Happy Thursday one and all. On this week's show we cover the following:

• Champions League group stages and the possible opponents for the English clubs
• El Classico - it's Barcelona v Real Madrid this weekend and we chat with Luigi about that and the mess Madrid find themselves in
• Roy Keane's Sunderland departure
• Emmanuel Eboue's bad day at the office
• Fantasy Football
• Premier League predictions

So lots to get through. You can subscribe to The Week in Football using iTunes by clicking here, if you want to subscribe to the RSS feed itself the URL is here, you can download the podcast directly here or you can listen from this page:

And remember, your comments and suggestions for the show are always welcome. Feel free to leave a comment here on the blog or email podcast@oleole.com.

And before anyone tells me, I know I mention something at the start that doesn't appear in the show. Sorry!

Happy Thursday one and all, welcome to a new Week in Football.

On this week's show Tom reckons Liverpool hit rock bottom as they struggled against Standard Liege, we look at all the Champions League action as the qualifiers for the group stage are finalised, Gabriele previews the new Serie A season, we look at the upcoming fixtures in La Liga and of course the Premier League.

Don't forget, there's still time to join our Week in Football fantasy league. Simply sign up, choose a team from the English Premier League then join our mini-league. Details are:

League name: weekinfootballprem

Password: podcast

And while you'll be eligible for the overall prizes there'll be a special Week in Football prize for the winner of our mini-league. More info on fantasy football here.

You can subscribe to The Week in Football using iTunes by clicking here, if you want to subscribe to the RSS feed itself the URL is here, you can download the podcast directly here or you can listen from this page:

Don't forget your comments and suggestions for the show are always welcome. Feel free to leave a comment here or email podcast@oleole.com.

Hello hello,

happy Thursday to you all and the new season is almost upon us. This week's podcast is a Premier League special. Tom and I discuss each team, the players that have come in and out, and their chances for the new campaign.

Are Arsenal strong enough to win the league? Is this Benitez's last chance at a title challenge on Anfield? Will Everton buy any players? Are the promoted teams strong enough to avoid relegation? Who's chasing Europe? Will it be United and Chelsea ahead of the rest?

All those questions and more are answered and it's the first predictions game of the season. Last time around Tom Thom(p)son tended to win these but as it's all fresh and new I have high hopes of smashing his domination the way he smashes mugs, the damnable Mugsmasher. Feel free to join in and make predictions of your own in the comments.

Also, there's still time to join our Week in Football fantasy league. Simply sign up, choose a team from the English Premier League then join our mini-league. Details are:

League name: weekinfootballprem

Password: podcast

And while you'll be eligible for the overall prizes there'll be a special Week in Football prize for the winner of our mini-league. More info on fantasy football here.

You can subscribe to The Week in Football using iTunes by clicking here, if you want to subscribe to the RSS feed itself the URL is here, you can download the podcast directly here or you can listen from this page:

Don't forget your comments and suggestions for the show are always welcome. Feel free to leave a comment here or email podcast@oleole.com.

It's well known that Thierry Henry wasn't a big fan of Alexander Hleb. The Belarussian was often on the end of a withering stare from Henry after another pass went astray or a move broke down.

Of course the pair get to continue their great friendship at Barcelona now that Hleb has signed for the Catalan club. Henry was at the press conference last night to announce Hleb's arrival and this picture really does speak a thousand words.

heh, classic.

I'm not a Man United fan, as you well know, but if I were I'd be most unhappy with the comments made by FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Talking about Cristiano Ronaldo he says:

In football there’s too much modern slavery. I’m always in favour of protecting the player. If he wants to leave, let him. 

What about contracts then? What about protecting the clubs who pay large transfer fees and extortionate wages to players? Imagine if the club said 'We don't feel like paying you', what kind of outcry would there be then? 

A player saying 'I don't want to play for you' is the same, except he still gets his wages every week, doesn't he?

Blatter, of all people, should be trying to create some stability in the game yet now more players will look at the head of FIFA saying this and think the way players act these days is acceptable. Not that anything Blatter says is susprising. Does he have friends at Real Madrid? Would that explain why he's so in favour of allowing Ronaldo to leave United?

And for him to say players are 'slaves' is absolutely reprehensible. How can somebody being paid what professional footballers are paid be a 'slave'? I'd happily be a slave for £40,000 a week or £20,000 a week for that matter. In a world where real slavery still exists it's an incredibly tasteless remark from an incredibly tasteless man.

The game is being ruined by money and sadly those in charge of football these days are driven by cash, not by what's good for the game. Blatter, once again, has shown himself up as a man with no great interest in the game, only in how much money can be siphoned from it.

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For those wondering about The Week in Football podcast our summer holidays, so to speak, are ongoing. Tom Thom(p)son is travelling around the upper-delta region of County Cork while I'm typing this from the Holiday Inn in San Jose. Or, from my house, whichever suits you best.

We'll be back next week to cover pre-season, Italy, Spain and all the usual bits and pieces. 

We're also going to make the blog more bloggy this season, with more comment, pictures, news etc etc so do bookmark.

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So Spain were deserved winners of Euro 2008 last night. I think most people agree they played the best football and on the night Germany really didn't trouble them at all.

In today's Eurocast we get perspective from both sides. Our regular Spanish correspondent Luigi and our German correspondent Tom give their opinions on last night's final while Tom Thom(p)son and I chat in studio about it.

A bit later in the week we'll be looking for your emails/voicemails about the bests and worsts of the tournament. We'll put up a blog post here to tell you exactly what we're looking for so hold off until then. Perhaps to get the conversation going in the comments today people could select their team of the tournament. 

I don't mean 'Spain' or 'Russia' but pick the best XI from all the teams who took part in Euro 2008. And what did you think of the tournament anyway? To me it was much more enjoyable than the last World Cup. Your thoughts very welcome.

I just want to say thanks to everyone who contributed to the Eurocast - whether by voicemail or email it's much appreciated.

Remember, you can subscribe to the Eurocast using iTunes by clicking here (this is also the subsctription for the Week in Football, the regular podcast which will be coming back soon), if you want to subscribe to the feed itself the feed URL is here, you can download directly here or you can listen from this page:

That's that. 

Morning all,

Eurocast to follow. What a good game that was last night, eh? The Turks, with barely 11 fit players, gave Germany a real fright and I don't think they deserved that last minute loser. It is a loser when you're describing it from the Turkish point of view, right?

Perhaps the Croatian and Czech fans won't necessarily agree with me there. Germany though - they looked poor and you'd certainly fancy both Spain or Russia to beat them if they play like that in the final. Although it wouldn't be any surprise if they played brilliantly in that game. Germans love surprises.

Tonight sees Spain v Russia, two of the tournament's most attacking and exciting sides. Hopefully they won't cancel each other out and we'll get the great game we're all hoping for.

Remember, we want your thoughts and emails on the games, so feel free to chip in with whatever you like.

To contact us use the info below:

UK -  +44 20 7193 6971

SWISS - +41 44 586 62 08

But that's not all. If you have Skype you don't even have to pay for a phone call. Simply add 'oleole.com' as a contact then use Skype to call us. It'll go directly to the voicemail.

And if that's not enough we're happy to get your emails too - send them podcast@oleole.com

You can subscribe to the Eurocast using iTunes by clicking here, if you want to subscribe to the feed itself the feed URL is here, you can download directly here or you can listen from this page:

That's that. More tomorrow.

Morning all,

hope you enjoyed the weekend's football. There wasn't much to enjoy about last night's game between Spain and Italy apart from the fact the negative Italians got knocked out. A feast of football it was not.

Russia were excellent against Holland and I'm looking forward to the game against Spain. And despite all their injuries and suspensions you just can't write off Turkey. That's two remarkable comebacks now although I fear they're probably a bit too stretched to trouble the Germans.

So, semi-final predictions from me:

Germany 3-1 Turkey

Spain 2-1 Russia

Yours in the comments as per usual.

Now, in today's Eurocast Tom and I discuss all the weekend's action, make some suggestions about how to stop players kicking the ball out when someone is "injured" and we talk to Luigi about Spain's win over his home country and our Dutch correspondent Ashwin.

Please remember we do want to hear what you think about Euro 2008. It's easy. 

To contact us use the info below:

UK -  +44 20 7193 6971

SWISS - +41 44 586 62 08

But that's not all. If you have Skype you don't even have to pay for a phone call. Simply add 'oleole.com' as a contact then use Skype to call us. It'll go directly to the voicemail.

And if that's not enough we're happy to get your emails too - send them podcast@oleole.com

You can subscribe to the Eurocast using iTunes by clicking here, if you want to subscribe to the feed itself the feed URL is here, you can download directly here or you can listen from this page:

That's that. More soon!

Morning all,

predictions. A difficult business, I'm sure you'll agree. Bakes predicted 3-2 for Germany but after extra time. Should we give him the kudos? Let the people decide. 

I'm really looking forward to tonight's game between Croatia and Turkey - not the most high profile of teams but it's often those that provide the most entertainment. My guess is:

Croatia 4-2 Turkey

A veritable goalfest. Come on! Your predictions in the comments please.

Right, in today's Eurocast we have some of your emails about the German win over Portugal, exclusive dressing room access so we can hear Cristiano Ronaldo's post-game reaction, we talk to Tom our German correspondent and there's a quick preview of tonight's game.

Remember, we are looking for your thoughts on the games, so please email or leave voicemail for the Eurocast. It's easy and it makes you more attractive to the opposite sex. Not doing so makes you poor and smelly. So you know what to do.

To contact us use the info below:

UK -  +44 20 7193 6971

SWISS - +41 44 586 62 08

But that's not all. If you have Skype you don't even have to pay for a phone call. Simply add 'oleole.com' as a contact then use Skype to call us. It'll go directly to the voicemail.

And if that's not enough we're happy to get your emails too - send them podcast@oleole.com

You can subscribe to the Eurocast using iTunes by clicking here, if you want to subscribe to the feed itself the feed URL is here, you can download directly here or you can listen from this page:

Have fun, till tomorrow.

We'll start with congrats to 4ndyL who got both games right in yesterday's predictions. Erm, actually no he didn't. So I withdraw those congratulations and give him half back for getting the Spain result right along with wandarah.

As usual I got none right so for anyone just starting this prediction thing my advice would be to look at what I do and do differently.

It's the first quarter final today though, so that means only one prediction so I have 50% less chance of being wrong. Or something. I reckon Germany are going to do it, actually. 

Germany 2-1 Portugal

Lehmann to save a Ronaldo penalty too. Let us know what you think in the comments. I do like the knock-out stages though, it does make for more exciting football.

Now for the Eurocast. We've got an unhappy Swedish correpondent after his country's exit to the impressive Russia last night, Luigi talks about Spain's win over Greece and how the Spanish press are already starting to build up the game against Italy and a look ahead to tonight's game with Tom Thom(p)son.

Please do keep the emails and voicemails coming though. The more the merrier.

To contact us use the info below:

UK -  +44 20 7193 6971

SWISS - +41 44 586 62 08

But that's not all. If you have Skype you don't even have to pay for a phone call. Simply add 'oleole.com' as a contact then use Skype to call us. It'll go directly to the voicemail.

And if that's not enough we're happy to get your emails too - send them podcast@oleole.com

You can subscribe to the Eurocast using iTunes by clicking here, if you want to subscribe to the feed itself the feed URL is here, you can download directly here or you can listen from this page:

Right then, get your predictions in. More tomorrow.