Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

Before Thursday’s WSL preview, Chloe and Rachel discuss the first round of Nations League fixtures! Were England really as bad as everyone made out? Just HOW did Spain beat Sweden after the toxic whirlwind of the past week? And can Chloe pronounce Ellen DeGeneres’ name? Spoilers: no, with hilarious results. We also pay tribute to Sheffield United’s history-maker, Maddy Cusack. Check out Upfront's...

We’re back! And guess what? We’re diving headfirst into the chaos. Chloe and Rachel discuss all the biggest stories since the end of the World Cup, including a summer of scandal that has overshadowed Spain’s winners. We speak to Spanish football journalist Semra Hunter to understand the latest. Plus, we discuss our favourite transfers of the summer and discuss the inaugural Nations League. Is it w...

In our final episode Down Under, Chloe and Rachel convene in the bowels of the Olympic Stadium in Sydney to discuss the 2023 World Cup final, where Spain carried home their first trophy. England, you were so close! They discuss why England never quite got going - was it Sarina’s selections? - and finally reflect on their players of the tournament and favourite moments. ***Enjoyed our coverage of t...

History, here we come. Chloe and Rachel preview the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup! We discuss the media’s suggestion to put Lauren James in socks and why Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh have the chance to achieve something completely unprecedented. Plus, Sweden’s podium finish after beating the Matilda’s and - please - someone close the doors on Gianni Infantino. Check out Upfront's new social c...

The Lionesses have reached their first ever World Cup final! And they only went and beat the bloody hosts en route! We praise England’s role as the pantomime villain against Australia and how the likes of Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp really stepped up. We also reflect on a fantastic few weeks for the Matildas and how World Cup fever will far outlive the tournament itself.  Check out Upfront's n...

We have our first World Cup finalists, after Spain squeeze past Sweden via a chaotic final ten minutes! We celebrate some amazing performances from various players, in spite of Jorge Vilda’s looming presence. We then look ahead to England’s clash with Australia, where the Matildas' real momentum is making us nervous. Can Sarina n’ co deliver? Check out Upfront's new social channels! Follow us on&n...

How about that England fans? Another semi-final! Were you calm like Chloe watching that match or did you want to throw your tele out the window like Rachel did when England were trying to run down the clock? Lucky Rachel was at the ground I guess… Today, we’re here to break down another win for the Lionesses, however we can’t help getting distracted by the absolute chaos that was Australia vs Fran...

It’s properly business time! Chloe and Rachel reconvene to look ahead to the quarter-finals, after France swatted Morocco aside and Jamaica’s spirited run came to an end against Colombia.   We highlight some of England’s concerns ahead of what should be another physical test, before trying to pick our winners from a mouthwatering quarter-final line up! Check out Upfront's new social channels!...

Chloe and Rachel catch their breath after a shoddy England were almost knocked out by a vastly superior Nigeria. But we march on! Elsewhere, the US are going home in a flurry of ifs, buts and maybes - brace yourselves. Plus, Australia continue to find their groove while Japan and Spain make light work of their Round of 16 opponents. Check out Upfront's new social channels! Follow us on Twitter , I...

For the first time ever, Germany are out of the World Cup before the knockouts. Chloe is fresh back from the stadium in Brisbane to react to it all with Rachel – and she comes with some stunning revelations about Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s in-game management… Plus, we relive Jamaica and South Africa’s finest hours and - with the knockouts finally decided - discuss England’s run-in. For Chloe’s sak...

England are back, baby! Chloe and Rachel giddily reconvene after England’s stylish 6-1 win, with Lauren James further cementing herself as the jewel in England’s crown. All hail Sarina! Plus, the US get past Portugal by the barest of margins. We wonder if their star is waning and tip our caps to the Netherlands after their demolition job against Vietnam. Check out Upfront's new social channels! Fo...

Yet more chaos from Down Under for Rachel and Chloe to get stuck into, as Australia defy expectations and turn in a ruthless performance - even without Sam Kerr! We look over that, check in with the Irish after their valiant efforts and revel in one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history, as Germany lost to Colombia in the 97th minute!  Check out Upfront's new social channels! Follow us o...

Chloe and Rach break out the wine for a post-England debrief. Another 1-0 win means progression is all but secured - we rave about Lauren James, pour one out for Keira Walsh after she was stretchered off and wonder what Sarina Wiegman does next. We also check in with the USWNT after a scrappy - but thrilling - stalemate with the Netherlands, while co-hosts Australia are on the verge of an early ex...

What a last few days! All the action has left Chloe and Rachel *seriously* delirious. Strap yourselves in for this one. The girls jump on mic just after the Philippines picked up their first EVER World Cup win! Elsewhere, we wonder whether we witnessed the first ever ear to be caught offside, a Ballon d’Or winner gets the s***ts, and we have the crushing realisation that Colombia superstar Linda C...

England get off to a winning start, but a pretty unconvincing one. So, what next? Chloe and Rachel react to the Lionesses 1-0 victory over a fearless Haiti side and discuss what needs to change ahead of Denmark next week! Chloe also reveals all about her major Mary Earps hint in the last episode… Plus, why this is turning into the summer of the underdog and Sophia Smith’s childhood diary literally...

Chloe and Rachel relive Day 1 of the 2023 World Cup, where both hosts got off to the perfect start. We discuss Australia’s scrappy win over Rachel’s girls and the incredible support from the Green Army which even drowned out the home crowd!  Plus, why are Norway so bad?! Check out Upfront's new social channels! Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube ! Sign up for our Patreon for exclu...

Chloe and Rachel are back with the second part of our bumper World Cup preview, ahead of the tournament’s opening matches TOMORROW! If you’ve come for the headline acts, you’re in the right place. We’re talking the USWNT’s chances of a three-peat, while Brazilian football expert Júlia Belas Trindade   joins us to chat about Marta’s sixth and final World Cup. We also hear from Helene Altgelt ,...

It’s FINALLY HERE! The World Cup starts on Thursday, and we’ve got all the info you need ahead of the biggest women’s football tournament in history. Today, Chloe and Rachel look at England’s chances and whether they can find their attacking rhythm in time. We also check in on Ireland’s hopes, wonder if Sam Kerr can fire the Aussies to glory and assess the reigning Olympic champions Canada. Join u...

Carly has been to not one, not two, but THREE World Cups! So who better to tell us about how to prepare for a major tournament? Chloe and Rachel sit down with Carly for a fascinating pod, where Carly reveals her formative conversation with Mary Earps, how England really prepare their goalkeepers for penalty shootouts, and why Sarina Wiegman is less of a harsh taskmaster than you might think! Got a...

Chloe and Rachel convene after England’s final game before the World Cup ends with no goals and A LOT of substitutions. But has the reaction been… a bit much? We discuss recalibrated expectations, the backline conundrum, and The Lauren James Slot. Plus, Rachel gives us an Ireland update and we look into some astonishing developments for the Jamaica national team. Check out Upfront's new social cha...

Haiti’s opening game against England next month will be the country’s first match at a World Cup since 1974. To find out more about the remarkable story of England’s opponents, Chloe sat down with one of its stars Dani Etienne – who also has a truly inspiring tale of her own to tell! We're back on Monday! Got a question for us before then? Tweet us  @FootballRamble ,  @GirlsontheBall &nb...

It’s our first Upfront Down Under! Rachel is in Sydney and she simply HAD to kick off by talking to an Aussie. Fortunately, former Matildas midfielder Alicia Ferguson is about as Aussie as they come! Rachel quizzes her about the mood around the squad ahead of a huge month for women’s football, the Matildas’ transformation in recent years, and Ferguson’s own reflections on her international career,...

A month out from the World Cup, Chloe and Rachel convene (on the stairs) at St George’s Park for a special Lionesses pod! They discuss their impressions of England’s very first open training session, wonder whether this squad is weaker than the team last summer, and settle the striker debate once and for all. Plus, two HUGE exits from Manchester United leave Chloe in mourning and there’s news that...

Today, we’re joined by a Euros golden boot winner, a globetrotting striker, and an England legend: it’s Jodie Taylor! Chloe and Rachel quiz her about her time with the Lionesses, her thoughts on their current attacking options, and what it’s really like to play football all over the globe. Got a question for us? Tweet us  @FootballRamble ,  @GirlsontheBall  and  @Morgie_89 Sign...

Chloe and Rachel welcome one of the stars of Arsenal’s run to the semi-final of this season’s Champions League: it’s Scotland legend, Jen Beattie! She reveals what it’s REALLY like to face Barcelona in full flow – plus why Rafaelle Souza is one of the best she’s ever played alongside and what Steph Catley is like as a neighbour!  Got a question for us? Tweet us  @FootballRamble ,  @...