The hopes of thousands are pinned on United's reaction to the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim!

The Premier League returns!

As Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens pick through this weekend of football action, their six plus millions of other eyeballs will be on Portman Road as Manchester United turn out against Ipwsich, under the guidance of new gaffer Ruben Amorim for the first time. The lads hypothesise how the Red Devils will react, particularly with how poor they gave been on the road this season.

Phil has a giddy excitement to see his Spurs take on Manchester City. Why? Because of their sequence of LOSS-WIN-LOSS-WIN-LOSS in their past string of matches - which means that, OBVIOUSLY, this week will be a win, and a big one!

Mark, meanwhile, has his eyes on St. Mary's Stadium as Liverpool take a visit - and they may have a big say in the immediate future of the club!

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Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series: Football Belongs, charting the cultural threads of Australian society through the lens of nine football matches:

Acast: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongs

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AzBek8ub2oEsWLYHWetg7

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/football-belongs-australias-football-identity-by-optus/id1543067162

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

"I get why he said it.. but I think you need to keep it within the group".

Between Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens this week, we cover allegiances for Australia, England, Germany, Greece, Spain AND France, as we give a big look across the international break and look ahead to the much-anticipated Premier League return.

We discuss:

• England's massive win over Greece, and bravo to the goal scorers, but why did it take so long for Curtis Jones to get an England cap?
• Harry Kane's outspokenness over squad members withdrawing, and while Mark gets it, he isn't sure he played it correctly.
• The Socceroos struggle against Saudi Arabia and need three points against Bahrain, while they are playing under the weight of expectation to qualify, because of the overachievement in Qatar.
• Will Cristiano Ronaldo play at the World Cup (surely?!)?
• Ruben Amorim moves to Manchester, and STACKS of questions remain about how the squad will line up against Ipswich next weekend!

and

• Phil decides to point the finger of irresponsible parenting at his wife - hope she's not listening!

Every game of the Premier League and WSL is live and exclusive on Optus Sport.

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Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series: Football Belongs, charting the cultural threads of Australian society through the lens of nine football matches:

Acast: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongs

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

Can we REALLY expect England to fall AGAIN to Greece?

It's international weekend in the world of football, and Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Michael Bridges lob in with their big picks ahead of a massive weekend of fixtures on Optus Sport, with Phil doubling down on his Greece-will-upset-England call from the last international break - and you won't believe the about-face Bridgey does to Phil's Hot Take!

Plus, Schwarzie predicts his old national teammate Tony Popovic to have the perfect two-shot on Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Bridgey reckons Italy will turn around their poor fortune of late and we hear from Amy Harrison and Ash Sykes with their women's football preview!

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Listen to Optus Sport's award-winning limited series: Football Belongs, charting the cultural threads of Australian society through the lens of nine football matches:

Acast: https://play.acast.com/s/football-belongs

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AzBek8ub2oEsWLYHWetg7

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/football-belongs-australias-football-identity-by-optus/id1543067162

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