Hardcore Football: Recent Episodes
Hardcore Football
Hardcore Football is an intense look at World football from the perspective of 2 Americans passionate about the game and music. All of the storylines and big moments from soccer will be covered right here.
Phil and Mikka return in 2024 to talk title races. Who is for real in the Premier League between Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Aston Villa? Can Leverkusen push Bayern in the 2nd half of the Bundesliga? Girona? Is Inter Milan the best team in Europe? Where will Mbappe end up?
Phil and Mikka are back to breakdown Liverpool's 7-0 breakdown of Manchester United, Arsenal's dramatic win over Bournemouth to continue to set the pace. Then it is onto the Bundesliga for Dortmund and Bayern's title race, La Liga for a look at Simeone's huge record and Atleti's huge win, then Italy
Phil and Mikka return to talk Man City and the Premier League's charges, Sean Dyche's Dyching of Arsenal at Goodison, Jesse Marsch out at Leeds, Liverpool's struggles and how the Championship looks. Then it's Serie A and the Derby della Madonnina, a quick look at La Liga and then the Bundesliga.
Phil and Mikka are joined by Drew Thompson of 101 Great Goals and Avenell Roadcast to chat. The podcast starts with a discussion of Pele's legacy. Then its onto January's transfer news with Gakpo to LFC, Matheus Cunha to Wolves, Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea? and more!
Phil and Mikka retuirn to talk about Argentina and Lionel Messi claiming the World Cup. The tactical battle that Scaloni won, the Mbappe led French response and the drama that made up the wildest World Cup Final of recent memory. Then the 2 name their Best XIs of the Tournament and answer questions.
Phil and Mikka return to talk about the World Cup Final. The romanticism of a Messi win, the impressive nature of France's return to the Final. Then it's the tactics of the final and what's important for each team. Griezmann's reinvention, and then our favorite players to watch.
Phil and Mikka pay their respects to the great Grant Wahl. Then it is on to Gio Reyna, Gregg Berhalter's thought process and role in this and what it means for the USMNT, Argentina-Croatia, France-Morocco as a MOVIE, and then listener questions. These include World Cup referees, favorite World Cup performances, the next USMNT manager, who's coming up for the USMNT and more!
Phil and Mikka return with a familiar friend in Christian from Seriously Loco who makes his debut on the pod. He recounts his experience traveling to Qatar for World Cup 2022 and the pros and cons of his experience. He also discusses his view as a Mexico fan and their outlook entering the 2026 cycle. Then they discuss the potential for Gregg Berhalter to be extended as the USMNT manager and what that means for their 2026 prospects. Then there are a couple listener questions, R16 best moments and quick quarterfinal picks.
Phil and Mikka are talking Juventus' board resignations but then it is all World Cup. Has it been good so far? Which have been the best matches? Who have been the best players? Are Phil and Mikka jinxes. Is Mexico a disaster? Will the USMNT advance? All that and more!
Phil and Mikka are back and take a tour all around Europe starting with the news of Potter and De Zerbi in Chelsea and Brighton, then onto Arsenal and whether Liverpool can recover, what's up in Spain, what's going on with Bayern and Union, Napoli top, PSG unlocked and much, much more!
Phil and Mikka get to chatting about their Premier League predictions from the beginning of the season. some of which were decent, some of which weren't. Then they talk about AC Milan's fantastic Scudetto win, who can push Bayern and PSG in their respective leagues, and then talk about the best teams and matches of the year. Then, after the break, they talk the CL Final. Will Liverpool and Mo Salah get revenge on Madrid for 2018? Will Karim Benzema keep up his amazing form and bring Madrid a 14th European Cup?
Phil and Mikka are back with a different type of episode as they wrap up the run-in across the relegation and promotion races in the Premier League / EFL Championship, Bundesliga / 2. Bundesliga, La Liga / La Liga 2, Serie A / Serie B, and Ligue 1 / Ligue 2. They find some similarities. Mitrovic, Terodde, Massimo Coda and more talismanic strikers who are scoring goals for fun for a team about to be promoted.
Phil and Mikka are back to speak about Real Betis' first Copa del Rey since 2005, Bayern and PSG crowned champions amidst questions of the clubs, the Premier League and Serie A title races and Erik Ten Hag appointed Manchester United manager. Then it is on to the European Semifinals where they choose between Real Madrid/ Man City, Liverpool/ Villarreal, Eintracht Frankfurt/ West Ham, Rangers/RB Leipzig, Roma/Leicester, and Marseille/Feyenoord.
Phil and Mikka talk about the ongoing war in Ukraine and how it is impacting football, as well as Liverpool's Carabao Cup Victory on penalties. Then it is on to the listener mailbag which addresses Spartak Moscow, Champions League predictions, relegation races, pundits, MLS kits and their dream away trip or stadium to visit
Phil and Mikka are back and talking about the title race in England opening back up, the most exciting title race in Europe in Italy's Serie A, Barca bouncing back at Mestalla and Memery in Ligue 1
Phil and Mikka are back to roundup the transfer window and are driven by your listener questions! Vlahovic to Juve, Auba to Barca, Spurs Window, Diaz to LFC, Newcastle, Aaronson, Eriksen, Lampard at Everton and more!
Phil and Mikka are into 2022 and are back to revisit their predictions from the beginning of the Premier League season, look at the Lukaku situatiion, talk Ralf Rangnick at United, Wolves good win, Arsenal's improvement, Ricardo Pepi to Augsburg and much much more.
Phil and Mikka return to talk dramatic weekends in the Bundesliga and Serie A, where top of the table clashes with Dortmund and Bayern and Napoli and Atalanta providing the drama. Then it's onto the Premier League where Rangnick got off to a winning start at United.
Phil and Mikka get together to talk another manager change, this time at Manchester United, the HxC Derby in Liverpool - Arsenal, the game of the weekend in Napoli - Inter, plus Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue 1.
Phil and Mikka are back to talk about the next batch of managerial changes with Xavi, Dean Smith, Daniel Farke, and Andriy Shevchenko moving. Then it's on to the Premier League where West Ham were impressive in their defeat of Liverpool, Serie A where Venezia piled on Mourinho and answer questions
Phil and Mikka are back to chat about the manager merry go round that Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe found themselves on, the Champions League and the tough game for United in Italy. Then it is on to Ajax who are a full problem after another win over Dortmund. Also Europa League so hop in!
Phil and Mikka are compelled to commit time to Liverpool's dismantling of Liverpool at United (and Phil may never stop talking about it.) Then it's onto Serie A where 4 managers were sent off, La Liga where El Clasico was just weird, and Ligue 1 where PSG are maybe weirder.
Phil and Mikka return to talk about Arsenal in a positive light for once, City establishing themselves once again, Liverpool and Brentford having a blast, and players apologizing on social media for in game mistakes. There's also La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga w/ listener questions!
Phil and Mikka are talking European football this week. Bayern, Liverpool and Young Boys win well, City romp Marsch's Leipzig and Brugge compete with PSG. Then it's Europa League and a classic between Betis and Celtic, then listener questions including Mourinho's Roma and young players to look for.
Phil and Mikka open and close with Ronaldo and Messi respectively, while talking about the best and worst windows and their favorite individual transfers. Then it's around the Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1 to find out just what we're learning about these squads in the early days of the season
Phil and Mikka are back for season 2 of HXC Football with the small matter of Lionel Messi's employment to discuss. Plus a lit weekend in Ligue 1 and a look ahead to the start of the PL season with transfer talk, champion and relegation predictions. We're f***in back AGAIN
Phil and Mikka round up Season 1 with the European Finals which saw Chelsea and Villlarreal crowned, Brentford's promotion triumph, Zidane and co starting the manager merry go round, and players having a silly season of their own.
Phil and Mikka are back to discuss Barca Femeni's UCL win, Dynamo Dresden's promotion, Rangers invincibility, Harry Kane's latest transfer saga, Leicester's FA Cup triumph, La Liga and Ligue 1 being extra, Liverpool stay alive, plus EFL Championship Playoffs and listener questions! Phew...
Phil and Mikka come back to talk about Bayern and City claiming domestic titles, Sporting Club breaking a 20 year drought, Norwich and Watford's promotions, EFL Championship Playoffs, 2. Bundesliga's 4 way promotion race, Spanish State Championships? and more!
Phil and Mikka discuss the protests at Old Trafford, a massive Inter Serie A title win to end Juve's hegemony, and the run-in for La Liga and Ligue 1 where the Champions are far from decided.
Phil and Mikka rage about the European Super League and in particular Liverpool and Arsenal's involvment. Oh yeah and Jose Mourinho also was sacked.
Phil and Mikka come back to talk about the Champions League and what's next for Liverpool, Dortmund, Bayern and Porto who exited the competition. They also look ahead to the semifinals which are not too palatable and look ahead to the Europa League.
Phil and Mikka swoon over Xabi Alonso reportedly heading to Gladbach, talk about the disrespected Robert Lewandowski, a deserved win for Brighton, FA Cup, an unreal goal for Lorient/Lauriente, and a steamy title race in France.
DERBY Weekend! Der Klassiker, Derby del Madrileño, Derby del Comunitat, Manchester Derby plus roundups of all the big leagues and a preview of the Champions League and Europa League.
Phil and Mikka dive into the mess at Schalke and Barca, Atleti's rebound, questions around attacking football, and much more!
Phil and Mikka talk Marco Rose and Dayot Upamecano switching allegiances, a harsh return to snowy Germany for the World Champions, a rough run continues for Liverpool, Spezia throwing gasoline on the Serie A fire, Champions League and more!
Phil and Mikka talk everything from City's win over Liverpool, to promising youngsters, to a comeback win for a resurgent Barcelona, to a wild draw in Bergamo for Atalanta and Torino and much more!
The 20th episode of Hardcore Football is a midweek Premier League offering to unpack a packed fixture list. Mikka and Phil talk AVB out at Marseille, VAR, Arsenal, Liverpool, United's big win, and Tuchel continuing form at Chelsea.
Phil and Mikka discuss the business of Deadline Day, the Copa Libertadores Final that went from 0 to 100 real quick, League Roundups including Tuchel's 1st Chelsea win, Messi being Messi against Bilbao, and Wolfsburg climbing the BL table
Phil and Mikka talk everything around the departure of Frank Lampard from Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel coming in, a screamer from Uros Racic, big wins for Gladbach and Atalanta, Sudamericana glory for Defensa and Hernan Crespo and more!
A chaotic week produced a chaotic week of football. Phil and Mikka cover the Copa Libertadores triumphs of Palmeiras and Santos over River Plate and Boca Juniors, dive into the drama surrounding Bayern's exit from the DFB Pokal at the hands of Holstein Kiel, and explore derbies going on this weekend
Phil and Mikka are back to wrap up a shock in the Copa Libertadores, a stuttering Liverpool, a slow start for Pochettino, Lainez impressive debut for Betis, and what to look ahead to
Phil and Mikka talk COVID cancellations, Atleti continuing to distance themselves at the top, the match of 2020, and the matches to look forward to in the New Year. Bye 2020
Mikka and Phil dive into what was a chaotic weekend in world football. Premier League Drubbings, La Liga Surprises Stumbling, Leverkusen gift Lewandowski 2 goals, Lyon trounce Nice to go joint top of Ligue 1, AC Milan still top after Rafael Leao scores the fastest goal in Serie A history
Phil and Mikka are back and cover everything from the sad passing of Gerard Houllier, to BVB's humiliation in the Westfalenstadion, to Real's mental hold on Atleti, to the Champions League, Liga MX and beyond.
Phil gives Mikka a chance to rant about Arsenal, then they go way too long on all the amazing action this weekend along with a look ahead to a big matchday in the Champions League.
Phil and Mikka are back from Thanksgiving break to chat about the loss of the footballing world of Maradona, stress for Liverpool in the Premier League, a tough loss for Dortmund, an ugly win for Atleti and much more!
Phil and Mikka brave the international break by talking about Dynamo Dresden's win over 1860 Munchen, the plight of East German football clubs, Deadpool and Mac's purchase of Wrexham, and the dawn of a new era of the USMNT.
Phil and Mikka are back and they discuss a crazy Der Klassiker, an unexpected result in Valencia, Manchester United overcoming travel, and Derby Days in France.
Phil and Mikka are back to gloss over Election Day and talk Champions League, Premier League teams that impressed, La Liga and Serie A being chaotic and a very cool USMNT roster.
Phil and Mikka review a closed-doors El Clasico, discuss Atleti keeping pace with Sociedad, Leeds and Hatrick Bamford, Everton's true colors, Lyon handling Monaco, the Insigne Derby and some Champions League previews!
Phil and Mikka break down Liverpool's consequential trip to Everton, Spurs collapse despite the Rooney-fication of Harry Kane, controversy in Betis, Barcelona and Real Madrid stumbling, a look ahead to the Champions League and more!
Phil and Mikka get together to talk the news around the top Premier League clubs potentially scheming to take more control, as well as the Hits and Misses of the transfer window. Plus a couple additions to the Sounds of the Season Spotify playlist!
Phil and Mikka are back for another crazy week of European football. Liverpool and Manchester United embarrassed, Napoli-Juve didn't happen, Rennais and Lille are top of Ligue 1, Betis get a win, Gladbach are back on track, and we add to the Sounds of the Season playlist.
Phil and Mikka are back to talk about the handball rule, Hoffenheim's shock of Bayern, Leicester's big win over Man City, Ansu Fati's Barca explosion, Inter needing 4 to get past Fiorentina, and the unlikely leaders in Ligue 1. And loads more!
Phil and Mikka tackle the gargantuan task of distilling a big European weekend into 85 minutes, starting with the Bale transfer (called it), then it's onto the Bundesliga, Premier League, and Serie A. Will Bayern Munich destroy everyone? Will Everton break into the top 6? Will Pirlo Pirlo? Check it!
Episode 1 of Hardcore Football! Mikka and Phil explore a number of topics, like the links between world football and alternative music, review PSG's COVID driven loss to RC Lens, try to predict the champions of the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 and discus Gareth Bale.
Songs at breaks:
1- Seven Years- Saosin
2-Twenty Years- Novelists