The Optus Football Podcast

An all-star former Premier League panel of Mark Schwarzer, Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges join host Teo Pellizzeri for this week's GegenPod! Antonio Conte's meltdown at Spurs. We attack it from every angle. What does it mean for the club, for Conte, for Daniel Levy, for Ange Postecoglou and for Harry Kane? Roy Hodgson back at Crystal Palace as the relegation battle becomes even tighter! How l...

Socceroos icon Mark Schwarzer and fellow former Premier League star Thomas Sorensen join host Teo Pellizzeri to break down the biggest issues of the football week both at home and abroad! Graham Arnold's first Socceroos squad since the World Cup New faces including hotshot Nestory Irankunda - how do we harness the potential of this wonderkid 17-year-old? Arnie wins the four-way international tug-o...

The all-star panel of former Premier League stars Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen are back with host Teo Pellizzeri to talk about the biggest football issues of the week in the Premier League, LaLiga and close to home. Liverpool's 7-0 romp against Manchester United What to do with Bruno Fernandes. Captaincy stripped? Could he leave? Liverpool's rebuild, just how much work is ne...

Optus Sport columnist and Manchester United correspondent Sam Pilger joins former Matilda Amy Duggan and host Teo Pellizzeri for a Manchester United themed Gegenpod! Manchester United win the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 final victory against Newcastle United What Erik Ten Hag got right in the final and what he's been fixing tactically through the season Still in the hunt for three other trophies, how w...

Former Premier League stars Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen join host Teo Pellizzeri to discuss all the big talking points of the week! Then former Matilda Amy Duggan and journalist Alex Ibaceta jump in the pod to break down all the issues that have led to 15 Spain national team players going on strike in a FIFA Women's World Cup year. Bridgey and Thomas talk: Javi Gracia in at Leeds, can he s...

Former Premier League stars Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen are joined by former Matilda Amy Duggan and host Teo Pellizzeri to break down all the big talking points of the week in football! Bridgey faces the music for backing Jesse Marsch and Nathan Jones, both now sacked! What's the answer to Southampton's problems? Leeds managerial vacancy remains a burning issue Liverpool won the Merseyside...

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire is our special guest on a Gegenpod that's all about money in football! Former Premier League stars Thomas Sorensen and Mark Schwarzer join host Teo Pellizzeri to discuss: The Premier League's sensational list of charges against Manchester City. What it means for Man City, for the Premier League and what punishments they could face How will this change the app...

Socceroos Icon Mark Schwarzer gives his instant reaction to Graham Arnold's extension as the Socceroos boss. What should the expectations be for the 2024 AFC Asian Cup and the road to the 2026 World Cup? Plus former Matilda Amy Duggan and host Teo Pellizzeri are joined by LaLiga TV host and Spanish football expert Phil Kitromilides to talk all things LaLiga! How have Barcelona built their gap at t...

Former Premier League stars Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges are joined by former Matilda Amy Duggan to break down all the big talking points of the week! Frank Lampard sacked as Everton boss - what next for this troubled club? Who's coming in and who would our experts hire? Harry Kane could be signing a new contract with Tottenham, but is Spurs the right place for him to win a major trophy? Th...

The GegenPod dives head first into all the biggest talking points in football as former Premier League stars Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges are joined by former Matilda Amy Duggan and host Teo Pellizzeri. Is it time up for the error-prone Hugo Lloris or will an impassioned defence from the goalkeepers union swing your opinion? Arsenal stay top but miss out on their top transfer targets, will...

The GegenPod has former Premier League stars Mark Schwarzer and Thomas Sorsensen join former Matilda Amy Duggan and host Teo Pellizzeri to break down all the biggest football talking points of the week: Is the Graham Potter philosophy incompatible with Chelsea? Manchester United's unexpected return to the title race Mikel Arteta feeling the pressure of being top Gareth Bale retires, we celebrate h...

The GegenPod is back into Premier League mode with former star Michael Bridges and former Socceroo Tommy Oar joining host Teo Pellizzeri to look at all the big talking points. Everton in disarray, surely it's the end for Frank Lampard? Arsenal and Newcastle wrestle in the top four Have Manchester City become too Erling Haaland-centric? Liverpool's struggles fall on Darwin Nunez but where does the...

In an exclusive interview with Optus Sport, Frank Lampard divulges all about his managerial journey, including his appointment at Derby, his touchline blowup with Jurgen Klopp, being dismissed by Chelsea, how he saved Everton from relegation, his future ambitions, and touches on Harry Redknapp's famous words about him when he was just 17. Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series, Footb...

With the World Cup finished it's time to look at the impact the tournament will have on Premier League football returning? Former Premier League star Michael Bridges is joined by Socceroos icon Mark Schwarzer from Qatar and host Teo Pellizzeri to look at some of the immediate issues. Julian Alvarez has just won a World Cup for Argentina but what bold move does Pep Guardiola have to think about to...

Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer and Premier League legend Michael Bridges join Teo Pellizzeri to dive deep into possibly the best World Cup final ever, as well as dissect the FIFA 2022 World Cup as a whole: the best, the worst, the predictions, the surprises and the ones to watch in the future. Messi lifts the World Cup and settles GOAT debate. Kylian Mbappe has FOUR goals in World Cup finals at t...

Former Socceroo Tommy Oar and Premier League legend Michael Bridges join Teo Pellizzeri to unpack France’s semi-final win and look ahead to the blockbuster World Cup final. France book a date with Argentina Clairefontaine: world-leading football factory Youth football in Australia and lessons from French Can national team bosses be foreign and still achieve success? Listen to Optus Sport's award-w...

Former Socceroo Tommy Oar and Optus Sport Journalist Jack Austin join former Matilda Amy Duggan to discuss today's World Cup action! Messi orchestrates World Cup Final shot at redemption Croatia’s golden era not necessarily over… France v Morocco: Who will join Argentina in the final? Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi could create the battle of the tournament. Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning l...

Former Premier League striker Michael Bridges and former Socceroo Scott McDonald join former Matilda Amy Duggan to discuss today's World Cup action! Football won't be coming home this year as France too good. Ronaldo's World Cup dreams are dashed. What next for CR7? Are Morocco unstoppable? Yet to lose under Walid Regragui Widespread accusations from players of poor refereeing. Is it fair enough?...

Former Premier League striker Michael Bridges and Optus Sport Journalist Jack Austin join former Matilda Amy Duggan to discuss today's World Cup action! Do Brazil struggle with mental resilience? Are Croatia unstoppable when it goes to extra time? Messi with ANOTHER goal and assist taking him equal with Gabriel Batistuta. Louis van Gaal going against everything that the Dutch have ever stood for....

Former A-League players Tommy Oar and Thomas Sorensen join Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer and Teo Pellizzeri to discuss Portugal's free-flowing attack and the rise of their newest star. They discuss Spain's tactics and if tiki taka is the way forward, reassess their pre-tournament predictions and debate the best way for the A-League Men's to capitalise on Socceroos hype to convert it into bums of...

Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer, former A-League and Socceroos winger Tommy Oar and former A-League and Premier League goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen join Teo Pellizzeri to discuss this weekend's A-League Men's return and how the domestic league can capitalise on the success of the national team this World Cup and captivate the huge audiences that we've seen and convert them into A-League fans. Listen...

Brazil roll on in style as they breeze past South Korea and Japan fall in a valiant fight with 2018 finalists Croatia. Former Socceroo Tommy Oar and former Premier League striker Michael Bridges join Teo Pellizzeri to unpack two huge matches in the World Cup Round of 16. Mark Schwarzer joins in from Qatar to provide a keeper’s perspective on the surprising penalty trend as well as the power rankin...

Former Socceroo Scott McDonald joins Optus Sport Deputy Editor Jack Austin and Teo Pellizzeri to unpack two huge matches in the Round of 16. Mark Schwarzer joins in from Qatar as we assess just how good youngsters Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham can be and who will come out on top as they face off in the World Cup quarter finals. Gareth Southgate blocking out the noise Bellingham's next destinat...

A Messi masterclass was ultimately what cost the Socceroos progression in the FIFA World Cup 2022, and our host of football legends are here to guide you through an incredible tournament from the men's Australian national team, as well as the rest of the action. Former Socceroos Mark Schwarzer and Tommy Oar join Amy Duggan and Michael Bridges to unpack the Socceroos' campaign and analyse their mat...

The Socceroos are inside 24 hours now before they line up against Argentina for a place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals! Former Socceroo Tommy Oar joins Amy Duggan and Michael Bridges to give a full preview of this historic clash as well as put the rule across the last group stage matches: Son Heung-Min and Luis Suarez both in tears at the conclusion of their match, but for different reasons!...