A warm welcome for Mbappe from the France squad?? The dramatic Courtois Belgium comeback. & strong Barca = strong Spain?? The latest @5liveSport “Euro Leagues” podcast is out now with me, @guillem-balague.bsky.social, @julienlaurens.bsky.social & Kristof Terreur. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Reporting on a game today involving a team I’m currently managing on the “Football Manager” computer game. Will have to resist the temptation at half-time to go down and tell the players that “things are going well, but I know you’re capable of even better.”

Serhou Guirassy is just the third Borussia Dortmund player to score as many as 10 goals in one Champions League season. In good company with Haaland and Lewandowski.

Here’s the new “Euro Leagues” podcast from 5live Sport *looking back at all Bayern/Barca/Atleti/PSG Champs Lge drama. *what now for Dortmund? *will Marmoush be a hit at Man City? I’m joined by @guillem-balague.bsky.social @archiert1.bsky.social & Kristof Terreur. 👍 ⚽️ www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Benfica v Barcelona was the most enjoyable game I’ve watched for ages. Complete chaos. So much happened that a bizarre goal which happened when the Benfica keeper’s clearance hit Raphinha’s head and it lobbed in, was just a side note.

Kluivert scoring a hat-trick, people listening to Robbie Williams songs, David Moyes managing Everton. What decade is this?!

Can someone tell me what’s happening on the other side of the pitch please?! Updates of Leicester City v QPR (when I get the fog lights on 💡) on BBC Final Score.

Will Zidane definitely get the France job? What next in the Olmo saga? Super Claudio Ranieri. Names to watch in the transfer window. The latest @5liveSport “Euro Leagues” podcast is out now with me, @jameshorncastle.bsky.social and @julienlaurens.bsky.social. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

In the last few weeks we’ve had: *a manager announcing his own sacking out of a car window (Fonseca) *a manager taking training for 2 days despite everyone knowing he was sacked (Lopetegui) *a manager sacked 4 hours before a game (Dyche). Think I’d be a pundit to be honest.

Never thought a manager who was fired two days (!) before leading a team at a World Cup would ever have a dilemma when it comes to which fascinating sacking anecdote to tell first in his autobiography.

Nottingham Forest are going to qualify for the Champions League aren’t they?! Remarkable. They have built such an efficient team. Every player knows his role perfectly & Nuno is getting the best out of all of them.

Difficult to see how the current bottom 3 in the Premier League won’t be the bottom 3 at the end of the season. Wolves look rejuvenated, Palace have far too much quality to go down, Everton’s defence is solid… Then above that it’s Manchester United 😯.

12 wins in a row for Atletico Madrid! The latest, an injury time victory against Barcelona… In Barcelona. Diego Simeone in the mood for another title.

Congratulations to Ademola Lookman, the new CAF men’s African Footballer of the Year! 🥇 He’s had an incredible 2024. ⚽️3 goals as Nigeria reached the Afcon final. ⚽️Hat-trick in the Europa Lge final for Atalanta. ⚽️Already 11 goals in 19 apps this season. World class.

The latest Euro Leagues is here! I join @johnbennettsport.bsky.social , @minarzouki.bsky.social and Kristof Terreur to discuss all the latest from the dramatic Champions League week! Listen now on BBC SOUND ⤵️ www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The latest Euro Leagues pod is out now 👇 With @guillem-balague.bsky.social, @minarzouki.bsky.social, Kristof Terreur and me. Kenan Yildiz & his legendary mentor. Is De Ketelaere proving Milan wrong? Who’s better? Courtois or Alisson? & De Gea’s resurgence. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City will be absolutely huge. 25th v 22nd! 8pts v 7 pts. Both now in serious danger of a first round exit. Astonishing.

Any excitement for the Club World Cup? The original Ronaldo under pressure in La Liga. De Zerbi’s magic at Marseille? Have a listen to the latest Euro Leagues podcast with me, @guillem-balague.bsky.social , @julienlaurens.bsky.social & @minarzouki.bsky.social. open.spotify.com/episode/4VU0...

Football stadium press rooms are such a great place for bringing back memories of watching football as a kid. Just walked past Steve Hodge and Clive Allen having a chat, then Stuart Pearce walks in. It’s like my “90 minutes” magazines or “Pro Set” cards coming to life 😂

Bilal El Khannouss is going to be great fun to watch in the Premier League. Really technically gifted player. Excellent v West Ham. Bringing some 🇲🇦 flair to Leicester.

Raphinha with two more goals for Barcelona tonight. There’s surely a strong argument that he’s been one of the best players of the season so far in European football. 16 goals in 21 games now and some great performances in the Champions League.

Russell Martin & Fabian Hürzeler must be the most unlikely manager fall-out for a long time. UEFA Pro license course books at dawn.

Forgot the earlier Fantasy Football deadline.

This week’s Euro Leagues podcast from BBC 5live Sport with me, @guillem-balague.bsky.social and @julienlaurens.bsky.social. *is criticism of Luis Enrique fair? *are injuries a valid excuse at Real? *700 up and tears for Diego Simeone so will he reach 1000? Listen 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

This week’s Euro Leagues podcast from BBC 5live Sport with me, @guillem-balague.bsky.social and @julienlaurens.bsky.social. *is criticism of Luis Enrique fair? *are injuries a valid excuse at Real? *700 up and tears for Diego Simeone so will he reach 1000? Listen 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

On this day in 2015 Jamie Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record to become the first player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches. Exactly 9 years on they’re about to work together at Leicester City as Captain and manager.

Me talking about the “baller league”.

Externally some won’t understand the decision to sack Steve Cooper but it’ll be welcomed by the vast majority of Leicester City fans. Any positivity from promotion was close to evaporating. Some points on the board but very unconvincing performances. Unlike 22/23 the owners have acted decisively

Everton v Brentford for me today on BBC 5live. One team looking solid but struggling to score. One team that can’t stop scoring but struggling to win away games.

🆕 Great to be on with @OwynnPA talking Leicester v Chelsea. A return to the King Power Stadium for Enzo Maresca: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Who says 13 months time is too far away to look forward to Afcon!? 😂 The full line-up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is complete so @Gabs50Zakuani & @MezahiMaher join me to go through some of the talking points. Listen 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

What are your early impressions of the new Champions League format? The pros and the cons discussed on this week's @bbcsport "Football News Show." Plus are PSG going out? How can Real Madrid improve? Are Celtic the big winners of the new format? www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

Great to chat all things Champions League with @johnbennettsport.bsky.social, Julian Laurens, Leah Revelle & Paul Lambert on the latest episode of The Football News Show. Watch on BBC iPlayer now👇🏻 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

Full AFCON 2025 line-up: Morocco, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DRC, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, I.Coast, Gabon, Uganda, South Africa, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mali, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Sudan, Benin, Tanzania, Botswana & Mozambique. Shame we have to wait so long for it to start!

Sudan qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations today. Incredible achievement when you consider what’s happening in the country. Against the odds.

Introduce yourself with four footballers.

Doing a BBC show tomorrow asking if the new Champions League format has made the competition better or worse? What do you think? (I’m liking it so far. Some unexpected teams in the top 8. At least one “big” club in danger of going out. Some good games).

Kei Kamara is an MLS legend and now wants to emulate an African football legend at the next World Cup. (If it was up to me Roger Milla mentions would be on all my broadcasts/reports but Kei brought this one up without any pushing from me I promise 😂). www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

5/24 slots for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be determined tomorrow and Tuesday: Mozambique and Guinea just need to avoid defeat against Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania in straight head-to-head matches Easier said than done, however, as both matches are to be played away from home for the leaders

I’m a fan of international football but these Saturdays without your club team playing just hit different. Not not sure how I’m going to cope at 4:50pm without being able to moan, question my life choices and get irrationally upset about the awful passing of a full-back.

Nothing really against these YouTube boxing events but let’s face it, it’s pretty much just about the hype beforehand. The actual “sport” which is delivered at the end of it is almost always absolutely terrible.

For the first time in 20 years, Ghana have failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. The 4 time winners won’t be at the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

1st rule of African football: When you read that 8 players have refused a call-up for their national team... bet the house on that team

Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mali are the latest teams to book their places at Afcon 2025.

AUDIO: MLS star Kei Kamara wants to emulate Roger Milla & play in a World Cup at the age of 42. That's after returning to international football this week. Always great talking to Kei, so much enthusiasm for football & Sierra Leone. Have a listen: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Quick starter pack of football broadcasters on Bluesky... go.bsky.app/Uk15PLD

Victor Osimhen’s only 25 and he’s already Nigeria’s joint 2nd all time highest goalscorer. The Super Eagles booked a place at Afcon 2025 today and Osimhen scored in a 1-1 draw v Benin.

Niger are doing Ghana a MASSIVE favour in Afcon qualifying. Sudan needed just a draw v Niger to qualify for Afcon and knock Ghana out. Half-time: Niger 3 Sudan 0. 😯

Daily update. Added @dtathletic.bsky.social, @colinmillar.bsky.social, @sportingintel.bsky.social and more. Sorry if I missed anyone. This is getting more difficult with the sheer volume of new arrivals. go.bsky.app/85xpcYw