? We cover: Arsenal’s worrying dip in form and what it means...

Four games. Four countries going to the World Cup. Four going home. In this episode of A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , Marko and Mark dive into the European playoff finals that will decide the final World Cup spots -  and the stakes couldn’t be higher. We break down: 🇧🇦 Bosnia vs 🇮🇹 Italy - Can Italy finally escape their World Cup curse, or is another disaster coming? 🇸🇪 Sweden vs 🇵🇱 Poland - S...

The World Cup is almost here… but who’s actually making it? In this episode, Mark and Mateo run through the final World Cup 2026 playoff qualifiers , predicting winners across UEFA and the intercontinental playoffs. From European giants like Italy and Denmark to wild-card picks like Kosovo, Suriname, and even New Caledonia—this one gets chaotic fast. Will experience win out… or are we about to see...

The Champions League knockout stage has arrived, and Marko and Mark break down every Round of 16 matchup — from the blockbuster clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City to Arsenal’s chances, Liverpool’s path, and potential Cinderella stories. They debate which teams look strongest heading into the knockouts, which ties could produce the biggest upsets, and ultimately make their semi-informed...

Manchester United are winning again… and suddenly the questions are louder than ever. In this episode of A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , we dive into the unexpected resurgence under interim manager Michael Carrick following the departure of Ruben Amorim. Four straight wins had United fans dreaming again until West Ham halted the five-game fairytale. So now the real debate begins: is this a genu...

This week on A Semi-Informed Football Podcast , Marko welcomes Mark and Mateo back from the international break to talk about the state of modern coaching , sparked by fresh rumours around Diego Simeone and his future at Atlético Madrid . After more than a decade in charge, Simeone has turned Atlético from a financial underdog into a European heavyweight ... yet even he isn’t immune to criticism,...

After a brief hiatus, Semi-Informed Football returns with a solo episode diving into three Serie A matches that say far more about the season than the scorelines suggest. Using Inter v Pisa, Roma v Milan, and Napoli v Juventus as case studies, this episode explores why modern Serie A is less about perfect tactics and more about adaptability, squad depth, pressure, and psychological resilience. Who...

This week, Marko and Mark dive into the Premier League’s £3 billion pressure cooker and ask the question fans hate asking: Are we expecting too much, too fast from young stars? Using Florian Wirtz’s slow Liverpool start as the headline example - despite him shining for Germany with multiple goal involvements in their 6–0 win over Slovakia - the guys explore why the EPL chews up early hype and spit...