Flo, Rachel and Chloe are here to wave England through to the quarter-finals after their 5-0 win. We wonder if Alessia Russo should start over Ellen White and highlight some lingering overconfidence England will need to stamp out.

Elsewhere, Marie-Antoinette Katoto's injury took away from another France victory - and our dark horses fell at the first hurdle! What do we know...

Remember, all post-England shows will be available on the Ramble feed this summer. But if you want access to all our Euros coverage, make sure you're subscribed to Football Ramble Presents!

Got a question for us? Tweet us @FootballRamble, @FloydTweet, @GirlsontheBall and @Morgie_89

***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!***

Confused by transfer tall tales? Well, we're here to help! Join Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge as we pick through the gems from the genuine nonsense on another OTC Transfer Special.

First up, Barcelona are here to remind everyone that Frenkie, my dear, they don't give a damn about impending financial doom. We also look over the latest Premier League movers and shakers, as Chelsea secure the immense of services Kalidou Koulibaly and Lucas Paquetá looks destined for Arsenal.

We'll be back with another OTC Transfer Special next week. Got a question for us? Ask away! @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!***

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Marcus, Luke and Vish are here with some stark analysis of English football’s most important period: pre-season friendlies. Erik’s Ten (Hag) Commandments are doing wonders for Man United, as they beat 32-man Liverpool!

We also glance at some tasty-looking moves, as Raheem Sterling joins Chelsea and Wayne Rooney’s pitching a Love Island spinoff over in Washington.

Got a question for us? Tweet us @FootballRamble or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

***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!***

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Flo, Rachel and Chloe just about make it to the studio after a chaotic night in Brighton, where England blew Norway to pieces! 8-0! Have some of that!

We report back from the Amex and wonder how vital Sarina Wiegman is to England's chances. We also look over the other main contenders, including a sumptuous France performance, and tip the hat to Northern Ireland after their hopes of qualification were extinguished by Austria.

Remember, all post-England shows will be available on the Ramble feed this summer. But if you want access to all our Euros coverage, make sure you're subscribed to Football Ramble Presents!

Got a question for us? Tweet us @FootballRamble, @FloydTweet, @GirlsontheBall and @Morgie_89

***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!***

Today’s Football Ramble Presents showcase is one close to our hearts.

Last year, the European Super League crashed into our lives. On the first anniversary of that fateful announcement, Andy Brassell and a host of journalists, fans and familiar Ramble voices tell the story of what happened, how supporters fought back, and wonder what the future holds.

In the first of three episodes, we traced the long road to April 2021. 

From the origins of the Super League in the 80s, to the scarcely believable backroom manoeuvrings inside UEFA last year, we spoke to the journalists who first broke the story to understand the motivations and miscalculations that finally made Europe’s biggest clubs cash in their most valuable bargaining chip. 

Want to hear more? Episodes 2 and 3 are available on Football Ramble Presents.

OMG!!! The Curse Is Broken? By Victor Stephen.

A 21 gunshot salute to all Gooners floating somewhere in the orbit of the Goonerverse, defying gravity while basking in the euphoria of watching the gunners in action yesterday 8th July, at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, Germany. FC Nurnberg played host to Arsenal FC, with almost every eye locked on Gabriel Jesus, our new number 9. Though just a friendly pre-season tie meant to give both teams a runout, to boost fitness levels, ahead of a demanding season. It was the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse of what to expect from the team this season and a sneak peek into Arteta’s tactical thought process for the season opener. If that performance was his (Jesus) audition, then I guess we are in for a good show.

Okay, I get it. I hear you. It was only a pre-season friendly with nothing at stake, so let’s not get carried away, let’s see him do it consistently on a week-in, week-out basis, before we get excited and I understand your point clearly but I am just appreciating his application to the game at the moment and the positive effect he had on the game when he was called upon. His pressing was clear to see and the intent with which he ran at the opposition defence, caused a lot of chaos as he popped up all over the opposition’s final third combining to good effect with Nketiah.

Gabby could have easily had a hat trick but his brace was impressive as well. With the first goal, a sweet shot into the roof of the net from close range and the second, typical of a fox in the box, running in front of the defender and applying a deft and subtle touch off his right boot to guide the ball into the back of the net. Asides Gabby’s brace, his general play was an indication that Arsenal have added to their ranks a very good signing that will tremendously improve the quality of the team’s attack this season.

Assessing him fresh off his general gameplay in this match, he looks like the chosen one prophesied to come from across the seas to break the curse of the Arsenal number 9 shirt. Well, enough of the sweet talk, football is not theatre or some Greek mythological legend, it’s a performance-based sport and Jesus is going to have to prove just beyond one fantastic display, that he can repeat such feats, throughout a 38-match EPL season, Europa League campaign, as well as the two domestic cup competitions. However, it was undoubtedly an encouraging debut that should flip his nitro boosters and set his confidence on overdrive.

Arsene Wenger has spoken to Sky Sports after Jack Wilshere decided to quit playing professional football and take up a coaching role at Arsenal.

The Frenchnan was the man to oversee the former academy graduate’s breakthrough into the senior side, and the pair are believed to have had a strong relationship over the years.

Unfortunately for Jack, his injury struggles meant that he suffered recurring setbacks over the years, and never managed to truly meet his full potential, and will forever be remembered for his special ability shown as a teenager.

Wenger opened up about what made him stand out when he stepped up to the senior side, before moving to agree with Wilshere’s decision to move into coaching at the age of just 30.

“He was brave, he was talented, he wasn’t scared of anybody. Which is why we thought he could start at a very young age. Straight away he showed he had the ability to be a main player,” Wenger said (via 90min) on Jack Wilshere.

Former Gunner Alan Smith has claimed that Arsenal’s summer transfer window will have been ‘really good’ if they can land both Youri Tielemans and Lisandro Martinez.

We have already moved to bring in Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos and Matt Turner this summer, and currently seem to be showing no signs of slowing down after attempting to sign Raphinha and Lisandro Martinez, while we are also believed to be in the market for a central midfielder.

Former forward Smith claims that adding both Leicester’s Tielemans and Ajax’s Lisandro would be the making of a ‘really good summer’.

“Tielemans is an excellent player, and hopefully Arsenal can get that one over the line because they’ve been linked with him for a long time,” Smith is quoted by the Leicester Mercury as stating.

“I’m sure they’ve been talking to Leicester and to the player’s agent for a long time as well. So that one would be a big boost.

As Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Chinese counterpart for a rare, bilateral chat on Saturday, the Associated Press said the two countries were seeking “to calm rising tensions on many fronts.” After a five-hour meeting in Indonesia, where talks were “exceptionally candid,” per Bloomberg, it doesn’t appear the rivals are any closer to navigating their increasingly adversarial relationship.

Blinken, in comments to reporters after his discussion with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China, focused on the Chinese government’s unique position in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite pledging support to Ukraine and claiming to be neutral, China has continued buying Russian oil and used its state propaganda to amplify Vladimir Putin’s talking points. 

“It’s pretty hard to be neutral when it comes to this aggression,” Blinken said. “There is a clear aggressor. There is a clear victim.” More to the point, China’s actions do not resemble those of a neutral party. As Blinken pointed out, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping released a lengthy statement of friendship in early February, when Putin was widely reported to be preparing for an invasion of Ukraine. 

In the weeks since the start of the war, China has resisted helping the United States isolate Russia and has often used Putin’s own criticisms of the West to justify its stance, like when state media borrowed his description of the United States as an “empire of lies.” Blinken said he “tried to convey” to Wang that “this really is a moment where we all have to stand up” to condemn Russia’s aggression and push to end the war. “I won’t characterize his response,” Blinken added. 

China’s official readout of the meeting included a familiar list of grievances, including the claim that “many people thus argue that the United States is taking on growing China-phobia.” It also noted that Wang “refuted the United States’ erroneous views on Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and maritime issues, among others.”

Reports in Italy claim that Arsenal have had an offer of €50 Million rejected by Lazio for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

The Gunners are believed to be keen on bolstering their central midfield options this summer, with the likes of Youri Tielemans, Douglas Luiz and Milinkovic-Savic amongst those most strongly linked of late.

The Serbian midfielder is one who is expected to be on the move, with reports claiming that his side are believed to be open to his exit with just two years remaining on his current deal, but no club is believed to have found an agreement with Lazio as of yet.

CalcioMercato claims that we have made an offer however, but with his club only willing to entertain offers of at least €70 Million our offer was rejected.

It remains to be seen how much we would be willing to pay for the 27 year-old’s signature, but he should certainly be considered as somebody who would be an upgrade on our current options in midfield. He has been amongst the best CMs in Serie A in recent seasons, and would surely be suited to the Premier League.

The Arsenal striker Viv Miedema is Arsenal’s, Holland’s and the WSL’s top scorer of all time, and at only 25 years of age has many many years ahead to greatly increase her tally.

She will be leading the line tonight for the Netherlands in their opening Womens Euros 2022 match against Sweden at 8pm UK time. She was part of the team that won the last Euros in 2017 in Holland and has very fond memories of lifting the trophy in her home country. “Looking back, it was something that we really didn’t expect to happen,” Miedema told UEFA.com. “Playing at the EURO in Holland was really special with all the fans and family there. And I think throughout the tournament, we just really thought that this is going to be our tournament.

“Obviously, in the end we won against Denmark in the final and since then, women’s football has been growing really rapidly. And in Holland, to be fair, we get sold-out crowds now. We’ve got an amazing fan base and I hope that we can continue our success over the coming years.”

So obviously she wants more success with Holland, having spent most of her career with Arsenal in England, she has probably been a massive part of the big rise in the popularity of the Womens game in England as well. So she also wants to see England do well as well, having five Arsenal players in their squad, and with the tournament being held here, with the Final set to be played at Wembley.

“This summer is probably one of the biggest chances to put women’s football on the map,” she says. “I think this is hopefully going to be the tournament. I hate to say it, but I want to see England do well because it will get people to the stadium, it will make the country itself feel really alive and I hope from there that we get our fan base coming to England because I do think that we’ve got the best fans in the world.”

With Donald Trump set to waive his claim to executive privilege, onetime adviser Steve Bannon may be due for a date before Congress. Trump had fought to prevent Bannon, a ringleader of the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, from appearing before the Congressional committee investigating the pro-Trump insurrection on January 6. Still, sources told the Washington Post that Trump now is “considering sending a letter” to Bannon that would clear the way for his testimony. 

Per the Post‘s reporting:

The letter would reiterate that Trump invoked executive privilege in September 2021, when Bannon was first subpoenaed by the House committee. But it would say that the former president is now willing to give up that claim—the validity of which has been disputed—if Bannon can reach an agreement on the terms of an appearance before the panel.

Bannon defied that original Congressional subpoena, leading to his indictment in November on contempt charges. For months, Bannon has fruitlessly tried to get his case dismissed while portraying himself as a victim of overzealous Justice Department prosecutors. 

Whether Trump even has the right to withhold his testimony through executive privilege is subject to debate. (Bannon had been long gone from the White House by the time of January 6.) Given how the testimony of so many former members of his administration only further added to Trump’s culpability, Bannon might offer Trump an opportunity to put one of his most ardent True Believers in the spotlight while under oath.

Arsenal are claimed to be intensifying their interest in signing Alex Grimaldo from Benfica this summer, but is that related to our chase of Lisandro Martinez?

Both us and Manchester United are believed to be vying for the signature of the Argentine defender, with him believed to have informed Ajax that he wants to move clubs this summer.

While it remains to be seen whether he has a preference to come to the Emirates or Old Trafford, our pursuit of Grimaldo could well close the door on our efforts to sign him.

Reports in Portugal (via the Express) are claiming that we are intensifying our efforts to sign the Portuguese full-back, with a £5.9 Million bid being readied at present. The report also claims that the deal will likely be accepted by Benfica with just 12 months remaining on his current deal.

If reports prove to be true, it could well spell the end of our pursuit of Martinez, although he could well have been earmarked for a role at centre-back, and we could still be in the hunt for his signature.

After agreeing to buy Twitter for $44 billion, Elon Musk has decided that the deal is off. But his attempt to break this agreement has roiled the tech company and set up a future riddled with legal headaches and uncertainty. The mood inside Twitter is grim, as the Washington Post reported Saturday: 

In April, Musk offered to take the company private at $54.20 a share—valuing the company’s shares at more than a 50% premium—but in the days since, the stock (and morale inside the company) has plunged. He’s used his personal Twitter to amplify criticism of Twitter executives (not including the ones who have jumped ship). He also promised to restore Donald Trump’s account and raised a ruckus over the company’s handling of bot accounts. 

The bots are angry at being counted

Leeds United have confirmed that Raphinha has been left to train in England whilst the senior team has departed on a pre-season tour, with his potential exit seemingly inevitable, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona all having been strongly linked.

While a move to the Emirates may seem unlikely at present, it remains to be seen whether the Spanish giants have the means to agree a transfer fee with his current club, especially with both London clubs believed to be willing to meet their full asking price.

It also remains to be seen whether Chelsea will be as keen after striking a deal to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester city ahead of the new season, which could well see us re-enter into calculations this summer, but we have to play the waiting game at present after falling behind in the race for his signature.

What does seem certain is that he will be leaving Elland Road this summer, especially after his club left him behind as they departed for Australia as confirmed by the BBC, who state that he has been the subject of a bid from Arsenal this summer.

I understand that a move to us seems unlikely at present, but I’m struggling to see how Barca can get this deal over the line with their dire financial situation, so I’m refusing to completely rule it out.

Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to follow up on their supposed interest in Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as we look to bolster our midfield area.

The Gunners are being increasingly linked with midfield additions this summer, and while there is a few names who are believed to be on our radar, Youri Tielemans seems to be the most likely addition at present.

While we look set to continue our positive transfer window with a new CM, Paul Merson has discussed which players he would be looking at, discussing all of Tielemans, JWP and his favoured signing in Milinkovic-Savic.

“Youri Tielemans would fit nicely at Arsenal if James Ward-Prowse takes the soft option and stays at Southampton,” Merson told the DailyStar.

“I start to worry when that happens when a player plays it safe like that. What are you going to do, realistically, at Southampton? West Ham wanted Ward-Prowse and that would have been a good move for him too because they will finish above Saints.

William Gallas has told William Saliba that he must be ready to play at every opportunity, and that not having played enough will not be an excuse that will sit well at Arsenal.

The defender joined the club from St Etienne back in 2019, but is yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners after three successive loan spells in Ligue 1.

After an amazing 12 months with Marseille last term, where he not only earned the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award, but also helped his side to earn a Champions League spot by finishing runners-up in the league to Paris Saint-Germain.

He is now expected to stay at Arsenal for the upcoming season, but first-team football will need to be earned with Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White having formed a partnership last term, and Gallas has warned him that he will need to be ‘patient’ and remain ‘ready’ to give his best when the opportunities come.

‘He did well at Marseille. He had a great season with Marseille, but Arsenal and the Premier League is another level,’ Gallas told the Metro.

Arsenal were linked with a move to sign Aaron Hickey from Bologna this summer, but he has now agreed to join Brentford.

The full-back is one of the most exciting young talents around, having left Scotland to move to Serie A shortly after his 18th birthday, and after a slow initial season in Italy, he enjoyed a full season of action in the 2021-22 campaign, notching five goals and an assist from his 36 outings.

The 20 year-old is known as a left-back, but being both footed, he is also known to fill in at right-back also, while his former side also gave him minutes as a wide midfielder on both sides also.

While we will not be signing him this summer, we will be able to get a closer look at what he can bring to the English game after joining the Bees.

Official, confirmed. Aaron Hickey joins Brentford on permanent deal from Bologna, €22m total fee add ons included. #BrentfordFC

Jim, Luke and Pete are back with another episode of your audio companion through football's colourful and confusing history. Today, we're talking bruised bananas and shorts so tight you might shit yourself: football kits! 

From early iterations of death-dealing studs and bolt-on shinpads to the sartorial nods of the 1980s, kits have been a cultural cornerstone of football. Nowadays, they're worn by everyone from hipsters to louts and those directly in between (Pete Donaldson). Join us for our favourites, some shockers and how we'd design kits of the future!

What do you want us to talk about? Tweet us @FootballRamble and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

***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!***

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A former spokesman for the Oath Keepers militia group is set to testify Tuesday at a January 6 committee hearing on the role that the organization and other extremists played in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Jason Van Tatenhove, a Colorado resident and former tattoo shop owner, is scheduled to appear to detail his work as a national media director for the Oath Keepers in 2015 and 2016 and what he says was the group’s radicalization during that period. Van Tatenhove, who now works as an independent journalist, was apparently close to Stewart Rhodes, the group’s founder. Van Tatenhove disclosed his plans to testify at a live hearing this month on his Substack and to a Colorado news outlet. A person familiar with the committee’s plans confirmed that Van Tatenhove is one of multiple former extremist group insiders slated to testify Tuesday, July 12. Van Tatenhove declined to comment to Mother Jones.

Tuesday’s session will be the panel’s first hearing following the explosive June 28 testimony of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson. Among other things, Hutchinson indicated that Trump knew that many of the supporters he urged to march on the Capitol on January 6 were armed. On Friday, the committee privately interviewed Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone, who appears to be in a position to confirm or dispute some of Hutchinson’s claims. Hutchinson’s testimony indicated, for example, that Cipollone was present when Trump reputedly expressed approval of the attack on the Capitol while it was occurring. She also said Cipollone had warned that Trump’s plan to personally join supporters outside the Capitol was illegal. Such a warning could help prosecutors establish that Trump knew his efforts to interfere with the certification of electoral votes on January 6 were against the law—a key element in any potential criminal prosecution of Trump over that matter.

It is not clear, however, whether Cipollone actually addressed those issues in his interview with the committee. He was expected to decline to answer some questions by asserting that some conversations were shielded by executive privilege. The committee left it unclear Friday how much that ruled out. “He’s been a cooperative witness within the parameters of his desire to protect executive privilege for the office of general counsel,” a committee source said, according to NBC News.

Tuesday’s hearing will reportedly be led by Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Stephanie Murphy of Florida, two committee members who so far have played no public role in its hearings. The panel is expected to focus on the role of extremist groups in the January 6 attack. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), another committee member, said on CBS News last week that the hearing will examine “financing” for the mob that stormed the Capitol and the participation of “white nationalist groups like the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters, and others.”