The Game

Latest Episodes:

England free from the past to make their own history Jul 10, 2018

Show notes

Natalie Sawyer brings you The Game World Cup Daily with less than 24 hours to go until England take on Croatia for a place in the World Cup Final.

Henry Winter joins us from Moscow to preview England’s biggest game in almost three decades, paying credit to Pippa Grange for the run to the last four. Plus we hear how Baddiel & Skinner’s Three Lions represents the antithesis to the mindset of the squad under Gareth Southgate.

Student of Croatian football and politics, Dario Brentin gives us his insight into the controversy and corruption that has coloured the attitude of some Croatians towards their national team. Follow him @DarioBrentin on Twitter.

Oliver Kay and Bill Edgar deconstruct France’s progression to their third World Cup final as a dominant defensive display sees Didier Deschamps’ men to a 1-0 victory over Belgium’s golden generation.

Plus Natalie speaks to Adam Sage, who The Times asked to watch France v Belgium in France…and Belgium.

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Saluting the most unified England team in 20 years Jul 08, 2018

Show notes

The World Cup in Russia continues to give and give to England fans. The Three Lions are through to the last 4 for the first time since 1990 after seeing off Sweden in Samara by 2 goals to nil.

Natalie Sawyer, Oliver Kay and Bill Edgar assess how this unexpected rise to the top table of international football occurred under Gareth Southgate. There’s praise for Pickford and debate on whether Raheem Sterling is judged too harshly by his critics.

Gab Marcotti watches Croatia progress on penalties by knocking out hosts Russia in Sochi. He gives his insight into England’s semi-final opponents, concluding Croatia can keep the ball forever. But will they be exhausted after another gruelling battle through extra-time?

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England empathise with Southgate's squad as players and people Jul 06, 2018

Show notes

Can Southgate’s side see off Sweden in Samara and soar to the semi-finals?

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Henry Winter and Alan Smith to analyse England’s chances in the World Cup quarter-final, as well as examining how the public have learned to fall in love with the national team again.

Belgium best the bookies’ boys Brazil as Roberto Martinez looks to add World Cup glory to his FA Cup triumph with Wigan, thanks to the brilliance of De Bruyne, Hazard and Lukaku.

They will face France in the last 4. Oliver Kay watches the French grind out a quarter-final win over Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod, as Didier Deschamps’s team prove they can win a match in many different ways.

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England's unbelievable opportunity to reach the World Cup Final Jul 03, 2018

Show notes

Another historic night in Russia. At the World Cup where seemingly anything can happen, England win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time ever, knocking out Colombia at the last 16 stage.

Pickford’s saves keep England in the tournament, the selfless Kane continues to score and Dier displays his confidence with the winning spot-kick.

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Matt Hughes and Oli Kay in Moscow to dissect a performance where England showed edge and resolve to progress to the last 8 – a performance that answers some big questions for Gareth Southgate – and look ahead to how far this team can go.

Alyson Rudd watches one of the worst games of the World Cup so far in St Petersburg but is ideally placed to assess England’s next opponents after ‘the passion killers’ Sweden see off Switzerland.

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England need to end embarrassing knock-out record Jul 02, 2018

Show notes

It’s time. England take on Colombia in the round of 16 in Moscow with the winner facing an appetising route to a return to the Russian capital in just over a week and a half.

Natalie Sawyer brings you a comprehensive preview. Henry Winter discusses the patriotism at play in the England squad and the opportunity to end their embarrassing record in the knock-out stages.

Colombian football expert Simon Edwards tells us what Tuesday night’s game means for Pekerman and his players, plus why they have the best centre-halves in the competition to deal with England’s set-piece threat.

Former goalkeeper David Preece has been studying the technique of the penalty takers and stoppers at the World Cup and gives his advice to Jordan Pickford, should the inevitable shootout occur.

Alyson Rudd watches the real deal in Brazil and is full of praise for their defensive structure but full of scorn for Neymar’s ludicrous amateur dramatics.

And Bill Edgar reviews Belgium’s sensational 3-2 win against Japan, a fightback forged by Fellaini.

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Stupid Spain slip out as changing of the guard continues Jul 01, 2018

Show notes

Natalie Sawyer looks back at the second day of last 16 ties at the World Cup. Two matches, two 1-1 draws, two penalty shootouts and a whole lot of drama.

Hosts Russia overturn the rankings and shock the world by beating former champions Spain in Moscow. Jonathan Northcroft debates how Spain manager Fernando Hierro was found out, while paying tribute as Andres Iniesta bows out of the international stage.

Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar discuss whether or not England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is too short, Bobby Moore’s bracelet in Bogota and why Matt isn’t a waistcoat guy.

Plus Croatia progress to the quarter-finals after outlasting Denmark as the panel examine England’s half of the draw and how it could lead to a brand new World Cup finalist.

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You can follow @NatalieSawyer on Twitter and track our award-winning writers in Russia, including @henrywinter, @DickinsonTimes, @OliverKayTimes, @_pauljoyce, @allyrudd_times, @martynziegler and @JNorthcroft.

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Modest Mbappe steals the show as Messi & Ronaldo exit the stage Jun 30, 2018

Show notes

The knockout stage of the World Cup in Russia begins with a bang. Natalie Sawyer reviews the progression of Uruguay and France to the last 8. A stunning display from 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe blows Argentina away. Alyson Rudd joins us from Kazan and is privileged to have witnessed one of the great World Cup games.

Giles Smith is in the studio to mourn the loss of Diego Maradona from our TV screens and ponder the pointlessness of beer showers at a VAR tournament.

Oli Kay gives his reaction to a pulsating Uruguayan victory over Portugal as the handsome Edinson Cavani comes into form at the right time. And we debate the importance of Alli and Henderson to England ahead of their clash with Colombia on Tuesday.

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England's B team beaten to create Colombia clash Jun 28, 2018

Show notes

After all the speculation over England's Group G decider with Belgium, two reserve sides face off in Kaliningrad with Gareth Southgate's side losing 1-0 and surrendering top spot. But does finishing 2nd offer an easier route to the World Cup final? Or did defeat damage morale as England's squad players blew their chance of a regular starting berth?

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Alan Smith to assess England's chances of progressing in this tournament while wondering if Belgium are the real deal this time.

Plus Oliver Kay watches England's next opponents Colombia knock out Senegal in Samara. And he feels the Three Lions have nothing to fear.

For more from The Times why not take advantage of our digital sale and subscribe to enjoy award winning journalism online and on your smartphone or tablet. For a limited time only it's just £1 a month for your first 3 months. Search The Times Sale for more information.

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Entitled Germany out as the World Cup continues to shock Jun 27, 2018

Show notes

For the third World Cup in a row, the holders are knocked out at the group stage. Defeat for Germany against South Korea spelled the end of their reign as world champions and raised major questions over the attitude and atmosphere behind the scenes.

Alyson Rudd reports from Kazan on the demise of the Germans and tells us why this tournament could be called the ‘under the radar cup.’

Studio guest Matthew Syed is mystified and left bereft by Germany’s elimination and tries to make sense of their regression.

Matt Dickinson previews England’s group decider with Belgium in Kaliningrad with questions still remaining over either side’s motivation to top Group G.

And Oliver Kay has a front row seat to The Neymar Show, also known as Brazil’s victory over Serbia in Moscow.

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Messi moves Argentina towards fixture with France…and then Ronaldo? Jun 26, 2018

Show notes

With the score at 1-1 against the Super Eagles in St Petersburg, Argentina were 4 minutes away from being eliminated from the World Cup. But a Marcos Rojo volley spared Jorge Sampaoli’s blushes and knocked Nigeria out.

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Martyn Ziegler and Bill Edgar to review another disjointed Argentine performance that sets up a last 16 tie with France. And should Messi’s men progress, a meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is possible in the quarter-finals.

Martyn has also been examining every VAR review at the tournament and with England and Belgium separated by just yellow cards, could the drawing of lots decide Group G on Thursday?

Plus Gab Marcotti witnesses a French team featuring a lost Lemar and a ghastly Griezmann. And he runs the rule over a Denmark side that will face Croatia in the next round on Sunday.

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