The Lionesses are back in action for the first time since retaining their European Championship title out in Switzerland and Ben Haines is at St. George's Park to catch up with a special trio.

Lucy Bronze, England's Player of the Year for 2024/25, joins Ben to reminisce on the summer and look ahead to their upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Australia. Aggie Beever-Jones, England Women’s Top Goalscorer for 2024/25, talks to Ben about her Euros memories and her brilliant start to the WSL season, and Laura Blindkilde Brown chats the England pathway and Ella Toone’s hypothetical hen party!

Plus, BBC Sport’s Senior Women’s football news reporter Emma Sanders joins Ben to reflect on the day’s media action at St. George’s Park and what kind of experimentation we can expect from Sarina Wiegman over the next week.

Full commentary of England v Brazil at the Etihad is on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds on Saturday 25th October, kick off is at 5:30pm.

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It’s an Ellen White and Jen Beattie takeover as they interview Wales legend and most capped player Jess Fishlock after she announced her international retirement.

Jess talks about her decision to retire, her legacy with Wales, scoring at the Euros and what next for her as she continues her club football in Seattle. Scotland and Crystal Palace forward Kirsty Howat drops by the pod ahead of their friendlies against Morocco and Switzerland. Kirsty talks her recent move to Palace and how she is finding WSL 2 and her own ambitions with Scotland.

Plus the BBC has announced the nominees for Women’s Footballer of the year award.

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Sat 25 Oct 1730, England v Brazil on 5 Sports Extra

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie discuss the retirement of Millie Bright from international football and the latest England squad announcement.

Sarina Wiegman has named her latest Lionesses squad for their upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Australia, which includes first senior call ups for Arsenal duo Katie Reid and Taylor Hinds and Aston Villa midfielder Lucia Kendall.

Ellen shares her memories of former teammate Millie Bright and what she brought on and off the pitch. In the WSL West Ham and Liverpool still remain winless at the bottom of the table, plus Champions League group action.

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5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries:

Ben Haines sits down with the Tottenham Hotspur head coach Martin Ho to catch up on how the season has gone so far as his side sit third in the WSL. Martin talks about his Champions League experience with SK Brann, building a community around a team and his ambitions with Spurs this season, plus the impact new signing Cathinka Tandberg has made.

5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries:

Katie Smith, Ellen White, Rachel Corsie and Esme Morgan talk through the first week of action in Champions League. Mixed fortunes for the English sides, with Arsenal starting their title defence with a loss to eight-time champions Lyon, Chelsea drawing to Twente and Manchester United narrowly beating Valerenga. Elsewhere, there were big wins for Barcelona and Real Madrid! Plus, the panel hear from Millie Bright and talk through next week’s Lionesses squad announcement ahead of friendlies against Brazil and Australia later this month.

5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries:

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie talk all the big headlines from the WSL weekend including Chloe Kelly and her celebration after scoring against her old club!

Manchester City still came away with the bragging rights though as Arsenal slip into fifth as they head into the Champions League phase. The team chat rivalries and how it is good for the game, Kerstin Casparij with another player of the match performance and are Manchester United genuine title contenders?

Plus it’s another hard result for Liverpool as they remain without a win this season sitting bottom.

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5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries:

Manchester City's Kerstin Casparij talks to Ben Haines about how Manchester is now her home, the Euros and her famous instagram captions! Plus why she wears such small shin pads!

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie discuss if Arsenal fans need to be worried after the Gunners dropped more points at the weekend drawing to Aston Villa.

Jen and Ellen talk about how Renee Slegers is using her substitutes and why connections are so important to see out and win games. The team give player of the match again Kerstin Casparij kudos after another brilliant performance against London City Lionesses. Plus the quality of Bunny Shaw winning and then scoring two penalties and her partnership with Vivianne Miedema.

The team have more striker chat as Aggie Beever-Jones continues to shine for Chelsea, scoring four goals in as many games for Chelsea. And the team give a word on Emma Hayes who has been inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame.

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BBC Sounds/5 Sports Extra commentaries:

Ben Haines, Ellen White & Jen Beattie discuss the Ballon d'Or winners with Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati making history by becoming the first player to win the women's award three times.

The team also chat the Champions League draw which involves: Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

BBC Sounds/5 Sports Extra commentaries:

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie remember the former Liverpool manager Matt Beard who has died at the age of 47. Natasha Dowie who played under Beard with Liverpool, Charlton Athletic and Boston Breakers tells us about ‘Beardy’ and her experiences with him which started at the age of 17 when she joined Charlton Athletic.

Tash followed Matt to Boston Breakers and Liverpool where she finished her career and talks to us about how she always wanted to make him proud. Senior Women’s football reporter Emma Sanders joins the podcast who got to know Matt while at university and their friendship off the pitch over the years, including pints at the pub!

Former German international Julia Simic who played under Beard at West Ham tells us she went there because of Matt Beard and how he has heavily impacted her as a coach now.

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