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The Game — Sports
The Game

The thinking fan’s football podcast, providing previews and reviews of all the action – every Monday and Thursday.

Listen to the best of The Times and The Sunday Times journalists as they cover the biggest sport on the planet; from winners to losers, who’s in and out on the transfer roundabout, tactical developments, data analysis and the dreaded VAR.

Hosted by Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson alongside special guest appearances, the team bring you the latest on the Premier League and the EFL, as well as a front-row seat to international tournaments including the Champions League, European Championships and World Cups.

We know football isn’t life and death. It’s much more serious than that.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

Euros Daily #23: England: Is a back three the answer? Jul 06, 2024

Show notes

Here we go again…do England have a ‘performance’ in them? If so, will it materialise today? Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey and Hamzah Khalique Loonat join Tom Clarke to discuss if a back three from Gareth Southgate will be the magic formula. Gregor is fearful of playing Luke Shaw, Hamzah thinks England could be Sheffield United in disguise and Ian knows how good Switzerland are. But… they also offer some hope.

Elsewhere, was Spain’s win over Germany the ‘final’ many wanted? And France, well they’re sparing England’s blushes by playing dreadfully and still winning… Oh and would you still pick Ronaldo?

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Euros Daily #22: Are England about to change system? Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

Rumours abound of England switching to a back three for their quarter final against Switzerland. Could this finally be the way to get the best out of an underperforming squad? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to look at the pros and cons of changing the system at this stage in the tournament. If Southgate does change, who would play in that line up; is there a place for Trent, does Shaw have to play for the first time since February…and who plays up front?

In today’s games, arguably the best two teams meet as the hosts take on Spain. Will the Spanish attack be able to unlock a very strong German defence? In the other quarter final France play Portugal, like England two teams who have so far underperformed.

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Euros Daily #21: Is Bellingham 2024 the Rooney of 2004? Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

Another pause between rounds allows for some reflection, this time with Matt Lawton, the chief sports correspondent of The Times. Having covered 15 major tournaments, he's in a pretty good spot to assess how good Euro 2024 has been. He offers his take on England's tournament so far and what Gareth Southgate's future might look like.

Plus, he tells Tom Clarke about his recent eye-opening trip to Ukraine with the President of World Athletics, Seb Coe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Euros Daily #20: Stick in the mixer & get the big man on the end of it, dude! Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

It's an England free zone today. But that might just mean it's more joyous than ever. Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke for a round of 16 stocktake. Did we just watch the game of the tournament in Austria v Turkey? Or at the very least, the save of the tournament?

And the Netherlands have finally joined the party! Are they now in with a chance? Well, technically, yes.

Plus, some honourable mentions now that 16 teams have been sent home.

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Euros Daily #19: England; “…don't cry, we’re still in it.” Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

The England inquest continues; if they pick the same team, will they beat Switzerland? The resounding response is no. But is Southgate, a pragmatic manager willing to change the script? Gregor Robertson, Martin Samuel, and Tom Allnutt join Tom Clarke to ask; can England rely on having one or two players capable of the exceptional to drag them through?

As Cristiano Ronaldo wore his heart on his sleeve it turns out tournament football is quite tough. A star studded Portugal team struggling to get past Slovenia and France scrapping past Belgium. Gregor casts an admiring eye on the French defence, never mind that they haven’t scored from open play yet…

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Euros Daily #18: England – The Debrief (put someone on the left!!) Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

One moment of brilliance saved England from humiliation. Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick helped secure England’s unlikely win, but it doesn’t paper over the chasm in England’s performance; lacklustre, disjointed, blunt, pedestrian. Where does Gareth Southgate go now? Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke to dissect a performance which was so disappointing and left so many questions. Left being the operative word…”Just put someone on the left!!”

In the other game, Spain…they look rather good.

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Euros Daily #17: England, don't do what the Italians did... Jun 30, 2024

Show notes

England's path to the final looks clearer than ever, what could possibly go wrong? Tom Clarke is joined by Ian Hawkey, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson to discuss exactly what could go wrong... they could do an Italy.

Is there anything more infuriating than VAR? Gregor Robertson doesn't think so. But does Germany's under par performance give other teams hope?

And will Georgia upset Spain? Probably not, but here's to hoping.

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Euros Daily #16: 'There is no life without football' Jun 29, 2024

Show notes

Two days without football felt like a lifetime. But it's back! Martin Samuel, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to preview the last 16: Which game are we most looking forward to? Will there be any shocks on the cards? And how does Alyson decide which decorative flags on her house stay up and which go down?

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Euros Daily #15: Play the kids and eat kebabs Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

With the group stage finished its time to step back, take a breath and have a considered look at Euro 2024. Which teams have impressed, which have disappointed? Who are the players who’ve stood out and who are the surprise packages? One man perfectly placed to answer most of those questions is Times writer Paul Hirst. He has seen ten teams, travelled across Germany and watched England with England fans in a fan park. Tom Clarke catches up with Paul to get his tips for who to look out for in the knockout stages, the best players he’s seen so far and is German rail really as bad as it is in the UK? Oh, and England, what does he make of them?

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Euros Daily #14: Have England got lucky? Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Are England the luckiest team in football? They have somehow contrived to avoid France, Germany, Portugal and Spain; only playing them if they reach the final. Or is that to disrespect the teams who have made it through in their half of the draw – Austria, Switzerland and their next opponents – Slovakia? Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke to round up a brilliant night for Turkey and Georgia; and to plot England’s unlikely route to the final. Surely, they will beat Slovakia…surely?

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