Why England’s issues are mounting – and who could be the next Scotland manager?

Why England’s issues are mounting – and who could be the next Scotland manager?

Author: The Independent June 28, 2026 Duration: 36:21

Thomas Tuchel’s England side progressed to the knockout stage as Group L winners after a 2-0 victory over Panama – but are there more questions than answers for the Three Lions ahead of their last-32 clash against DR Congo on Wednesday? 


Where does Tuchel go next with his unnecessary right-back conundrum? Who out of Rashford, Rogers and Saka took their opportunity from the start? And how much did England miss Declan Rice (a lot)? Kieran Jackson, Miguel Delaney and Richard Jolly are stateside to discuss. 


We also speak about two dramatic managerial exits in the last 24 hours: that of Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa and, of more surprise, Scotland’s Steve Clarke, who stepped down after Scottish hopes vanished on Saturday and they exited the World Cup. And we also speak about the best last-32 match-ups coming up this week, with the knockout phase starting with Canada vs South Africa on Sunday.


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Every Wednesday, the conversation starts fresh. The Indy Football Podcast gathers The Independent's football journalists, led by host Luke Brown, to break down the latest from the Premier League, Champions League, and all the stories shaping the game. This isn't just a recap; it's a forward-looking discussion designed to equip you for the weekend's fixtures and the biggest European nights. What sets this podcast apart is its access. Alongside the regular panel, you'll hear from a rotating cast of insiders-former players, agents, and coaches-who bring a unique perspective from within the sport's inner circles. The analysis is sharp, the previews are detailed, and the tone is like listening in on a knowledgeable debate among friends who live and breathe football. Tune in each week for a thoughtful, comprehensive take on everything that matters, delivered with the authority and clarity you'd expect from The Independent.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Copa Independent
Podcast Episodes
The best World Cup semi-finals…..ever? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:56
On the latest episode of COPA Independent, Lawrence Ostlere is joined by Miguel Delaney in Atlanta and Kieran Jackson to preview the World Cup semi-finals: England v Argentina and Spain v France, a last four featuring th…
Can anyone stop France? Plus our bold England vs Norway predictions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
Lawrence Ostler is joined by Miguel Delaney, Richard Jolly and Kieran Jackson to react to France’s 2-0 win over Morocco, with Kylian Mbappé central again to an imperious performance. After looking ahead to Friday's quart…
Altitude v attitude: Will England survive Mexico City? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:23
Lawrence Ostlere is joined by Miguel Delaney, Kieran Jackson and Jack Rathborn to preview Mexico v England at the Azteca and the impact of Mexico City’s altitude (about 7,200 feet) and heat on England, with Miguel descri…
The new World Cup format is broken [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
The newly bloated 48-team World Cup format has plenty of problems, but perhaps the biggest of all has shown itself over the past two days, and it was entirely in Fifa’s control. The decision to decide group rankings by h…
What England MUST change against Panama after drab Ghana draw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:24
In our latest episode of Copa Independent, chief football writer Miguel Delaney, on the ground in Boston, and sports editor Jack Rathborn in New York dissect England's underwhelming showing against Ghana. After so much o…
Messi v Ronaldo? The debate was always absurd [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:03
In the latest episode of Copa Independent, Lawrence Ostlere and Miguel Delaney discuss a fascinating Golden Boot race as Lionel Messi scores twice against Austria to move onto five goals, while Kylian Mbappé and Erling H…
The Tuchel team-talk that fired England to beat Croatia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:33
Football writers Miguel Delaney, Richard Jolly and Lawrence Ostlere are in North America to discuss England’s statement 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. Did Thomas Tuchel’s team-talk change the game? Was England’s display…