The Game

With three wins from three England have qualified for the knockout stages in style – but who will Phil Neville pick next? Natalie Sawyer is joined by former England, Chelsea and West Ham defender Claire Rafferty and from The Times and Sunday Times journalists Molly Hudson and Rebecca Myers to analyse England’s best XI.   Neville has made 12 changes since the opening win over Scotland and says...

At the age of 14, Fran Kirby had to deal with the sudden and devastating death of her mother. The next day she went back to school, carrying on her life as normal until grief and depression hit her hard, leading her to give up football, the game she loved. This summer Kirby, now 25, is England’s leading creative force at a World Cup they hope to win and has earned the nickname “Mini Messi”. In thi...

We are into the final round of group games in France and England have already qualified for the knockout stages. Natalie Sawyer is joined by former England, Chelsea and West Ham defender Claire Rafferty and Sunday Times journalist Rebecca Myers to analyse a crucial round of games.   England may be through but we explain why it will make a big difference if they avoid defeat against Japan. Plu...

It’s been a memorable few days at the Women’s World Cup in France. Natalie Sawyer digests it in the company of Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and Tottenham goalkeeper Chloe Morgan. The fall-out from the USA’s 13-0 victory over Thailand continues. Were the Americans disrespectful in their failure to ease off? Did they celebrate too much? And with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes writing in The Times about t...

The biggest World Cup in the history of women’s football is well underway, with the action in France already having a significant impact back in the UK. Natalie Sawyer is joined by two people who have been integral to the development of the women’s game in this country. Former England captain with 90 caps for her country, Faye White. And the FA director for the women’s professional game Kelly Simm...

In this new podcast series, LifeTimes, our leading writers have stepped away from the heat of the action to speak in-depth to some of the most famous athletes on the planet - starting in episode one with footballer Paul Pogba.   The France World Cup-winner and £89 million Manchester United midfielder sits down at the Bulgari Hotel in Milan to discuss everything from his on-pitch achievements...

France 2019 is in full swing and Natalie Sawyer is joined by Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and former Lioness Claire Rafferty to pore over the opening weekend’s action. England edge past Scotland in front of a record TV audience. How significant is that for the women’s game? Phil Neville’s team are given a helping hand by VAR. What repercussions will the new handball rule have on training? Plus why...

With the World Cup kicking off on Friday, Natalie Sawyer is joined by former England star Claire Rafferty, as well as Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and Matt Dickinson from the Times to preview arguably the most high-profile tournament in the history of women’s football. It almost came home last summer but will it finally be coming home for England? Can Phil Neville lead the Lionesses to glory? And w...

For those suffering Gab Marcotti withdrawal symptoms, we have a treat for you. And indeed a treat for Gab, as he sits down for a chat with one of his favourite writers, the northern sports correspondent for The Times – George Caulkin. Gab and George discuss how press coverage of football has changed, the significance of football in the North East and of course, the current disconnect between fans...

It’s the last ever Game podcast for one Gabriele Marcotti. And there are plenty lining up to pay tribute to the man who has made this podcast his own. On the agenda this week, the Champions League final as Liverpool lift their 6th European Cup after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham. They showed nous and it may have been Alisson’s 27th clean sheet of the season but did the Reds even defend that well? F...

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer bring you a special bumper look ahead to the Champions League final and Europa League final, in the company of Oli Kay, Paul Joyce, Gregor Robertson and James Gheerbrant. Liverpool and Tottenham get ready to do battle in the biggest club game in European football on Saturday night. Will Firmino and Kane make it for Madrid? How can Tottenham stop the Reds’ rampaging...

Natalie Sawyer introduces a special one hour documentary from talkSPORT looking back at Manchester United's amazing treble winning season. You'll hear how; - The United board wondered if Fergie had taken his eye off the ball - Martin Edwards asked Fergie to cut short his holiday and return for talks - the players placed demands on their coaches. Featuring Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Steve McClare...

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and Alan Smith after a historic weekend in English football. Manchester City equal the biggest FA Cup final win ever with a 6-0 victory over Watford at Wembley, becoming the first English men’s team to complete the domestic treble. But Pep Guardiola is forced to answer some difficult questions about finances while certain fans feel City...

Less football but no fewer football talking points for Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer, Oli Kay and Bill Edgar to pore over. Manchester City look to complete the domestic treble with an FA Cup final win as we examine the historical significance of that feat. Are they the greatest team we’ve ever seen. Or are Watford, and manager Javi Gracia, better equipped to upset City than many think? Both Guardio...

The most relentless title race in Premier League history is over. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Paul Hirst and James Gheerbrant to determine where the trophy was won. Manchester City become the first team in a decade to retain the Premier League title, sealing the championship on the final day. Have Liverpool done well to keep the gap to just a point? Do Liverpool have a more limit...

On this episode, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are lucky to be joined in the studio by Alan Smith, and down the line Henry Winter gives his take on past performances and the big challenges to come with the final day of the premier league season approaching. A night to remember for Spurs with the comeback of all comebacks, making an all English Champions League final! What a weekend it promises t...

A big weekend in the Premier League and a big week to come in the Champions League. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Oli Kay to discuss it all. Arsenal’s top 4 hopes are over after drawing at home to Brighton. How big a rebuild do Unai Emery and the Arsenal hierarchy have on their hands? The Gunners do have the second chance of a potential Europa League final on their...

After an enthralling midweek of Champions League semi-finals, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter, George Caulkin and Bill Edgar to break it all down. Liverpool play well and lose 3-0 at the Nou Camp, as Barcelona are inspired by Messi magic, inspiring Bill to get lost in Messi stats. How will we judge this Liverpool season if they end up without a trophy? Standing in their...

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by James Gheerbrant and Paul Hirst after a weekend of unique talking points in the world of football. Manchester City clear another hurdle in the title race. With Pep Guardiola’s men now having taken 192 points in almost 2 seasons in the Premier League, can we expect this trend to continue. And is Burnley’s style of play inhibiting Sean Dyche’s chances of...

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Oli Kay and Alan Smith after a big midweek in the Premier League. Manchester City played their game in hand at Old Trafford and ran out 2-0 winners in the Manchester derby. Was that their biggest hurdle to clear in the title race? Or will Burnley and their anti-football provide sterner opposition? Paul Pogba is named in the PFA Team of the Year which h...

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Alan Smith, Gary Jacob and Paul Hirst after a seismic Easter weekend. Manchester United are embarrassed and humiliated, losing 4-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wasn’t sure if all of his players care enough. We discuss who he might be talking about and look ahead to the Manchester derby on Wednesday. Will United respond, damaging City’s title hopes,...

It was a momentous midweek of Champions League football. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Paul Hirst and Alan Smith to pore through it all. Tottenham reach their first ever Champions League semi-final, after progressing past Manchester City on away goals in one of the craziest games in the history of football. How will this affect the Premier League title race? Did VAR make the right...

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar after another Premier League weekend where the top two were victorious. We look at the run-ins of Liverpool and Manchester City for any potential slip-ups. Will Rafa Benitez have something to say about the destination of the title? With City and Liverpool continuing to rack up the points, is this title race good for the Pr...

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Oli Kay and special guest, Belgian football journalist Kristof Terreur. Liverpool host Chelsea and the ghosts of their last title race with Manchester City and the damage that Blues did to them 5 years ago. How different is this Liverpool team? How much damage will Eden Hazard do to the Reds and will he be at Stamford Bridge next season? It was a bad w...

Natalie Sawyer is back alongside Gab Marcotti, James Gheerbrant and Alan Smith after an epic semi-final and ahead of some intriguing quarter-finals. As Tottenham get ready to host Manchester City in the Champions League, will Poch and Pep throw each other some tactical curveballs? And is Pep about to be too clever for his own good again? Liverpool face Porto while Ajax take on Juventus. It’s Manch...