The Why Football Podcast

It's the Champions League Group Stage draw and theres actually some incredibly tasty ties to look at in the first proper round of the competition as European football looks set to get spicy this season.  UEFA have given us a group of death with Milan, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.  The giant spenders of PSG and Man City meet in Group A but will RB Leipzig be a thorn in their side.  Manchester United have the curve ball of Atalanta to deal with, along with Villarreal in Group F, while Inter Milan get Real Madrid and Barcelona get drawn alongside Bayern Munich.  And then theres the reigning Champions Chelsea........could they go back to back under Thomas Tuchel? Ollie and Paul discuss it all on the podcast dedicated to 

The Newcastle United takeover saga has been ongoing since 2020. It is now in arbitration and the case has been adjourned until 2022. Ben Jacobs, who is based in the middle east, tries to clear up the who, what, when, where and why of this mess involving BEIN, piracy, the Saudi blockade of Qatar, who ultimately would control NUFC, and any other obstacles in the way of this sale.  #NUFC #NUFCTakeover #TRANSPARENCY Panel in order of appearance: Ben Jacobs, FWA accredited Sports Journalist - @JacobsBen | ben-jacobs.com Stephen Drennan - @babuyagu | Co-founder @craquestats, craquestats.com

A lot has been said in the media about Messi joining PSG this week. However, we feel like there are still a lot of people missing the point about Finances, the lack of competition to sign the greatest ever player, and what that means for the future of football. We cover those things that nobody else is saying!  #MESSIPSG Panel in order of appearance: Oliver Wilson, Football commentator on the Libertadores, Sudamericana, Serie A and more - @O_J_Wilson Paul Macdonald, Founder of @Criticfootball_ - @PaulMacdFC | footballcritic.com Stephen Drennan - @babuyagu | Co-founder @craquestats, craquestats.com

England blow it once again on penalties as Italy are crowned Euro 2020 champions at Wembley. Ollie and Paul discuss the overriding problems for Gareth Southgate and his men, the lottery (or science) of penalties, can Italy go on to more success in Qatar and look back at the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to WFH's pre-tournament predictions.    It ended up coming Rome.

Immediately after the final whistle, we react to England reaching their first final of a major tournament since 1966. Did they manor in doing so leave a sour taste in the mouth?  #ENGDEN #ENGITA Panel in order of appearance: Ben Jacobs, FWA accredited Sports Journalist - @JacobsBen | ben-jacobs.com Paul Macdonald, Founder of @Criticfootball_ - @PaulMacdFC | footballcritic.com

Immediately after the final whistle, we react to Italy scraping through to the final after a penalty shootout with Spain. The quality of football on display was probably the highest we have seen so far in the tournament, until extra time at least. We also briefly discuss tomorrow's match between England and Denmark.  #ITAESP #ENGDEN #EURO2020 Panel in order of appearance: Oliver Wilson, Football commentator on the Libertadores, Sudamericana, Serie A and more - @O_J_Wilson Stephen Drennan - @babuyagu | Co-founder craquestats.com

Immediately after the final whistle, we react to England's 4-0 demolition job of Ukraine progressing them to their second consecutive semi-final appearance at major tournaments. We also look at the day's earlier game between Denmark and Czech Republic. #ENGUKR #DENCZE #ENGDEN Panel in order of appearance: Ben Jacobs, FWA accredited Sports Journalist - @JacobsBen | ben-jacobs.com Stephen Drennan - @babuyagu | Co-founder craquestats.com

Immediately after the final whistle, we react to Italy's advance to the Semi-Final at the expense of Belgium. We also look at the day's earlier game between Spain and Switzerland that ended in penalties.  #BELITA #ESPSUI Panel in order of appearance: Oliver Wilson, Football commentator on the Libertadores, Sudamericana, Serie A and more - @O_J_Wilson Stephen Drennan, Co-founder craquestats.com - @babuyagu

Immediately after the final whistle, the panel reacts to England beating Germany at home for the first time since 1975. Is it... coming home? They also react to France crashing out of the tournament at the hands of Switzerland on penalties as well as the game of the tournament so far as Spain and Croatia played out an eight-goal thriller. #ENGGER #FRASUI #ESPCRO  Panel in order of appearance: Oliver Wilson, Football commentator on the Libertadores, Sudamericana,  Serie A and more - @O_J_Wilson Paul Macdonald, Founder of @Criticfootball_ - @PaulMacdFC | footballcritic.com

Immediately after the final whistle, the panel reacts to the holders Portugal being eliminated at the hands of Belgium. They react to the Netherlands crashing out of the tournament at the hands of the Czech Republic as well as the previous day's Ro16 games involving Italy, Austria, Denmark and Wales.  #WALDEN #ITAAUT #NEDCZE #BELPOR Panel Includes: Paul Macdonald, Founder of @Criticfootball_ - @PaulMacdFC | footballcritic.com Stephen Drennan, Co-founder craquestats.com - @babuyagu