The Game

Latest Episodes:

EURO 2020 | Ep 24 | One Game From Glory For Gareth Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.

England are through to their first ever European Championships Final with an extra time win over Denmark. Does the dubious penalty decision and poor spot kick from Harry Kane take any of the shine off the achievement? (00:00)

Gareth Southgate brought Jack Grealish on in the second half - then controversially substituted him off during extra time. Was this disrespectful to the player, or great management of the game? (24:48)

England will take on Italy who are unbeaten in 33 straight games - what will England take from this match, back to Wembley on Sunday and are these the two best teams of the tournament? (34:00)

Tonight’s result:

England 2-1 Denmark (AET)

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EURO 2020 | Ep 23 | Can England Join Italy In The Final? Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Lawton and Henry Winter.

Italy are into the final after one of the best matches of the tournament against a revitalised Spain. Is Spain’s problem the lack of someone to put the ball in the net? Can Italy be beaten or are they destined for glory? (00:00)

Denmark stand in England’s way if they want to join the Italians in the final on Sunday at Wembley. Is this arguably a bigger moment than the same stage at Euro 96? (21:50)

What’s different about this England team? Is the change in culture down to Gareth Southgate alone? We make out final predictions ahead of tonight’s semi-final (39:10)

Tonight’s result:

Italy 1-1 Spain (Italy win 4-2 on penalties)

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EURO 2020 | Ep 22 | Enrique vs Mancini In The First Semi-Final Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy, Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce.

The first semi-final is here as a free-flowing Italy take on a slow-off-the-mark Spain at Wembley. We look at how the teams have made it this far and how the managers match up (00:00)

Spanish manager Luis Enrique spoke before the game and The Times’ Paul Hirst joins us with the latest - including the important role the team’s psychologist will play throughout the day (13:00)

We break down the key areas and players in each area of the pitch ahead of the first semi-final. Will Spain’s attack be able to break down the ageing Italian defence? (17:44)

Ahead of England’s semi-final against Denmark tomorrow night - The Times’ Paul Joyce joins us with the latest from Gareth Southgate’s squad (34:22)

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EURO 2020 | Ep 21 | England Set Up A Danish Semi-Final Jul 04, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and James Gheerbrant.

England have made the Euro 2020 semi-finals with a simple win over Ukraine. Did Gareth Southgate get his tactics spot on again? Which players shone and were any of the opposition worthy of praise? (00:00)

Gareth Southgate’s side will take on Denmark in the semi-finals after their impressive tournament continued with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in a baking hot Baku. The Times’ European Football writer Ian Hawkey joins us to weigh-up whether they are a threat to England (26:32)

All attention turns to that semi-final next Wednesday - the stage in major competitions England struggle with. Can they go one better this time around? Gregor offers his.. diplomatic.. opinion on whether football is indeed, coming home (32:35)

Today’s results:

Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark

Ukraine 0-4 England

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EURO 2020 | Ep 20 | Quarter Finals With Jose Mourinho (Part 2) Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson, Matt Lawton, Jonathan Northcroft in Rome and our special guest, Jose Mourinho.

Italy are through to the semi-finals, where they’ll take on Spain. They managed to overcome the top-rated team in the world in Belgium, but with Leonardo Spinazzola seemingly suffering a serious injury - at what cost? (00:00)

Spain scraped through on penalties against a spirited Switzerland who’ll count themselves unlucky. Can they go any further and was Remo Freuler right to be sent off for the Swiss?(12:07)

Jose Mourinho joins us once again to give his thoughts on England’s chances tonight against Ukraine. Does he expect Harry Kane to find his form now he’s got a Euros goal? (24:05)

The rest of the team take a deeper look into tonights fixtures and Matt Lawton argues his case for papers leaking team news ahead of matches (29:52)

Today’s results:

Switzerland 1-1 Spain (Spain win 3-1 on penalties)

Belgium 1-2 Italy

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EURO 2020 | Ep 19 | Quarter Finals With Jose Mourinho (Part 1) Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and our special guest, Jose Mourinho.

We reflect on the knockout stages so far. Can the quarter finals top the goals and shocks of the Round of 16? How will teams deal with missing players and could they be the difference between going through and going home? (00:00)

Jose Mourinho is our special guest throughout the tournament and he joins us to give his thoughts on the knockout stages so far and how he thinks the first two quarter finals will go down (24:10)

We predict which teams could cause the shock of the knockout stages - could Ukraine down Gareth Southgate’s men? (35:06)

Tonight’s matches:

Switzerland vs Spain

Belgium vs Italy

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EURO 2020 | Ep 18 | Southgate Gets Revenge on Germany Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.

England have broken the curse of playing Germany in tournaments with a 2-0 win at Wembley. Did Gareth Southgate get his tactics spot on and which players stood out? (00:00)

Did Harry Kane find his form again or is there still a long way to go before he’s back to his best - and if so, why? (13:26)

While England celebrate, Germany lick their wounds. What went wrong for them in what was Joachim Löw’s final match in charge? (22:24)

Today’s results:

England 2-0 Germany

Sweden 1-2 Ukraine

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EURO 2020 | Ep 17 | Will We Get Euro ’96 Closure? Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson, Henry Winter and Matt Lawton.

France were sensationally knocked out of the tournament last night - but what went wrong for Didier Deschamps’ side and can Switzerland go much further? (00:00)

Spain let in one of the most embarrassing own-goals in history but went on to progress after an impressive turnaround. Are they building momentum at exactly the right time? (14:18)

England take on Germany tonight and Henry Winter joins us with the latest from the pre-game press conference. Who could be a surprise penalty-taker, should it go the distance? (21:30)

With all of the history between the two sides on everyone’s mind - will what happened in 1996 weigh on the players’ minds or are they too young to worry? (34:50)

Today’s results:

Croatia 3-5 Spain

France 3-3 Switzerland (4-5 on penalties)

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EURO 2020 | Ep 16 | Netherlands And Portugal Say Goodbye Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Constantin Eckner.

Belgium march on at the expense of Portugal. Did Roberto Martinez’s side deserve to progress and why didn’t Ronaldo get much luck in the game? (00:00)

The Netherlands crashed out at the hands of the Czech Republic in what some are calling the shock of the tournament. What went wrong and should Frank de Boer look for a new job? (16:08)

The Times’ German football reporter Constantin Eckner joins us to give us the German perspective on the Round of 16 match against England on Tuesday (27:30)

Croatia take on Spain and France are up against Switzerland tonight - we preview both matches (35:40)

Today’s results:

Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic

Belgium 1-0 Portugal

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EURO 2020 | Ep 15 | The Vikings Slay The Dragons Jun 27, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Ian Hawkey and Tom Clarke.

Wales are out after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Denmark. What went wrong after so much promise and why didn’t Rob Page react to what was happening time and time again on the pitch? (00:00)

Gareth Bale’s big secret was promised after the tournament - so what has he got up his sleeve that he’s kept us waiting to hear? (16:32)

Denmark didn’t just keep their momentum going, but looked impressive in victory - could Alyson’s pre-tournament prediction of a Danish triumph actually happen? (17:46)

Italy are through, but did the second half against Austria show some worrying signs for their chances of tournament victory? (23:08)

Who will progress from Sunday’s ties in the Round of 16? Will Cristiano Ronaldo continue his impressive (penalty) scoring record or will Romelu Lukaku have the last laugh? (32:14)

Today’s results:

Wales 0-4 Denmark

Italy 2-1 Austria

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