The England Pod

Epizody

• What is Thomas Tuchel’s tactical plan for England at the World Cup? 29.05.2026 38min

  Get 50% off tickets for our Live Shows in Sheffield, Reading and Luton for a limited time only here 👉 https://linktr.ee/Grosvenor_Casinos -- What does Thomas Tuchel actually want England to look like? Ali sits down with Dave to break down the tactical identity of Tuchel’s England after 12 games, 27 goals, and 15 months of experimentation. Why do England build so heavily down the right? We go through the patterns, the principles, the pressing, the set pieces and the biggest concerns. If England are going to score goals and do well at this World Cup, this is probably how they’ll do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Red Hot Permutations Chat - England's pathway to World Cup glory 27.05.2026 48min

  Ali, George and Dave have crunched the numbers, made the spreadsheets, and have worked out the pathway to glory/despair. If England are going to win the World Cup this is who we'll play along the way, whether that be finishing 1st, 2nd or even 3rd in our group. (Spoiler alert: we really want to win the group this time) If that wasn't nerdy enough for you there's also an attempt to predict which players will be given which squad numbers by Tuchel for the tournament AND we've also got a quick chat with Emile Heskey ahead of our run of three live shows alongside the great man... Get 50% off tickets for our Live Shows in Sheffield, Reading and Luton for a limited time only here 👉 https://linktr.ee/Grosvenor_Casinos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Tuchel explains his squad 22.05.2026 45min

  Get 50% off tickets for our Live Shows in Sheffield, Reading and Luton for a limited time only here 👉 https://linktr.ee/Grosvenor_Casinos Ali and Dave were at Wembley to hear Thomas Tuchel explain the thought process behind his 26-man World Cup squad. Why Toney? Why no Palmer? Why Madueke? Why no Maguire? Where's Wharton?! We deliver our view on the big calls and assess how we're feeling now the World Cup is finally upon us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Palmer, Maguire, Wharton OUT & Toney IN? - Early squad news reaction 21.05.2026 39min

  Thomas Tuchel will announce his 26-man squad for the World Cup on Friday morning but inevitably there have been leaks and it seems the big news is no place on the plane for Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Harry Maguire or Adam Wharton, while it seems that Ivan Toney has made it George and Dave react to the early news of the squad before we attend Tuchel's press conference on Friday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Picking our 26-man England squad - who makes the plane? 17.05.2026 37min

  Ahead of Thomas Tuchel announcing his 26-man England squad this week, George and Dave reveal the players they would select if they were in the hot seat Ali also has a go predicting who he thinks will make the plane come what Friday Join us and Emile Heskey live in Sheffield, Reading and Luton ahead of the World Cup: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Grosvenor_Casinos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• The Summer of Love with John Murray 15.05.2026 58min

  George and Dave are joined by BBC Radio 5 Live's John Murray to reflect and reminisce on the 2018 World Cup in Russia and how Gareth Southgate's side got everyone feeling good about England again. From Kane's last gasp winner against Tunisia, hitting Panama for six, the penalty shootout heroics against Colombia, slabhead vs Sweden, and that Trippier free-kick against Croatia, it was a summer full of iconic moments and what better way to get ourselves in the mood for the world cup than reliving it all with the man who called the action for the nation Join us and Emile Heskey live in Sheffield, Reading and Luton ahead of the World Cup: https://linktr.ee/Grosvenor_Casinos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Thomas Tuchel's greatest fears 08.05.2026 36min

  Five weeks to go until the World Cup, and two weeks before the squad sis selected. Ali, George and Dave discuss: Have Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly played themselves onto the plane in recent weeks with Arsenal? What would you ask Tuchel if you had one question and were guaranteed the truth? And how do you keen a group of young men entertained while in a camp setting for 8 weeks? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Why Morgan Rogers deserves to start ahead of Jude Bellingham 04.05.2026 39min

  Ali, George and Dave tackle some tough questions: What would success look like at this World Cup? Would you feel more confident about the summer if Gareth Southgate was still manager than you actually do right now? Why is such a big discussion around Bellingham v Rogers in Tuchel's #10 position? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• England's concerning injury situation & current clamour rankings 30.04.2026 36min

  Is it a crisis? Ali, Dave and George meet to chat about injuries to England players, heat & fatigue at the World Cup, and discuss who is current top of the clamour list - HE HAS TO BE ON THE PLANE! Go well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Simulating the World Cup - how deep do England go? 24.04.2026 45min

  Dave and George gathered on Thursday night with a simple premise: Dave simulates the result of every game at the World Cup and George tells us what happened in them (just for England games, we're not mad) Listen and find out whether it's glory, heartbreak or a big load of nothing for Thomas Tuchel's lads across the pond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Russo & Hampton star as England edge past Iceland 18.04.2026 22min

  Robyn Cowen and Kathryn Batt reflect on England's 1-0 win in their Women's World Cup qualifier against Iceland, which made it four wins from four in their group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Russo defies logic as England beat Spain 16.04.2026 24min

  Robyn and Kathryn delight in England's massive World Cup qualifier victory over Spain and Alessia Russo's latest moment of quality. Then they look ahead to Saturday's match against Iceland, with England looking to strengthen their position in the group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• England face Spain in crunch qualifier & who is Erica Meg Parkinson? 11.04.2026 29min

  BBC commentator Robyn Cowen, the Telegraph's women's football reporter Kathryn Batte and David Walker gather to look ahead to big world cup qualifiers for the Lionesses. They take on Spain at Wembley on Tuesday before heading to Iceland on Saturday, with the fitness of captain Leah Williamson and what the defence would look like without her among the main talking points ahead of the crunch ties. We also look at the surprise call-up of 17-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson who plays in Portugal and would be eligible to represent Japan, Singapore or Portugal so will we see her make a cameo appearance just to lock her in as certified Lioness? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Should we take Max Dowman to the World Cup? 09.04.2026 26min

  George and Ali sat down to talk about Max Dowman. George is somewhat starstruck after Dowman's performance vs Southampton in the Cup. Ali is being a bit of a bore and trying to put the brakes on the hype to some extent. Either way, it's a conversation worth listening to, let us know what you think. Ali also provides a youth team update from the March camp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• England Booed Off in Japan Defeat, Tuchel’s Experiment Falls Flat 31.03.2026 32min

  England lose 1-0 to Japan at Wembley to round off a strange, experimental camp. It was rubbish to watch. How much does it matter? Ali, Dave and George dig into a disjointed attacking setup, a tough night for Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, and what this means (if anything) for the World Cup pecking order under Thomas Tuchel. Plus: are we overreacting, underreacting, or just reacting to games that don’t really tell us much at all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Who starts vs Japan and does it even matter? 29.03.2026 44min

  Ali and Dave gather to reflect on the 48 hours of reaction since the Uruguay friendly and to look ahead to the Japan game on Tuesday Who gets the right wing spot now there's no Saka - Bowen or Palmer? Is this the most important game of Morgan Rogers' career so far? Is "mini Valverde" James Garner primed to start again in Rice's absence? Will Tuchel throw a curveball and play Ezri Konsa at right-back? And, if we're honest, how much does any of it actually matter when it comes to Tuchel's final world cup squad? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Tuchel’s World Cup auditions: England face Bielsa's Uruguay 25.03.2026 47min

  Ali, George and Dave preview England's game against Uruguay - a friendly with huge World Cup significance. The return of Ben White & Trent Alexander-Arnold’s continued absence Tuchel’s strict positional thinking and why versatility might not matter Cole Palmer vs Phil Foden Predicted XI and the key battles all over the pitch New kit chat All England, all the time. Go well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Trent & Watkins out: Tuchel tears up script with 35-man squad 20.03.2026 35min

  Thomas Tuchel's bold approach to England’s March friendlies caught us all by surprise. Ali and Dave were at Wembley to ask him some questions and react to: Tuchel’s unprecedented “two-squad” approach The headline omissions: no Trent Alexander-Arnold, no Ollie Watkins Surprise inclusions, including James Garner The “Hunger Games” feel of the Uruguay match A potential straight shootout between Foden and Palmer The battle for “plane tickets to the US” All England, all the time. Go well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Trent? Mainoo? Dowman? Tuchel’s final World Cup audition 18.03.2026 53min

  Ali, George and Dave are back together ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad announcement. With the World Cup fast approaching, this feels like a last chance saloon for a number of players. The Trent Alexander-Arnold conundrum: is it now or never? Harry Maguire, the defence and whether experience could trump form The hype around Max Dowman Big calls in attack: Foden, Palmer, Bowen, Gordon… and who might miss out The Bellingham vs Rogers debate at #10 Who is the Plan B striker? Plus, a look at the wider squad balance, potential omissions, and where Tuchel might spring a surprise. All England, all the time. Go well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Colombia, 2018: World Cup Memories with Henry Winter 16.03.2026 32min

  Ali & George mine the World Cup memories of Henry Winter, part three: England 1-1 Colombia, England win 4-3 on penalties. Catharsis. Nostalgia. Enjoy! -- Listen to The Football Boardroom: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZJ8EwS7dTRciweYUAJhLQ?si=1ea9f01b0a6040f1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices