Box2Box Football Network

Welcome to Box2Box's 350th episode! To celebrate, Rob Gilbert and Michael Edgley are joined by new Football Australia Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick, who after a lifetime contribution to Australian football has been handed the keys to 'disrupt' it's current direction. Ernie discusses the blank canvas approach he'll take to his initial review, and the faith he has in the emergence of a second division.

With the Bundesliga days away, The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein returns for a preview, and reflect on the loss of the German women in the Euros final. Raphael also pays tribute to the late Uwe Seeler, who passed last week aged 85.

In episode 350 it's only right the great Rob Tanner joins for a special Premier League preview edition of Stoppage Time, while Willem van Denderen and Derek Dyson fill in the gaps from the week in football: from Western United's stadium and the Mundial Centenario World Cup bid, to Kasper Schmeichel's Leicester departure. 

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Rob Gilbert and Michael Edgley are joined by The Athletic's Nancy Frostick ahead of the Women's Euros final, with England's Lionesses looking to break their duck at home against eight-time winners Germany. Nancy reflects on what's been a rousing tournament that has again broken new ground for the women's game.

The Athletic's Jordan Campbell also gets to the bottom of why so many Australians have headed to the Scottish Premiership ahead of its commencement on Saturday. Can Ange and Celtic go back-to-back, and will Hearts and Dundee provide the likes of Behich, Rowles and Atkinson the platform to thrive in Qatar?

Willem van Denderen covers the release of the A-League Men's fixture, the beginning of another Championship season with the usual plethora of Aussies involved, and the ongoing dispute between Football Australia and the 1975 Matildas.

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Rob Gilbert and Michael Edgley are joined by The Roar's Mike Tuckerman to assess the worthiness or otherwise of the Winter Festival of Football; how can the feel-good nature of global giants touring be better harnessed into benefit for the local game? 

Following Roman Abramovic's seismic departure from Chelsea, new owner Todd Boehly has announced his reign with the signings of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly in recent weeks - The Athletic's Liam Twomey returns to assess what is in store under his leadership.

Willem van Denderen covers Aaron Mooy's move to Celtic and the Young Matildas' build up to the Under 20 Women's World Cup, while Derek Dyson reflects on the Lionesses' great escape at the women's Euros, and all the big European transfers of the week. 

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Rob Gilbert and Michael Edgley are joined by Teo Pellizzeri of Network 10 & Optus Sport to preview the Australia Cup, with the Round of 32 kicking off next Thursday. Teo takes us through his favourite cupsets over the years, and which state-league sides are primed to make a name for themselves. 

As Erik ten Hag's Manchester United reign takes its first steps in Thailand and Australia, The Athletic's Carl Anka returns to analyse whether the Dutchman is the man to finally bring success back to Old Trafford, post-Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Willem van Denderen covers Nani's arrival at Melbourne Victory and the ongoing UEFA Women's Euros, while Derek Dyson discusses the fallout of Sepp Blatter & Michel Platini's court case in Switzerland. 

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It's a new era of Box2Box as we approach our 350th episode! A huge welcome to our new partner Hoyts Herbs & Spices, the best in the business at changing the mood for food, and thanks to the ACE Radio Network for providing a new home for Box2Box long into this future!

As always, we're extremely grateful for the ongoing backing of Chemist Warehouse, and forever indebted to the great people at Storage King for their years of support.  

This week, Rob Gilbert and Willem van Denderen are joined by The Asian Game's Paul Williams to discuss the strong form of Yokohama F. Marinos under Kevin Muscat, who are five points clear atop the J1 League table into the second half of the season. Could Kev steer the side to their second title in four years?

The Athletic's Nancy Frostick joins the show following England's winning start to the Women's Euro's at Old Trafford - with the support of their home crowd, is this the year the Lionesses claim their maiden continental crown?

Michael Edgley covers the slow start of the Australian women's U23's at the AFF Championship in the Philippines, and Derek Dyson provides a European transfer wrap... while to finish, it's been a bizarre week of football in Sierra Leone.

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Rob Gilbert and Michael Edgley are joined by Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, just a couple of weeks on from becoming the second Australian man to steer the Socceroos to World Cup qualification. Arnie reflects on the challenges of the covid-hit campaign, and aspirations for Qatar. 

ESPN and The Guardian's Joey Lynch returns to assess the state of the Matildas after their heaviest loss in 25 years, a 7-0 to Spain this week. 24-games in to his reign, serious questions are arising over the future of Tony Gustavsson - Joey lays out the arguments for staying the course.

Willem van Denderen covers the start dates for the A-League Men's and Women's competitions and the Australia Cup Round of 32 draw, while Derek Dyson looks at Europe's silly season. 

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Rob Gilbert and Michael Edgley are joined by The ABC and The Guardian's Sam Lewis to preview the Matildas' upcoming friendlies against Spain and Portugal, as Tony Gustavsson conducts one last audition for fringe players ahead of next year's World Cup.

Following the Socceroos centenary celebrations last week, historian Trevor Thompson joins the show to discuss his new text 'Burning Ambition - The Centenary of the Australia - New Zealand Football Ashes', providing a look at the 1922 & 1923 series' played between the nations.

Willem van Denderen covers changes to squad sizes ahead of the FIFA World Cup and which Socceroos might squeeze their way over the next couple of months, while Derek Dyson wraps up all the latest European transfer news, and recounts Mark Viduka's most famous Premier League performance.

You can purchase Burning Ambition through Fairplay Publishing here: https://www.fairplaypublishing.com.au/products/burning-ambition-the-centenary-of-australia-new-zealand-football-ashes

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The Socceroos have done Australia proud, once again. Rob Gilbert, Michael Edgley and Willem van Denderen are joined by Jackson Irvine, who is back in Australia following mission accomplished in Doha... for now. Jackson speaks of his shootout experience, the intensity within the group in preparation, and his joy at this group laying down a marker in Socceroos history. 

Respected Australian development guru Ron Smith provides his learned insight on where Graham Arnold and the group got it right in Doha, and also assesses the progress of the U23's at the Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.

Along with Peru, New Zealand's All Whites sadly fell at the final hurdle in looking to book a place in Qatar - Sky Sports NZ's Jason Pine returns to explain where it went wrong, but why he holds great optimism for the future.

Finally in Stoppage Time, Derek Dyson looks at Gareth Southgate's faltering England side, and some other big Nations League results. 

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Rob Gilbert and Willem van Denderen are joined by The Guardian UK's Marcela Mora y Araujo for a preview of what the Socceroos can expect from Peru, ahead of Tuesday's inter-continental playoff in Doha.

Michael Edgley reflects on Australia's win over the UAE and assesses the mood on the ground in Qatar, before BBC Sport Wales' Dafydd Pritchard joins the show for the first time after Wales ended a 64-year wait in sealing qualification for their second World Cup. 

Derek Dyson wraps up all the big football news of the week from the UK, including Premier League clubs' considerations of stadium bans for pitch invasions, and the club futures of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale. 

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Rob Gilbert and Michael Edgley are joined by 60-cap Socceroo John Kosmina with Australia's qualification campaign hanging by a thread ahead of their AFC play-off with the UAE next week. Kossie selects his favoured side, while reflecting on what an arduous campaign it's been.

The Age's Michael Lynch returns to round out on the A-League Men's season, which culminated in Western United becoming the 20th club to lift an Australian national league, less than four years after their establishment.

The Athletic's Rob Tanner reviews the shambolic scenes outside the Champions League final and tense scenes within it as Real Madrid lifted European crown No.14, and discusses in what it means to midlands football to have Nottingham Forest back in England's top flight.

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