The Optus Football Podcast

Late breaking news means you get the freshest take on football from the GegenPod crew! This week Premier League legends Mark Schwarzer and Thomas Sorensen join host Claudio Fabiano to discuss all the big talking points of the week: FIFA and UEFA act on Russia - suspended from World Cup qualifying, club competitions and more Is Gianni Infantino compromised as FIFA president? What about Roman Abramo...

Plenty of dirt and some cracking stories on the GegenPod this week as Mark Schwarzer and Michael Bridges join Claudio Fabiano to discuss: Romelu Lukaku's record-breaking low for Chelsea The Premier League title race is well & truly alive after City's shock loss to Spurs! Is Harry Maguire being undermined? THEN, the lads dish on examples of good and poor captaincy structures in current and past...

It's another huge edition of the GegenPod as special guest Paul Williams drops in to preview the J-League which kicks off live and exclusive this weekend on Optus Sport! Premier League legends Mark Schwarzer and Michael Bridges along with host Claudio Fabiano also look at: Chelsea are Club World Cup champions - does this make the tournament a bit more prestigious? How does Roman Abramovich stack u...

The international break closes and a bumper weekend of Premier League is on the horizon in this week's jam-packed edition of the GegenPod! Join Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer, former Premier League star Thomas Sorensen and host Claudio Fabiano for all the big talking points in football: The Socceroos slip-up against Oman could cost them a World Cup spot. How would Mark Schwarzer's 'golden generat...

The Matildas bombed out of the Asian Cup with their worst-ever result so Optus Sport's GegenPod is bringing in 19-cap former international and current Canberra United star Ashleigh Sykes to break it all down. Join former Premier League stars Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen with host Claudio Fabiano for all the big issues of the week: Why did the Matildas come up short and shoul...

Let Brentford legend Lloyd Owusu help you slip past the bouncers on the door and into this week's GegenPod! Joined by Premier League star Michael Bridges, former Socceroo Scott McDonald and hosted by Claudio Fabiano. A huge show this week looking at all the biggest talking points in football: Another manager gone at Watford as transfer window activity heats right up Martin Boyle heads to Saudi Ara...

Optus Sport's Premier League legends Mark Schwarzer and Thomas Sorensen join Claudio Fabiano for a lively discussion of football's hottest topics! FIFA Best recognise Lewandowski, time for the pod's Lewa Lovers to take a victory lap! Why a post-game embrace from Romelu Lukaku has put him back offside again at Chelsea Premier League clubs throw their weight around to get postponements while others...

The full panel is back on deck after a weekend of FA Cup upsets has everyone buzzing about a bit of 'Magic of the Cup'! Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen are all loaded up with big opinions and sharp analysis as they join host Claudio Fabiano to talk about all the big issues in football. Newcastle bomb out of the FA Cup to Cambridge, will their January transfer window mean a rele...

A new year and a wee Christmas break means there is SO MUCH to discuss this week. While Thomas Sorensen jets home after his Contiki Tour, Mark Schwarzer and a distracted-by-the-darts Michael Bridges join Claudio Fabiano to run their eyes across football's biggest headlines: Romelu Lukaku v Chelsea: can the European champions resolve the tension with their star signing? Africa Cup of Nations plays...

It's the final episode of the GegenPod for 2021! Michael Bridges is AWOL after he was stitched up (not really!) and so Thomas Sorensen and Mark Schwarzer join Claudio Fabiano for the acclaimed Gegend'Ors - the most esteemed list of awards in the whole of football podcasting...for Optus Sport. You'll hear the best, the biggest, the worst of a stack of different categories as 2021 draws to a close....

While Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges enjoy their own Griswold-style European jaunts, it's Claudio Fabiano and Mark Schwarzer holding the fort as they cover: The incredible UEFA Champions League draw - and re-draw - and the red faces for those running it The glut of penalties across the Premier League weekend, from the eye of a goalkeeper The A-League average crowds are down, so with genuine c...

Michael Bridges is sitting by the River Tyne and Thomas is rugged up in Denmark, but with Claudes, the lads press on with the GegenPod for another week! This week the guys hit the big topics including: Ralf Rangnick starts with a win & a very different style of play, all in one day Newcastle break their duck after 15 matches - a first-hand account of the atmosphere at St. James' Park Can Spurs...

Mark Schwarzer is back from Spain and back on the GegenPod, and while Bridgey jet-sets the world and Thomas is AWOL, Teo Pellizzeri comes off the bench and makes his debut on the pod. The lads discuss: The Ballon d'Or - the big winners, and whether they were the right call: Lionel Messi claimed the men's, while Alexia Putellas jagged the women's over podium-placed Aussie Samantha Kerr. Is the Ball...

Football drama never stops. NEVER! Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen join Claudio Fabiano to make sense of the myriad storylines, including: After Ole Gunnar Soskjaer was shown the door by Manchester United, we ask where United will look next for their boss? Klopp v Arteta: does a manager getting fired up provide inspiration? The BEST signings of the season The WORST signings of the season (come...

The lads record while watching live as World Cup dreams go up in flames! Well, that might be a little dramatic, but Italy are certainly going about it the hard way, and join Portugal in the play-offs for a spot in Qatar. Claudes is joined once again by Mark Schwarzer, Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges as they hit: BOLD Premier League predictions Socceroos: poor Harry Souttar is out for a long ha...

Another week, another FIVE THOUSAND manager sackings! Are you finding it hard to keep up? Claudes is joined by Mark Schwarzer, Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges to try and make sense of another rollercoaster week for the men in charge, while they also dive into: Who is next on the chopping block - and who is waiting in the wings? The wash-up from the Manchester Derby - "...like a killer whale th...

Football never sleeps! Thomas Sorensen, Michael Bridges and Claudes go through the absolute shopping list of football stories from the weekend, including: Nuno Espirito Santo is yet another casualty of the Tottenham manager merry-go-round - where to next for the North Londoners? Which manager will find himself on the chopping block next? Is Declan Rice the most underrated player in the Premier Lea...

Where do we start? Claudes, Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen try and make sense of a mad weekend including: Ole is at the wheel - but for how much longer? Chelsea wallop Norwich, Liverpool annihilate Manchester United - what happens in the sheds at half time when you're that deep?! Is Chelsea's relentlessness a sign of intent this season? Halloween is near - what's the scariest...

Claudes takes the reins at the helm of the GegenPod for the first time, with Michael Bridges, Mark Schwarzer and Thomas Sorensen. The lads cover: Arsenal's late escape with a point against Crystal Palace Is Mohamed Salah the best player in the world? A trip around Europe with stops in Italy, Spain, France and Germany Looking ahead to the Matildas' double header against Brazil Plus, the massive mat...

In his final episode as GegenPod host, David Weiner is joined by Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen to run through a big international calendar, and look ahead to the Premier League's return. The team discuss: Denmark's incredible form. France's UEFA Nations League triumph and the outstanding climax to the tournament. The latest World Cup qualifying news, headlined by Germany's qualification. In-...

Michael Bridges, Thomas Sorensen, Mark Schwarzer and David Weiner are back for another big episode of the GegenPod, headlined by Liverpool and Manchester City's 2-2 draw. The gang discuss: All the fallout from Anfield. Who is the best player in the world right now? Why are Liverpool simply not re-signing Mohamed Salah? What are Watford's owners doing, and is Claudio Ranieri the solution? Premier L...

Claudio Fabiano is off the bench and into the left-back position to replace David Weiner this week, and he is joined by Mark Schwarzer and Michael Bridges to cover a host of topics including: The North London derby The continued rise of Premier League rookies Brentford Claudes drops the game of Underrated/Overrated on the lads Why a young Michael Bridges celebrated like mad after scoring against h...

Our GegenPod pundits Thomas Sorensen and Mark Schwarzer have saved the second and third most penalties in the Premier League era! In this week's episode, alongside Michael Bridges and David Weiner, they go into detail about how they prepared to stare down the world's best from the spot, as they explore David De Gea's last gasp save for Manchester United against West Ham.  Also on this week's...

Former Premier League stars Michael Bridges, Mark Schwarzer and Thomas Sorensen are back with David Weiner to react to a momentous weekend in the Premier League. The boys discuss: Cristiano Ronaldo's second home coming, with an in depth look at his impact and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's challenges. What is it like to play at a packed Old Trafford? Concerns over Jadon Sancho's start. Newcastle play Leed...

Mark Schwarzer and Thomas Sorensen join David Weiner to run through football's big issues in this week's episode of the GegenPod. The guys discuss:  - The international window, including France's concerns, Denmark's incredible form, Louis van Gaal's return, Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder and a new look Germany.  - Ronaldo's return: Will it work, what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to...