So the last international break of the noughties has been and gone, we know who will be lining up in South Africa next summer, and we know that Robin Van Persie’s ligaments will soon be enjoying the sweet, sweet smell of placenta fluid as he looks to regain the momentum lost in another meaningless friendly.

But, more importantly, the Fantasy League is back. Managers up and down the country have been anxiously pacing the floors of their homes, awaiting terrible news of their charges. It was not just Carlo Ancelotti who grimaced when word of Frank Lampard’s thigh strain reached England.

Gameweek 12 was nothing too special, we had Captain JT leading Chelsea to a controversial win over Manchester United, big John Carew slaloming his way through Bolton’s defence like a graceful giraffe, and another Arsenal masterclass at Wolves. The more things change….

You can join the Football Media fantasy football league (and try your hand at beating Neil to the finish line) by signing up here.

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In the wake of Ireland’s heartbreaking aggregate defeat to France, where Thierry Henry’s handballed assist for William Gallas to score an equaliser in extra time denied a team who had performed magnificently to haul themselves level, we pay tribute to five of the greatest footballing heartbreakers in recent memory.

We start off, perhaps predictably, with the greatest last-gasp turnaround of events in recent footballing history.

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Adrian Clarke and Iain Spragg are in fine form on Episode 29 of the world famous Soccerlens Podcast. 

There’s a host of juicy topics to get stuck into this week and the duo’s heated debate centres on Thierry Henry’s lack of sportsmanship, the miracle powers of horse placenta and the prospects for manager-less Scotland.

There’s also the usual stack of match previews including a trio of Premier League games in Sunderland v Arsenal, Man United v Everton and Liverpool v Man City – and the animated pair end proceedings with a light-hearted look through this week’s podcast mailbag. 

Check out episode 29 now!

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Nine months, 456 matches, and controversy aplenty. And it all comes down to to one game, one high-octane head-to-head for the title.

The fourteenth season of Major League Soccer is nearing its end and, while Seattle Sounders have skewed an otherwise worrying attendance picture, the action on the field has impressed. Two teams are still standing, and they’ll play for MLS Cup in Seattle this Sunday. It may not be the final commissioner Don Garber would have wanted – apart from one obvious element – but it has all the makings of an exciting one.

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Join celebrated football pundit, author, radio show host and DJ Andy Brassell every Monday on the Soccerlens Show.

England’s second-string lost to Brazil on Saturday in Doha, an event that was expected but led to the expected round of national team bashing by the English press. There was a lot of criticism but very little offered in terms of how England can improve.

In this week’s episode, Andy kicks things off with a close look at England’s troubles – the fact that the excellent U21 players don’t get enough time with their clubs, the fact that England are still a few steps behind Spain and Brazil in youth development and ideas on how to fix both problems.

It’s an interesting point of view – and I highly recommend that you watch this week’s show.

Andy also covers the first legs of the European World Cup qualifying playoffs that saw France and Slovenia get valuable away goals while Bosnia failed to capitalise on a good showing away to Portugal. France look to be favourites to go through (and Portugal, if they were to get an away goal, would have an excellent chance as well) but as Andy says, both France and Portugual will have serious problems going into their second legs.

You can watch the show below or by following this link:

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19-year-old Norwegian starlet Jo Inge Berget is contracted to Udinese Calcio, but would rather be anywhere else than in Udine.

After a loan spell at his home club in Norway, the striker was expected by Norwegian media to get a call-up to the senior national team in November, alongside players such as Aston Villas John Carew and Le Mans Club’s Thorstein Helstad.

In contrast, at Udinese he plays for the Under 20s team. Is he an example of a curious collection of talented footballers to fall victim to a Serie A cultural barrier? The nature of the reception committee in Italian clubs requires another look.

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