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Essential Football

Sky Sports
Premier League
Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Champions League
Chelsea
World Cup
England
Football
Scotland
Mental Health
Liverpool FC
Aston Villa
Michael Carrick
Mohamed Salah
England National Football Team
Sky Sports News
VAR

Essential Football is where you'll find Sky Sports' coverage of the biggest stories and talking points in football. From in-depth interviews to documentaries, from the Premier League to the WSL - it's all covered. •For all the latest football news, head to www.skysports.com/football •For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk

PublishesDailyEpisodes561Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerNewsSportsSports News

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Latest Episodes

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For the final time, Hayley McQueen and Dharmesh Sheth round up everything you need to know this Monday, after Spain beat ten-man Argentina 1-0 in extra time to lift the World Cup.

We hear from our correspondents, Kaveh Solhekol and Gary Cotterill, w... more

Hayley McQueen has Sunday's 'Cheat Sheet At The World Cup,' the morning after one of the most remarkable England games in recent memory!

The Three Lions beat France 6-4 in Miami to end their 2026 tournament with a third place finish and a bronze me... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gioia Piquet
Reporter, guest discussing final
Sky Sports News
Episode: England bring home bronze in 10 goal thriller against France!
Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender
Former England national team
Episode: Tuchel takes the blame, but says no regrets in Argentina defeat as England prepare to face France. Even President Trump has his say on Tuchel's tactics!
Dave Reed
Studio analyst providing tactical breakdown
Sky Sports
Episode: Tuchel defends his tactics as 'smoky' New York gears up for the World Cup final
Gary Neville
Former footballer and pundit
Sky Sports
Episode: Tuchel defends his tactics as 'smoky' New York gears up for the World Cup final
Martin Tyler
Legendary Sky Sports commentator
Sky Sports
Episode: England one match away from a World Cup Final against Spain!
Michael Bridge
Sky Sports presenter and pundit on location
Sky Sports News
Episode: England fitness update, why Bellingham and Tuchel are bringing out the best of each other & a semi-final preview
Gary Cottrell
Reporter with Norway coverage ahead of the match
Sky Sports News
Episode: Can England see off Haaland and Norway? Spain set up blockbuster clash with France
Carve Solokal
Reporter providing pre-match updates and insights from the England camp
Sky Sports News
Episode: Can England see off Haaland and Norway? Spain set up blockbuster clash with France
Jonathan Northcroft
Chief sports writer
The Times
Episode: Kansas City Takeover! We go inside England's training base ahead of Norway quarter final.

Hosts

Hayley McQueen
Host of the Cheat Sheet At The World Cup, Sky Sports News.
Matt Kabir Floyd
Host of Cheat Sheet At The World Cup.
Rob Dorsett
Studio pundit/reporter providing on-site analysis.
Pete Graves
Host/Moderator in closing segment; host of Cheat Sheet.
Gary Cotterill
Sky Sports News reporter; on-site updates.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 176 ratings
  • A great recap of all things happening on the World Cup

    A great podcast about the World Cup

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DzikZbik
    Poland2 months ago
  • Cheat Sheet

    Liking the new morning World Cup pod. Short and sharp.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vautrain
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Essential

    Essential ⚽️⚽️⚽️

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    FifaGod 123
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Joke

    Bellingham England most influential player that’s a absolute joke would you rather lose Harry Kane or Bellingham that a absolute joke

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Araenalllllllllll
    Canada4 years ago
  • Clueless waffling hosts

    They barely know the England players names, let alone the mega stars from other squads. Who hired this useless duo? Its nothing but hot air. And to top it off, its poorly produced. Save your time and listen to the BBC’s Daily Euros or The Athletic instead.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    McToot17
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners criticize repetition or sound quality and advertising integration.
Mostly positive about concise, bite-sized World Cup updates and on-site reporting.
Pleased with expert punditry and morning-roundup format, though a few find it too promotional.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#210
Canada/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#44
China/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#141
Ukraine/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#162
India/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#166
Indonesia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#186
Taiwan/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Netherlands and Japan draw 2-2, big wins for Germany and Sweden, and Ivory Coast leave it late. Plus Henderson on why Bellingham gives England the X-factor!
Q: Who's going to be England's number 10? Is it Jude Bellingham?
The discussion clarifies that Jude Bellingham is the leading candidate, with emphasis on his influence and fit within the starting XI.
Argentina avoid biggest World Cup upset against Cape Verde and England's kick off chaos!
Q: Marcus, you've played in some of the biggest stadiums in the world; what are you expecting in the Azteca?
Marcus responded that they are focused on delivering their best regardless of the environment and that the mentality is to deal with whatever is thrown at them, staying unified.
BONUS BOYD! 'We got the win - it could've been worse, it could've been better!' Kris Boyd looks back on Scotland's win over Haiti.
Q: Kris, what were your reflections on the game against Haiti and how the team performed overall?
I thought Scotland did enough to win, grinding out a result with key contributions from Ferguson in midfield and a solid defensive showing, but there were clear moments where the team could improve in transition and possession to better handle the next matchups.
70 seconds is all it took for Morocco to deny Scotland a place in history, for now!
Q: Should Scotland have had at least one penalty when McGinn and McTominay went down?
Kris Boyd discusses the penalties as controversial but 50-50, suggesting at least one should have been given on another day, while recognizing the officials' decision not to award them in this match.
BONUS CHEAT SHEET! Kris Boyd looks ahead to Scotland's first World Cup match since 1998!
Q: If Steve Clarke goes with two upfront against Haiti, who are the two players?
Che Adams and Lawrence Shanklin are the likely pair, with Adams' pace and Shanklin's evolving finishing ability providing a complementary partnership.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Football

What is Essential Football about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-paced daily roundup of World Cup news, results, and analysis from Sky Sports News reporters on the ground. Episodes center on match tactics, key player performances, and the evolving stories around teams like England, Spain, Argentina, and Norway, with live reporting from training camps, stadiums, and event hubs across the U.S. The show blends tactical breakdown, reaction, and lighter moments from the tournament, making it a reliable morning briefing for fans who want sharp, bite-sized insights before they start their day. A few episodes stand out for bringing on-site voices, live updates, and clear takeaways that help listeners understand how teams approach big knockout-stage games, schedule impacts, and star players. This daily for... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Essential Football?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Essential Football:

1. Sky Sports Premier League Podcast
2. Transfer Talk
3. Football Daily
4. The Gary Neville Podcast
5. Paper Talk

How many episodes of Essential Football are there?

Essential Football launched 6 years ago and published 561 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Essential Football?

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What guests have appeared on Essential Football?

Recent guests on Essential Football include:

1. Gioia Piquet
2. Rio Ferdinand
3. Dave Reed
4. Gary Neville
5. Martin Tyler
6. Michael Bridge
7. Gary Cottrell
8. Carve Solokal

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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