To some, it’s the highest individual honour that a footballer can receive. To others, it’s a vanity award, a simple popularity contest. But it has an interesting history and every year seems to get more controversial. So how do you win it? Who decides it? Do players care about it? And what is the plural of Ballon d’Or?…

Fans of the A-League call it the best league in the world. Whether that’s true or not, it’s a beautiful league and it’s uniquely Australian. In part two of our series on football in Australia, we’re talking about how the A-League was created, and what it is today.Football & English による

Last week, Australia’s professional football league, the A-League, kicked off its 20th season! To celebrate this milestone, our next two episodes are dedicated to the national football leagues in Australia. It is a complicated story of identity, crowd trouble, fighting against forces that want to destroy football in Australia, before being reborn i…

The J.League is one of the most interesting football leagues in the world. On the pitch, amazing talent brings excitement to a competitive and unpredictable league. Off the pitch, fans add vibrant colour and endless support, creating a matchday experience that stands out among leagues and sports worldwide.…

Recapping the latest World Cup Qualifying battle between Japan and Australia.Football & English による

Taking a break from our usual format to answer some questions from our listeners.Football & English による

Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva said only one team came to play football in their 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal, who were accused of employing "dark arts" at Etihad Stadium. "There was only one team that came to play football," Silva told TNT Sports Brazil. "The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed b…

They are officially the worst team in international football, but San Marino finally ended a 20-year winless run earlier this month by beating Liechtenstein 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League. It was FIFA’s lowest-ranked team’s first-ever competitive win, with their only previous victory coming in a 1-0 friendly against the same opposition in 2004 — pl…

The 2024/25 Champions League kicked off this week, and it’s the first season of a brand new format. 36 teams playing in a League system, with each team playing against 8 different opponents. Is this an exciting change to the most prestigious club competition in the world, or just another case of trying to fix something that didn’t need to be fixed?…

Aston Villa fans have called the club "out of touch" for charging up to £97 a ticket for home Champions League matches this season. Villa announced on Wednesday that adult tickets for their four home matches will be priced at £85, £94 and £97, with season ticket-holders getting slight discounts. The Football Supporters' Association called Villa's t…

Leaving early is a bit of a red flag. Booing your own players too. Wearing a half-and-half scarf, or purchasing a half-and-half scarf: forget it. Fake merchandise. Supporting a club from a place where you do not live. Supporting more than one club. Yes, these days there are multiple ways of outing yourself as “not a true fan”. But who gets to call …

The Olympics are the pinnacle of most sports. Every athlete—and even many non-athletes—dreams of bringing home a gold medal for their country. Even just qualifying for the Olympics is an incredible achievement. But can you say the same for football? In a calendar of World Cups, continental cups and an ever-growing list of club competitions, does fo…

The 2024/25 Premier League season is upon us, so Tomo and Tommy pull out their magic 8 balls to make their predictions for the season.Football & English による

Kicking off another big season with a look back on a busy summer for Tomo and Tommy.Football & English による

Well, here we are again! It’s late May and another season is done. This one went by super quickly…it feels like just a few weeks ago that I was in London to see Spurs at the beginning of the season. A lot has happened and we’re here to bring you the biggest stories of the season.Football & English による

“Look smart, play smart”, as the saying goes. Perhaps it is about time we coined the phrase, “Look smart, manage smart”. This season, Sean Dyche steered Everton clear of relegation danger in the Premier League. And what does Dyche credit as his secret weapon? Ditching wearing a traditional suit and tie for a club tracksuit, of course.…

They bring together clubs, teammates, opponents, rivals and fans to celebrate the career of a long-serving player. But testimonial matches have been dying off in recent years. On this episode we look back on what they were, and what they are now.Football & English による

Football has the power to do amazing good in the world. One example of that is charity matches. By bringing footballers and celebrities together for a simple game of football, millions and millions of dollars can be raised to help people in need. On this episode, we’re going to talk about some of those matches and the impact they have.…

FA Cup replays will be scrapped from the first round onwards in the 2024/25 competition. All rounds of the Emirates FA Cup will also be played on weekends, including the fifth round which has been played in midweek for the past five seasons. The changes come as part of a new six-year agreement between the Football Association and the Premier League…

Just how important is the captain of a team? They divide up the matchday tickets for other players, lead the team out, choose which end to attack and, if you're really lucky, they may just be the difference between success and failure.Football & English による

Football fans are known for being loyal and doing as much as they can to try to help their team win. But a minority of supporters think that means chanting about tragic events involving the opposition, and authorities are coming down hard with banning orders. This week we’re exploring one of football’s worst aspects: tragedy chanting.…

Excited about the chance to come off the bench and change the game? Or frustrated because you’re not starting? Substitutes play a crucial role in deciding football matches, and this week we required a substitute of our own! Unfortunately, we are not able to publish the interview we conducted with a staff member at one of the world’s biggest footbal…

It’s often seen as a symbol of solidarity and mutual respect between two footballers. Shirts that hold incredible value and are often some of the most sought-after memorabilia items. But isn’t it really just swapping a smelly, sweaty shirt that will likely be packed away in a box somewhere?Football & English による

Examining the impending trial of blue cards and sending players to the 'sin bin' for cynical fouls and dissent.Football & English による

Another exciting J.League season is about to kick off. How close will Tomo and Tommy get with their predictions?Football & English による

Looking back on a disappointing Asian Cup for Australia and Japan. Did we really enjoy it?Football & English による

Some see it as a rite of passage, to be welcomed into the group. Others see it as an outdated practice, intent on welcoming people by testing, embarrassing and shaming them first. Welcome to the sometimes fun, sometimes bizarre and sometimes outright illegal world of football initiations. 新たなチームに加入するサッカー選手たちは、チームに迎え入れられるために、とある儀式を行います。時代遅れの慣習だと指摘する…

Talking about some of the things happening in the world of football lately.Football & English による

Just over 20 years ago, Sol Campbell made what many argue was the biggest — and most controversial — transfer in modern football. A product of the Tottenham academy, who graduated to club captain and even lifted a Cup for Spurs, left for their bitter rivals Arsenal. On a free transfer. ちょうど20年前、ソル・キャンベルは現代サッカー界最大の、そして最も物議を醸した移籍を行いました。トッテナムのアカデミー出身で…

The Premier League has charged Everton and Nottingham Forest with breaching its financial rules. Both clubs have been referred to an independent commission for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules in their accounts for 2022-23, and risk being deducted points this season. The Premier League Profit & Sustainability Rules are complicate…

More than just a part of your team’s uniform, socks are now one of the most important ways for players to express their creativity. Above the knee, low socks, tape, multiple pairs…there’s more ways than you’d think. Whether it’s for comfort, style or perhaps superstitious reasons, football socks — and how they’re worn — have never been more importa…

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Tomo & Tommy look back on the past year and discuss some of their key takeaways.Football & English による

Part two of our series on Major League Soccer: covering how the league works, the ownership structure, transfers and other unique elements of North American's top football league.Football & English による

Last week, the Columbus Crew held on to beat Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the MLS Cup. It’s the third time the Crew have won America’s top football prize, having also won in 2008 and 2020. So this is the first of two episodes where we take a deep dive into the world of Major League Soccer. 先週、メジャーリーグサッカーの王者を決めるMLSカップが行われコロンバス・クルー（Columbus Crew）が2-1でロサンゼルス…

This week we're inspired by Tommy's sudden trip to Australia to talk about some of the feelings and emotions football gives us.Football & English による

The J.League is finally coming to Football Manager! Set to be released on November 7, Football Manager 2024 will be the first version of the game to include the officially licensed J.League, with all of its teams, players, stadiums and history included. What’s more, FM24 will also be available to play in Japanese. The best football video game just …

In the world of football, few names shine as brightly as David Beckham's. His illustrious career as a midfielder with a wand of a right foot made him a footballer superstar. His glamorous off-field persona made him a worldwide superstar. A recent Netflix documentary has offered fresh insights into Beckham, the person, delving into his successes, st…

For many football fans, there's one tradition that adds an extra layer of magic to matchday – buying a match programme. Everyone has their own reason for buying; maybe they genuinely want to read information on that day’s match. Or maybe it’s for their collection. Whatever their motivation, in a world where digital media dominates, why do fans stil…

A bit of a self-indulgent episode this week, as Tommy talks all about his trip to London to see Spurs.Football & English による

There are many ways to watch football and there are many ways to enjoy football. A couple of weeks ago, we read out a comment asking for advice for people new to football on how to enjoy it. Whilst we gave some of our thoughts, we decided it was worthy of a deeper discussion, so this episode is a bit of a free chat on how we watch football.…

Mikel Arteta defended his decision to replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya for Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Everton by predicting goalkeeping changes will become the norm, and said he “didn’t have the courage” to substitute his keeper in the past. The Arsenal manager insisted both Ramsdale and Raya will be utilised this season, and he regrets not changin…

Football is a simple game, where two teams try to score goals and compete for victory. But the modern game is increasingly becoming about intricate tactics, ever-evolving positions, and buzzwords that have become part of every football fan's vocabulary. You've heard terms like 'inverted fullback' and 'number 9,' but what do they really mean, and ho…

What is it about left-footers that makes them so thrilling to watch? Is it just that they’re a little bit different? Players like Messi, Giggs, Bale and Maradona are some of those who have shown us the endless joy that is a magical left boot. “Left-footers are more creative,” we’ll often say. Maybe that’s not always true but statistically speaking …

A comic whose slow-motion impression of a footballer celebrating has been watched by millions online has said the reaction has been "overwhelming". Karl Porter's routine has been widely shared online, with his Instagram post receiving more than 3.3 million views. It has also garnered thousands of comments, including one from the Premier League aski…

Fresh from a trip to Australia & New Zealand, we're joined by a special guest to talk about an amazing World Cup and what's next for women's football.Football & English による

You may have seen the news about FIFA expanding their Club World Cup, the first edition of which will take place in the summer of 2025. Thirty-two teams will take part, up from the current field of seven, and it will take place in one country, much like the national-team World Cup. Eight groups of four will feed into a knockout bracket of 16 teams,…

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Welcome to the last episode of season 3 of Football & English! It’s been another interesting season with lots of talking points and Tomo and I have selected some our best performers from the past 12 months of football. フットボール＆イングリッシュのシーズン3の最終回です！トミーとトモが、2022年8月〜23年の1シーズンを振り返ります。その中からベストなシーンを選んでみました。Football & English による

It has to be one of the worst jobs in football. The lucky few are fortunate enough to be called by their first name. The majority are just known as “fourth”. One or two, spelt out in reports submitted to the Football Association, are called c***s. Either way, the job description should come with a warning that you are pretty much guaranteed to spen…