The Optus Football Podcast

The GegenPod welcomes former Socceroo Tommy Oar to the panel along with former Matilda Amy Duggan and host Teo Pellizzeri to break down a huge week at home and abroad! Scott Parker wins the Premier League sack race The unstoppable Erling Haaland and how he's already changed the Premier League Young captains and how the armband changed one Socceroo's career LaLiga's ageless wonders Tommy Oar answer...

Another huge weekend of football is on the menu as former Premier League star Michael Bridges, former Matilda Amy Duggan and Optus Sport Editor Jake Rosengarten jump into the pod with host Teo Pellizzeri this week. Manchester United kick-start their season Liverpool struggling with no wins in three! Michael Bridges' day out at Elland Road Newcastle United jump up to join the big boys Australia's n...

Michael Bridges battles UK train cancellations as he joins Mark Schwarzer, Thomas Sorensen and Teo Pellizzeri for another episode of the GegenPod. In this episode: Darwin Nunez loses his head...onto that of someone else! When have the lads dealt with the fallout of an individual letting the team down? When has an incident blown up like Tuchel v Conte, and how come Michael Bridges and Lee Bowyer ca...

One weekend of Premier League down and it's time to make some snap judgements! Into the pod jump former Premier League stars Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges along with former Matilda Amy Duggan and host Teo Pellizzeri. Manchester United off to a disastrous start The opening-round results that are fool's gold or no need for panic! 30 Years of the Premier League and some anniversary moments to r...

We are back for the 2022/23 Premier League season (and LaLiga! And J.League! And FA Women's Super League...whew..)! Our panel of Socceroos and Premier League great Mark Schwarzer and former Matilda Amy Duggan, along with host Teo Pellizzeri give a comprehensive look ahead to the season, as well as putting their reputations on the line with some bold predictions! Hear the team give their tip for: P...

A final befitting of a wonderful tournament, as England defeat Germany in extra time to be crowned winners of UEFA Women's EURO 2022! Our all-star panel of Matildas includes Amy Duggan, Heather Garriock and - live from Wembley - Amy Harrison, as they break down a gritty, tough finale to a tournament that has been full of action from go to whoa. A full review of the game and where the match was won...

UEFA Women's EURO 2022 has been a wonderful ride as a spectator thus far, and we have Matildas aplenty on board to dissect the tournament. Amy Duggan, Heather Garriock and Amy Harrison join forces to throw their opinions about on yet another incredible tournament on Optus Sport. Hear: A group-by-group review of the hits and misses in each Amy Harrison's first-hand account of the atmosphere in the...

UEFA Women's EURO kicks off on Thursday July 7 live and exclusive in Australia on Optus Sport and there's no better way to prepare for the tournament with this mega preview! Arsenal's WSL and UEFA Women's Champions League star Steph Catley joins host, former Matilda Amy Duggan, and Optus Sport expert Michelle Escobar to preview the lot: Expectations on England as the host - is it finally their tim...

Australia will play at the 2022 FIFA World Cup! After qualifying via a penalty shoot-out there could not be two better experts to break it down than Socceroos icons and heroes of the 2005 qualifiers John Aloisi and Mark Schwarzer. The legendary duo join host Teo Pellizzeri to break down what was an unforgettable game and take a look ahead to the tournament proper. The decision to sub on Andrew Red...

A trio of Socceroo favourites jump into a special edition of the GegenPod to talk all things Socceroos! Mark Schwarzer, Scott McDonald and current A-League men's champion coach John Aloisi join host Teo Pellizzeri to discuss all the burning issues: How should we collectively feel about the 2-1 win against United Arab Emirates? Ajdin Hrustic the hero, but does the Socceroos' Mooy-ified midfield amp...

As the team take a well-earned break after another massive season, we do an archive dive to revisit some of the laughs from the year - as well as some of the predictions that might not have gone quite to plan! Michael Bridges, Thomas Sorensen and Mark Schwarzer bicker and banter their way through the season: What were the guys excited about leading into the new season? What was Diego Costa like, a...

Premier League legends Mark Schwarzer, Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges break down an incredible final weekend of the season! Schwarzy's first-hand account of what it was like inside the Etihad as Manchester City stormed back to win Relegation decided as Burnley go down and Leeds United survive Team, players and moments of the season Who will get promoted when Nottingham Forest take on Huddersf...

Premier League legends Mark Schwarzer and Michael Bridges were coming in hot to discuss the biggest football talking points of the week! Newcastle beat Arsenal to gift-wrap fourth place and Champions League football for Tottenham Hotspur Sam Kerr Greatest of All Time debate boosted by another heroic display for Chelsea, this time in the FA Cup final Liverpool do it again on penalties against Chels...

What a week it has been for Celtic fans...and Ange Postecoglou fans! In a very special episode of the GegenPod, Mark Schwarzer is joined by Celtic royalty in Chris Sutton and Scott McDonald along with journalist John McGinley to wrap a historic title win by Celtic Football Club, led by former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou. The lads chew the fat over a lively hour that includes: Ange arriving al...

Former Matilda Amy Duggan jumps in the GegenPod as we celebrate super Sam Kerr leading Chelsea to the WSL title! Join Premier League legends Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen for a look at all the big topics in football this week including: Sam Kerr wins the WSL with Chelsea while Aussie manager Joe Montemurro is the Italian champion with Juventus Behind the scenes of Mark Schwar...

The GegenPod welcomes former Matilda and FA Hall of Famer Heather Garriock to chat all things WSL and Matildas! Joining our expert crew of Thomas Sorensen and Optus Sport's editor Jake Rosengarten along with host Claudio Fabiano. The panel leap into all the big talking points including: Manchester United give a winning farewell to Old Trafford for Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic Everton's huge win aga...

The GegenPod is in safe hands with Premier League legends Mark Schwarzer and Thomas Sorensen breaking down all the biggest talking points in football. Rebuild time for Manchester United as another loss has everyone looking to the Eric Ten Hag arrival Who's going to pay for Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo if their futures are away from Old Trafford? Is Erling Haaland going to be the slam dunk ever...

We have three men absolutely going at it with one another this week! The battle for fourth and the scrap for survival is nothing compared to the carry-on between Mark Schwarzer and Michael Bridges as Bridgey prepares for a charity game in the UK next week! Amongst this chaos, Bridgey, Schwarzie and Claudes also discuss: The race for fourth in the Premier League that no one is laying claim to Half-...

The GegenPod welcomes former Matilda Amy Duggan in and also puts Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer head to head with host Claudio Fabiano to hit all of football's big topics! Manchester City and Liverpool play the game of the season! But is the rivalry a bit too 'nicey nicey' for Schwarzy's liking? The love-in between Guardiola and Klopp. Mark tells us how Jose Mourinho went the other way to cultiva...

The Premier League is back in full swing with Manchester City's blockbuster showdown against Liverpool the main match in focus for the GegenPod crew of Mark Schwarzer, Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges. Who would make a combined XI if the two teams were mashed up? Our panel's selections will shock you! Also: Top four race takes another twist as Arsenal crash against Crystal Palace while Spurs hi...

Premier League legends Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges are in the GegenPod this week for another wide-ranging discussion on the biggest football topics of the week! Italy miss out on another World Cup! Roberto Mancini wants to keep his job as manager so where to from here? Australia on the brink of being consigned to the play-offs. Is time up for Graham Arnold? Cristian Volpato's social media...

Former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has had to work incredibly hard to win over the Scottish football community as his quest for success with Celtic gathers steam. Here, he has a candid discussion with Aussie legend Mark Schwarzer where they detail: Moving a family between vastly different world cultures The ebbs and flows of managing a football team Having his credentials regularly dismissed...

All your favourites are back even though we had to drag Mark Schwarzer off the beach in Trinidad to join Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen! On this week's show: The Socceroos' vital World Cup qualifiers. Was calling up veteran striker Bruno Fornaroli the right choice? How will the midfield look with some of the key absentees? Mark Schwarzer's exclusive one-on-one interview with Ange Postecoglou...

The GegenPod welcomes former Premier League star of Liverpool, Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers, Dominic Matteo! We hear about Dominic's struggles with a brain tumour, partial blindness and how he has got his life back on track. Plus we dive into some big talking points and some classic stories from Dom and Michael Bridges from their playing days. The relegation battle goes to another level - Wil...

A bumper edition of the GegenPod welcomes Football Australia Hall of Famer Heather Garriock onto the panel this week to join Premier League legends Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges! The crew hits all the big talking points including: Frank Lampard and Everton humbled by Spurs, will the Toffees go down? All the fall-out from the Manchester Derby. Which of our panelists thinks the Red Devils are...