On The Continent - A European Football Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered how elite clubs in Europe use the World Cup to improve things back home, you’ve come to the right place!

On today’s OTC Special, Andy is joined by FC Augsburg CEO Michael Ströll and Sporting Director Benjamin Weber to discuss how they are utilising the world’s biggest tournament to benefit their club.

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 72-game group stage of the 2026 World Cup has come to an end and the knockouts have begun! So, after we've seen what our European sides have to offer, how are we feeling about their chances?

Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to assess the main runners and riders (all still standing... for now). Are France and Spain still our favourites? Have Germany and the Netherlands been a pleasant surprise? And can we still call Portugal a contender for the tournament?

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love him or loathe him, you simply cannot ignore Cristiano Ronaldo. "I'm back" was what he exclaimed down the camera lens after his two goals against Uzbekistan, but is he *really* back?

David Cartlidge and Nicky Bandini join Dotun to debate that. Plus, Switzerland top Group B with victory over Canada. Can this tournament's quiet achievers trouble the knockout rounds? And finally, Norway are much more than just Erling Haaland... but he is pretty damn brilliant. What sort of statement would victory over France be for them?

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luckily for Spain, the arrival gates in the US were still open before their second game of this year's World Cup. After failing to put in a credible display against Cape Verde, they certainly righted that wrong with a convincing win against Saudi Arabia.

Andy and Lars Sivertsen dial in from Dallas to tell Dotun what that comprehensive result could mean for their tournament. Plus, Belgian falter again, Germany squeeze past Ivory Coast, and Türkiye are out!

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another major tournament for Portugal, another debate on whether Cristiano Ronaldo should be starting for them. After his sub-par performance in Portugal's 1-1 World Cup draw with DR Congo, Lars Sivertsen joins Dotun and Andy to once again question why Roberto Martínez is sticking with his 41-year-old captain up top.

Elsewhere, France get the better of Senegal in a thrilling encounter. Could this be the Kylian Mbappé World Cup? And Norway are well underway, but not without Iraq making it tricky for them.

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is up and running! We were treated to an excellent selection of games over the opening weekend, but was Netherlands 2-2 Japan the pick of the bunch?

David Cartlidge and Jonathan Johnson join Dotun to dissect that match. Plus, Germany dominate Curaçao (but not without a brief scare) & Türkiye start their World Cup campaign in the worst possible way with defeat to Australia.

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is underway, and while a record 48 countries began the tournament, only one will lift the trophy. Most people think it’s a two-horse race between France and Spain - but who will emerge victorious?

Dotun and Andy are joined by Nicky Bandini to answer that, and more of your World Cup questions! Which group will be the most competitive? What unknown player will make the biggest splash? Is there any European food that America has made... better?

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By now we're well used to World Cups build-ups being overshadowed by controversies in the host country, or in this case countries. Usually, those issues begin to fade from the headlines once the football starts, but is that really going to be the case this year?

Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the plethora of issues affecting this year's World Cup. Meanwhile, of course, there is still a tournament to be played. How are Europe's sides shaping up ahead of kick-off at the Azteca tonight?

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Didier Deschamps' titans enter this year's World Cup as the team to beat. Champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, Les Bleus are the favourites in North America. But can they reclaim this most coveted crown?

Andy is joined by OTC regular Jonathan Johnson to dissect France's star-studded squad. Is Kylian Mbappé's influence helpful - or harmful? How do Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué fit into a stacked front line? What will be sacrificed for glory?

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain made history in 2010 when Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner delivered their first World Cup. Sixteen years later, a new generation of La Roja head to North America - but how do they emulate the success of those that came before them?

Andy is joined by Spanish football journalist Álvaro Romeo to chronicle how Luis de la Fuente transformed Spain and how their tactical unpredictability makes them a nightmare to face. Tune in as we take a closer look at one of Europe's most talked-about teams ahead of the 2026 World Cup!

Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: [email protected].

For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** 

On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every Thursday and Friday throughout the 2026/27 European football season, covering the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Süper Lig, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.