The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentary

Episodi

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  World Cup Final Thoughts, or Spain: Pretty Good Team 21.07.2026 29min

  One more proper World Cup podcast before it's gone. We break down how Spain dominated this match front to the back, the seven minutes where they didn't and how that brief run by Argentina explains what happened in the rest of the match, how often even a great performance like this goes unrewarded, Pedri's game, and more. Support the show
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  World Cup Semifinals: How Spain Won It, Did England Blow It? 17.07.2026 45min

  The World Cup semifinals are complete and it's PADDLIN' 2, Our lyin' eyes 0. How Spain controlled the match tactically (and got a little lucky with a penalty), how if at all this makes us reconsider this France side, and then on to Argentina-England. Argentina-England. Hoo boy. The first 60 and final 40 minutes of this match were both journeys, and we break it all down, and ask where we would pinpoint England's and Tuchel's key errors. Support the show
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  World Cup Semifinals Preview: France-Spain 12.07.2026 30min

  The two best teams at this World Cup -- certainly the two teams that have played the best soccer at this World Cup -- square off. We're worried it's going to be pretty bad. Support the show
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  The USMNT have a bad night in Seattle 08.07.2026 31min

  The United States came up short in the round of 16, in the sense that they got boatraced by Belgium. We discuss the game, offer Rudi Garcia an apology, talk about what to say about a thoroughly bad game, and discuss the state of the USMNT talent pool and the occasional doubts one hears about player quality. Support the show
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  Round of 16 Preview, Part 3: Spain-Portugal and USA-Belgium 04.07.2026 40min

  The Round of 16 preview extravaganza continues with the big matches on July 6. How Portugal's tactical system continues to try and fail to work around Ronaldo's limitations, what we want to see from Spain in this match, the importance of the Spanish fullbacks, and then of course the USMNT preview. How Pochettino will likely approach this match against an opponent that will seek to control possession, why Jeremy Doku terrifies us and how Belgium's attacking band is supposed to work, and the in...
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  Bracket Breakdown 30.06.2026 49min

  The dynamics of the entire bracket, from Argentina's cakewalk to the interesting but different tests for Brazil and England, to Spain's good path and their fitness and tactical issues, a little model breakdown on Colombia, why the draw for African teams means we shouldn't read too much into the results, and more. Support the show
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  Limited World Cup Drama, Raphinha Out, Tuchelball, and More 26.06.2026 36min

  The World Cup continues and so we did more podcasting about it. Support the show
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  World Cup Potpourri: FIFA Victorious, The Ronaldo Problem, Spuruguay and More 23.06.2026 47min

  There's so much football and we are not happy about recognizing FIFA for it. But we've got what's wrong with Portugal (mostly Ronaldo), what's gone right for Ivory Coast (both players and coaching), Caley explains "Spuruguay," and we try to figure out Belgium. The Henry segment on Ronaldo: https://bsky.app/profile/dreyesceron.bsky.social/post/3moj2hwalms2e Support the show
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  In Which We Rave About England 19.06.2026 29min

  England won 4-2 over Croatia, dominated the xG, and generally looked like a real football team and a real World Cup contender. We have some slightly different takes on the first half, we get into questions about the PADDLIN' model and England, and of course Marouane Fellaini is discussed in some depth. Support the show
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  How to Watch Soccer Like a Nerd 16.06.2026 35min

  Mike has written a World Cup 2026 update to his classic Grantland piece about how to watch soccer. We discuss expected goals and how to use statistics well and poorly, we talk tactics and "flex back threes" and "five guys" and "rest defense" and how it all goes back to Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, and a little bit on the economics of the game and why that explains the coaches at the 2026 World Cup. Read Goodman in 2026: https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/fifa-2026-world-cup-expected-goa...
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  USMNT 4, Paraguay 1 13.06.2026 30min

  A big win for the United States Men's National Team (USMNT, pronounced us-mnt) that validated belief in Mauricio Pochettino and the system he built for these players. We get into why the xG isn't quite as impressive as one might expect, the distinctive tactics you could see in action during the game, and just how far out over skis one might reasonably get after this match. For more on the Double Pivot's PADDLIN' World Cup model, see our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DoublePivot...
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  Champions League Final, World Cup Model, Podcast Announcements 02.06.2026 32min

  There is so much to get to this week, and this will be the first of many podcasts. We cover the Champions League final and why we did not have much of a problem with Arsenal's defensive approach, our plans for building a World Cup model and some of the models out there, and the big plans for where these podcasts are going to be published. You can check out all the new... video content at: https://www.youtube.com/@DoublePivotPod Support the show
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  Arsenal Can Point To a Scoreboard Now 26.05.2026 35min

  Arsenal won the Premier League. They were also the best team in the Premier League by any analytical measure. But they were an unusual best team in the league, tactically and statistically, and we get into the peculiarities of the style that helped get the Gunners over the line. And we talk about what to expect from Arsenal and PSG in the Champions League final. Support the show
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  Xabi Alonso to Chelsea 19.05.2026 44min

  Chelsea will reportedly hire Xabi Alonso as their new manager for next season. We discuss how Chelsea got to this point, what they appear to have promised to Xabi and how this may or may not fit within Chelsea's current sports and business model. We also discuss Xabi's impressive managerial record and how his tactical approach might fit Chelsea's talent. Support the show
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  Meat Wall Apotheosis 13.05.2026 34min

  Has the moment finally come? With West Ham's disallowed goal in the closing seconds against Arsenal, the football discourse has returned to the question of the new corner kick tactic, which this podcast has somehow managed to name "the meat wall". We discuss what happened in the Arsenal match, but our goal is not to referee the moment over. Our focus is on why this seems likely to drive some degree of change in refereeing standards or even the rules of the game, why we think that an assertive...
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  Double Pivot Mousa Mania 2026 (Teaser) 08.05.2026 5min

  There is too much to podcast on and we are giving our subscribers a few bonus podcasts. Talking top four in Germany and Italy, recapping the Bayern - PSG second leg, and of course, all the Real Madrid drama. Support the show
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  Did Manchester United Improve Under Michael Carrick, Really? 05.05.2026 39min

  Manchester United have had an undoubtedly successful season, qualifying for the Champions League with underlying numbers perfectly in line with that position. But their results shifted markedly when they sacked Ruben Amorim and brought in Michael Carrick. Was this a major driver of their results or a mirage of finishing? We discuss the real tactical changes under Carrick and how they show up in the numbers, why Kobbie Mainoo is the key player in this tactical shift, some notable differences i...
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  PSG and Bayern Play a Good Football Match 29.04.2026 34min

  That was great. We discuss what made the game so exciting, why it was not a game with enormous expected goals totals, and what that tells us about the tactical approach and quality of play. Plus a Vincent Kompany apology form. Support the show
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  Manchester City vs Arsenal Match Recap 20.04.2026 34min

  Somehow, here in 2026, a major title race clash in the Premier League lived up to the billing. We discuss how Arsenal's aggressive defensive approach created an open and exciting match for a long stretch, how City's period of possession dominance in the second half nonetheless also produced some of Arsenal's best scoring chances, and why the final ten minutes were so uninspiring compared to the rest of the match, and what it all tells us about who is likely to win the title. Support the...
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  Say Something Challenge Completed (including Arsenal) 15.04.2026 44min

  There are just a few Premier League teams left in the Say Something Challenge and one of them is Arsenal. Why they're obviously the title favorites and why, seriously asking why are they playing football like this? Plus we fight our way through to having something to say about Burnley, Wolves, Brighton and Forest. Support the show