Expected Own Goals

For the first time in over six years, we saw the second straight weekend where more than half the games ended in a draw. Oppressive heat? Weather delays? Who's to say. The guys whip around the league and tease out the storylines from all seven matches. Then, they get into Sean Nahas's firing from the North Carolina Courage. They lay out the entire timeline beat for beat, and see what conclusions, if any, they can draw from the Courage's disastrous handling of the situation. Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NWSL is back! And boy oh boy not much happened, until everything did. The guys dissect the blockbuster transfer of Ally Sentnor to the Kansas City Current (01:48) then whip around the rest of the league (26:41) before hitting their featured game of the week, the Washington Spirit's 2-1 victory over the Portland Thorns. (34:28) There's tactics, and then there's Trinity Rodman scoring in her first game in four months. We wrap things up dissecting the other insane game of the weekend, Brazil's shootout defeat of Colombia in the Copa América final. (45:20) Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month and get exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than three weeks and 31 games, we have a new Euros champion and...it's the old champion! England have won their second trophy thanks to some real fortune, opportunistic chance-taking, and another intense penalty shootout. The guys pick through everything England and Spain had to offer, and how this sets up both sides for the World Cup in 2027. Plus, they analyze a heartbreaking WAFCON final for Morocco, who dropped a 2-0 lead to Nigeria. The Super Falcons regain the trophy for the 10th time in tournament history. Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spain took care of business against Switzerland. Italy exposed Norway's weaknesses. Sweden, England, France and a 10-player Germany chucked haymakers at each other for a combined 240+ minutes and two insane penalty shootouts. In the end, it is England and Germany who walk away and move on to the Euros semifinals. The guys take all four games apart and preview this week's two semifinal contests. Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The group stage of UEFA Women's Euro 2025 has officially concluded, and France is looking pretty unstoppable. Are they? Les Bleues took the Netherlands apart 5-2 to sit at the group D summit, and a weakened Germany await in the next round. Sweden were already in the driver's seat before Carlotta Wamser's red card, but they put the Germans away with ease 4-1 and now face England in the quarterfinal. England demolished Wales 6-1, but which version of the side will show up against Sweden this week? The guys break it all down, and make their predictions for the semifinal matchups. Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get access to our exclusive bonus features! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first round of the group stage at UEFA Women's Euro 2025 is in the books! Evan and Eric round up all the action, plus the second round from groups A & B, to marvel at Spain's demolition of two minnows, Iceland's unjust elimination, and Norway's ability to keep getting away with this. Then, the guys dive into the group stage's marquee matchup, France's 2-1 defeat of England. How did things go so wrong for Sarina Wiegman's side? In what ways did Laurent Bonadéi's tactics suprise? How can England possibly save their Euros title defense now? Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month ($60/year) to get exclusive xOG bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of our Euros preview attacks groups B and C. Spain and Germany are the group favorites. Could Sweden pip the Germans to the top group spot? Does Denmark stand a chance on the back of Pernille Harder? Why do people keep thinking Portugal are dark horses? And won't someone please think of the poor Italians? Plus, our predictions for the knockout stage! Join our Patreon to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Chapters Spain: 00:58 Italy: 10:31 Portugal: 16:07 Belgium: 21:05 Germany: 23:09 Sweden: 29:53 Denmark: 34:51 Poland: 38:10 Tournament predictions: 43:23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Euros are here! Kicking off Wednesday in Switzerland, 16 teams vie for the biggest trophy in European women's football. The guys analyze Groups A and D in part 1 of their two-part preview. How does Switzerland compare to previous tournament hosts? Is Iceland the tournament's dark horse? Can the Netherlands weather their injury worries? What's going on with France's lineup? Could England really repeat as champions? Find out! Join our Patreon to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Chapters Norway: 03:29 Switzerland: 08:54 Iceland: 14:35 Finland: 19:38 England: 22:32 France: 28:17 Netherlands: 34:50 Wales: 39:23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The USWNT tore off a couple friendlies over the weekend, hammering the Republic of Ireland 8-0 across matches in Commerce City and Cincinnati. There were few learnings to speak of, but that doesn't mean the guys don't try to dig a few out. Most importantly: will anyone become the new left back? Anyone???? Join our Patreon to get all our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've reached the halfway point of the 2025 NWSL regular season, and though we've been putting it off as long as possible, we have no choice but to discuss the Utah Royals. After a quick whiparound (2:19) and an analysis of the Seattle Reign's side of their 4-1 victory in Sandy (25:38), the guys get to the state of the Royals organization. How have they managed to be worse this season than during Amy Rodriguez's time as head coach? Can Jimmy Coenraets get these players to play expansively and proactively, or is he delusional about their talent level? As we head into the international break, we pause the NWSL season on a real high note. Join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, another slightly chaotic result. Bay FC lost 1-0 at home to the Orlando Pride, but not without producing some scintillating stuff in the game-state-driven closing stage of the match. Might Bay be turning the corner in spite of the result? Might Orlando be just fine despite some regression from last year? The guys puzzle it over (21:06). Then, they chat with new Angel City FC head coach Alex Straus about his coaching philosophy, his ambitions for this season, and what the team can accomplish in years to come. Somehow, some way, Hegel gets referenced (39:45). Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NWSL clubs came out of the international break a little rickety, and with plenty of fire. The guys whip around the league to hit the officiating controversy with Gotham, puzzle over Alex Straus's first game with Angel City, and debate Louisville's future (1:51). Then, they peel back the layers of a grubby contest in San Diego between the Wave and the Seattle Reign. Has San Diego been getting lucky in attack? Can the Reign continue their trench warfare in all of these 1-goal victories? Just how ridiculous was Sally Menti's finish? (27:10) Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus features! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. women's national team put two more friendlies in the books. What can a 7-0 aggregate scoreline against China and Jamaica really tell us about the side, two years out from the 2027 World Cup? Has Phallon Tullis-Joyce grabbed the starting keeper job? Did Kerry Abello prove herself enough to be called back in? Could Alyssa Thompson even be the better option than Mallory Swanson on the left wing? The guys try to find sticky answers to all this and more (2:50). They also rant about the meanings and attendant absurdities of Alex Straus's arrival at Angel City, Jonatan Giráldez's departure for Lyon, Jessica Berman's and Michele Kang's DEI "gaffes", and the ugliness of Curt Johnson's hire by the Denver expansion franchise (31:20). Join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six games, 27 goals: 4.5 goals per game this weekend marks the second-highest per-game goal total over a single NWSL matchweek in league history. It's been nearly four years since a matchweek saw no clean sheets recorded. It was goals galore! The guys touch on Gotham's CONCACAF W Champions Cup victory in Mexico (00:43), then whip around the goalscoring bananza across five other NWSL matches (02:33), before digging into Angel City's 3-2 home loss to Racing Louisville. They break down Louisville's and Angel City's performances (15:34) before shifting gears to the uncalled handball penalty late in the second half (28:16), the issue of Christen Press's playing time (33:10), and unpacking the meaning of Sam Laity's 10 games as interim head coach (44:37). Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The numbers? Still Sticky! But before they dive back in, Eric and Evan briefly discuss the latest USWNT Roster and one very notable omission (hint: it rhymes Shmorbin Shmalbert). Then, the guys are joined once more by Kim McCauley of the Guardian to finish their review of the data, check their sometimes questionable priors (Utah), and call out a few of their own goals (again, Utah). Teams featured in Part II: Utah Royals (5:42) North Carolina Courage (14:13) Gotham (20:32) Bay FC (27:36) Kansas City Current (35:36) Orlando Pride (44:59) Washington Spirit (58:21) Join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The numbers are sticky (or, at least, stickier)! Finally, we have a clearer picture of which teams are contenders and which teams still have some (or a lot of) work to do. The guys are joined by Kim McCauley of the Guardian to sort through the data, check their priors, and call out a few of their own goals. Teams featured in Part I: Chicago Stars (2:03) Houston Dash (9:22) Portland Thorns (17:36) San Diego Wave (28:34) Seattle Reign (37:42) Racing Louisville (43:13) Angel City (49:23) Join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Believe it or not, the guys were already planning on featuring the Chicago Stars' 3-2 loss at home to the Washington Spirit as their game of the week, and then Lesley Ryder published her story on the state of the Stars. Much of what Stars GM Richard Feuz said that piece was embodied by Chicago, who put up their best attacking performance at home in nearly three years, but promise little for the future. The guys whip around the league (1:45) and then dive into what the Spirit's defense is still missing, and what the Stars are now at this crucial juncture (34:07). Join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The top-4 only managed to grab a single combined point over the weekend. Does this mean last year's us-and-them table is a thing of the past? Maaaayyyyybe. The guys whip around the league to figure some of this out (2:56), and then close with the Portland Thorns' 1-0 win over the Orlando Pride at Providence Park (37:59). Barbra Banda was all alone, Coffey and Hina bossed proceedings, and Olivia Moultrie is locking in. Join our Patreon for $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All games from this weekend are our featured game, because too much insanity occurred for one match to pull focus. The guys go through all of it, from Orlando's epic comeback to North Carolina's at-the-death victory to a foul-choked draw between Portland and Louisville, not to mention Gotham's beatdown of Washington, Chicago's whimper of a performance against San Diego, the kooky draw between Bay FC and Seattle, and the utter contempt for soccer that Houston vs. Utah represented. CHAPTERS 3:35 - Houston Dash 8:27 - Utah Royals 11:47 - Bay FC 15:23 - Seattle Reign 19:35 - North Carolina Courage 24:06 - Kansas City Current 26:37 - Washington Spirit 30:21 - Gotham FC 32:49 - Chicago Stars FC 34:16 - San Diego Wave 37:20 - Orlando Pride 39:40 - Angel City FC 43:45 - Racing Louisville 51:17 - Portland Thorns Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The whiparound, like the weekend's NWSL action, doesn't exactly quicken the guys' pulses on today's episode (00:41). But there are many important things to address with the Washington Spirit's 1-0 road win against the Orlando Pride, not least of which is the handling of Ashley Hatch's concussion (10:48). This week's featured game takes us down to Kentucky, where the Wave pasted Racing 4-1. But what was going on beneath the surface? Is San Diego a contender? Do the underlying data or the eye test (plus a soft schedule) tell the realer story of Louisville's first five games (19:07)? Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices