The GegenPod, presented by Optus Sport

The countdown is on until the start of the FIFA Women's World Cup and The GegenPod feed is turning its attention to the showpiece event in France. To kick-off a series of four special preview podcasts, we take a look at the Matildas and their opponents in Group C: Italy, Brazil and Jamaica. Former Matildas star Amy Duggan is joined by ex-teammates Heather Garriock and Tal Karp, as well as Sydney FC's current W-League championship winning coach, and former Socceroo, Ante Juric.

Mel McLaughlin, former Socceroos skipper Paul Okon and Guardian Cartoonist David Squires join David Weiner for a season final episode of the GegenPod to take a look back at the twists, turns, highs and lows of the season that was. Still coming off a high from last week's extraordinary action, the panel discuss their favourite moments, the lowlights and hand out their nominations across topics like the biggest controversies, unsung heroes, flops, underrated stars, hottest properties and best players, plus the top six go back to school to get their grades for the season. The GegenPod will take a break until the week of the Champions League final, but stay tuned to your feed for lots of in-depth content counting down to the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Manchester City: 98 points. Liverpool: 97 points. Liverpool had their hands on the Premier League title for 20 minutes, but Manchester City eventually prevailed at Brighton & Hove Albion to retain their crown. Michael Bridges joins David Weiner at Optus HQ for immediate reaction from Mark Schwarzer, in Brighton, and Ned Zelic, in Liverpool about what unfolded, the atmospheres at both venues, what happens next and where this triumph stands in Premier League history.

Craig Moore, Thomas Sorensen and Luke Wilkshire, buzzing after another extraordinary UEFA Champions League morning, join David Weiner to dissect Liverpool's phenomenal 4-0 win at Anfield over Barcelona. The crew celebrate the momentous occasion and discuss all the big talking points from a memorable night: how did Liverpool do it, how big is the achievement, will Erneste Valverde hang on to his job? What happens next? Will it be Ajax, or Tottenham? And who lifts the trophy? The crew look ahead to the final day of the Premier League, assess Mat Ryan's potential contribution and his Premier League evolution, and put their selector hats on to pick their combined Manchester City-Liverpool Combined XI. Elsewhere, Paul Pogba's potential move to Real Madrid, Arsenal's life beyond Aaron Ramsey, Maurizio Sarri's superstitions and UEFA League prospects, lessons from the worst Premier League relegated trio in history and the best under-20s players on the market are other topics on the agenda.

Craig Moore, Thomas Sorensen, Luke Wilkshire and Michael Bridges - on the line from London - join David Weiner for this week's episode. The crew review Ajax's 1-0 win at Tottenham and look ahead at the key talking points still to unfold in the Champions League and Europa League this week. What happened to Spurs at home? Can Ajax go all the way? How was Jan Vertonghen allowed to even try to play on after his nasty head knock? What does Mauricio Pochettino do now to mount a comeback at Ajax? Bridgey tells us about the atmosphere at Spurs' new stadium and explains what it was like to be at Elland Road on the weekend during the extraordinary flashpoint between Leeds United and Aston Villa, with Marcelo Bielsa instructing his side to hand a goal back after controversy. Bridgey explains why Bielsa decided to make the decision that was the talk of the sporting world. Elsewhere, we look at Norwich and Sheffield United's promotion; Thomas Sorensen explains what David de Gea is experiencing at Manchester United; Neymar's behaviour and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Major League Soccer brouhaha with Nedum Onuoha. Will anyone step up and take charge of the top four race? We look ahead to the Premier League climax and whether double agents Rodgers and Benitez will play a role with Leicester and Newcastle in providing a late twist in the title race. Plus, what's the strangest pause the crew had to endure in a game? This week's 'Here's A Good Yarn' segment brought back memories of Iran, in 1997, for Craig Moore.

We have a GegenPod Extra for you ahead of a huge week of European action on Optus Sport. David Weiner is joined by Luke Wilkshire, Paul Okon and Ashley Westwood to look ahead at: •Tottenham v Ajax •Barcelona v Liverpool •Eintracht Frankfurt v Chelsea •Arsenal v Napoli Bring it on!

Mark Schwarzer joins us on the line from England for all the fallout from the Manchester Derby and to continue the inquisition into what happens now for Manchester United, with some big predictions for Ole Gunner Solskjaer's future. Schwarzer joins David Weiner alongside former Socceroos Paul Okon and Luke Wilkshire, as well as Manchester United graduate Ashley Westwood, who brings experience from over 400 English Football League games, to the table. What happens to Paul Pogba? Solskjaer? Which players are on the chopping block and how do you off-load them? The latest on the title race is on the agenda once again, as well as Robbie Fowler's appointment at Brisbane Roar; the PFA Team of the Year; Everton's revival; Wilfried Zaha's future; Rafa Benitez's Newcastle miracle; Elton John's FA Cup final dilemma and the logjam in the race for fourth. There is also a chat around the Championship, as Westwood reveals what it is like to be involved in a promotion and the crew look at Leeds' faltering momentum at the wrong time of the season.

Ned Zelic, Craig Moore and Thomas Sorensen join David Weiner for a jam packed edition of the GegenPod with former Socceroos midfielder Zelic making his debut on the show. With Barcelona through to the Champions League final four, the panel assess the La Liga club's prospects of taking out the title, and try imagine an XI that will include Frenkie de Jong next season. This season, however, de Jong is part of the Ajax fairy tale: can they win it, and how have they done it? There is also a detailed discussion about where Manchester United go from here and what Ole Gunner Solskjaer's biggest problems are. Elsewhere, we look at Brighton & Hove Albion's slippery slide into the relegation battle; ask Thomas who is the best goalkeeper on the planet; explore the dramatic rise of Benfica's Joao Felix, plus there's opinions and the usual cracking stories from their own playing days around Diego Costa's eight-game suspension for a foul-mouthed tirade; Joey Barton's latest misdemeanor; the brutal assessment of Thierry Henry's tenure at Monaco by Aleksandr Golovin and fisticuffs at Bayern Munich. Thomas reveals what is was like being on the park the day Lee Bowyer and Kieran Dyer infamously came to blows as teammates for Newcastle United, while we get the latest installment in our GegenPod five-a-side series, with Ned Zelic picking his ultimate teammates collection.

Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges, Craig Moore and Luke Wilkshire join Richard Bayliss off the back of Liverpool v Porto and Tottenham v Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. Schwarzer checks in to the GegenPod after his night at Anfield to chat just how far this Liverpool side can go, as well as who pays for dinner on a European night out! Moore looks at City's pursuit of the quadruple, former Leeds striker Bridges plays a little bit of manager role play surrounding team selections, while Wilkshire touches on what it means for Manchester United next year if they miss the Champions League. As always, the show hits a wide range of topics in the football world: from Troy Deeney's honesty policy, the SCG pitch fiasco, Bayern Munich's dominance and Aaron Mooy's future.

With Australia's most-capped Socceroo Mark Schwarzer in Sydney, the GegenPod turns its focus to the burning issues in the local game. Schwarzer joined David Weiner, Mel McLaughlin and former Australia captains Paul Okon and Craig Moore for the passionate, wide ranging discussion. Topics include the health of the Socceroos and Matildas; the challenges in developing the next generation; what has changed that has seen the talent pool dry up and what are the solutions; Aaron Mooy's Premier League future following Huddersfield's relegation; the health of the A-League and the impact a second division and promotion/relegation will have on a wide range of areas of the game.

Melanie McLaughlin, Paul Okon and Adriano del Monte join David Weiner as Optus Sport concludes a monster week of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying action with another episode of the GegenPod. Is it time to jump on the England hype train? Are Germany on the way back? Do France actually have any weaknesses? What is Roberto Mancini doing to re-energise Italy? We turn FIFA's top 10 world rankings into the real, in-form pecking order, look at international football's hottest attacking combinations and assess whether Raheem Sterling is a genuine candidate to challenge for the Ballon d' Or. If not him, then who else? Sterling has been vocal about the behaviour of fans in Montenegro, and the panel look at the racist abuse in England's win, as well as Sterling's growing and maturing social influence. Also on the show: Okon weighs in on the Olyroos and based on his time with the Australia under-20s and under-23s, what it will take to succeed again at that level; we look at FFA Chairman Chris Nikou's pronouncement that promotion and relegation will not hit our shores until 2034; Tottenham's new stadium; Juventus without Cristiano Ronaldo; Chelsea's transfer ban; the return of the Premier League this weekend, headlined by Liverpool against Tottenham and the beautiful story of Socceroo Aaron Mooy and how he inspired a young cancer patient who has become a Huddersfield supporter after watching Australia at the World Cup. And now, the seven-year-old will head to England to meet her hero.

Luke Wilkshire, Melanie McLaughlin and Richard Bayliss join David Weiner for this week's GegenPod as Optus Sport gears up for six straight days of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, beginning on Friday. Harry Redknapp thinks England can win a World Cup in the next eight years. Really? The panel also look at squad news in Spain, Italy, France and Netherlands and also Joachim Loew's re-generation of Germany's squad. Loew has ended the careers of some of Germany's World Cup winning stars, and Wilkshire has some strong views, from personal experience, on how that was handled. Closer to home, we look at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup hosting bid, the futures of Maty Ryan and Aaron Mooy, and the Olyroos' preparations for qualifying and the ensuing argument between Kevin Muscat and Graham Arnold over prioritising the A-League or the under-23s' preparations. In another busy show, we look at the FA Cup, Wolverhampton's giant killing potential, Manchester City's quadruple quest, Cristiano Ronaldo's cojones crime, Zizou's power play at Real Madrid, Manchester United's apparent hesitation to hand Ole Gunner Solskjaer the reigns full-time, Lionel Messi's standing ovation from Real Betis fans and a look at the tantalising Champions League and Europa League quarter-finals draws. Plus, as Scotland's Andy Robertson makes a mad dash to join his teammates in Kazhakstan, what is the strangest trip Wilkshire had to make in his career?

John Aloisi, Michael Bridges and Thomas Sorensen join David Weiner after another extraordinary day of UEFA Champions League action. We dissect Juventus' comeback against Atletico Madrid, Manchester City's demolition of Schalke and the latest twist in the GOAT discussion with Lionel Messi's Barcelona plotting a path to take Real Madrid's continental crown. The panel look at Zinedine Zidane's return to Los Blancos, and what that means for the likes of Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Isco, Eden Hazard and Christian Eriksen. Arsenal of Wenger v Arsenal of Emery, Raheem Sterling, Claudio Ranieri's Roma return, Fabio Cannavaro's China job, Jack Grealish being attacked in the Championship and Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham power play are amongst the range of topics the panel discuss. Aloisi looks at Alen Stajcic's appointment at Central Coast and how a lack of a transfer system is weighing down the A-League, while, as ever, there's some terrific career anecdotes, including saving penalties off Alan Shearer, what it is like staring down Ronaldo at a set-piece and the fiercest environments faced by our panel and the most difficult losses to swallow in their careers.

Craig Moore, Paul Okon and Thomas Sorensen join David Weiner after Tottenham and Ajax secured their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals. In another show full of opinions, with a mix of fabulous stories from days gone by, the panel dissect the end of Real Madrid's era and the club's arrogance, headlined by Sergio Ramos' suspension, and look at the magical journey Ajax are on. What is the secret to their production line of talent, and what now for the dethroned Champions League winners. Tottenham's Premier League-Champions League balancing act is up for discussion, as are Borussia Dortmund's wobbles with Bayern Munich breathing down their neck; Mario Balotelli's Instagram Live goal celebration; Mohamed Salah's wavering form; a debate on the best player outside the PL top six; Jose Mourinho's future - and potential Real candidacy; and a closer inspection at who has the better run home in the title out of Manchester City and Liverpool. Former Melbourne City player Sorensen weighs in on Bruno Fornaroli's fallout at the A-League club, while former Socceroos captains Moore and Okon have their say on the brewing concerns over the continued absence of a technical director in Australian football. Moore and Sorensen pick their Dream Teammates Five-A-Side squads after Okon, Bridgey and Luke Wilkshire had a crack last week, and there are also some classic stories including their biggest fallouts with managers, most irritating sledges and the day, would you believe it, Okon leapt over the physio table to confront one of his club bosses.

Michael Bridges, Paul Okon and Luke Wilkshire join David Weiner to dissect a huge mid-week set of Premier League fixtures. Bridgey has fears for Tottenham's season after defeat to Chelsea, where Maurizio Sarri stamped his authority by dropping Kepa Arrizabalaga after his defiance on the weekend. What does that mean for Sarri, and have Chelsea turned a corner with their displays against Manchester City and Tottenham in consecutive outings? There's a thorough look at Liverpool's scintillating outing against Watford, compared to Manchester City's tight triumph over West Ham, and whether Mohamed Salah's form, or Fernandinho's absence, is the bigger influence over the coming weeks. There's lots of great stories throughout this podcast, including a Mark Viduka power play, the day Luke Wilkshire won a war with a coach thanks to boardroom interference, and the influence of video games in football teams, after Antoine Griezmann admitted that he fears Fortnite more than scoring goals for Atletico Madrid. We look at Brendan Rodgers' Premier League return; Lionel Messi's latest heroics and Sergio Ramos' most recent villainous behaviour; Jose Mourinho's future; Manchester United's injury crisis and get tips for next week's Champions League return legs. Our panel also picked their dream five-a-side team from their teammates during their careers; Paul Okon left everyone speechless with his team - definitely the favourites in this GegenPod Round Robin tournament!