The Indo World Cup

Vera Pauw could be facing into her final game as Ireland manager with a growing uncertainty about her future on the eve of Ireland's final World Cup game against Nigeria. Talks appear to have stalled between her and the FAI about a contract extension with Ireland's first-ever Women's World Cup coming to an end on Monday. Dave Kelly was at Pauw's final press conference in Brisbane before tomorrow's game and he spoke about a growing inevitability with Sinéad Kissane on Indo World Cup Daily.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vera Pauw's future as Ireland manager is set to come into focus as Ireland get set to sign-off on their debut World Cup. The Ireland squad play their final group stage against Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday after which they will return home. Dave Kelly talks about how discussions over a new contract for Pauw appeared to have stalled before the World Cup and whether she can take the team to the next level. Join Sinéad and Dave for the Indo World Cup Daily and you won’t miss a kick from the 2023 Women’s World Cup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the World Cup ended with a 2-1 defeat to Canada in Perth. Captain Katie McCabe scored a historic goal for Ireland after three minutes but a Megan Connolly own goal and a second half strike from Adriana Leon ensured the win for the reigning Olympic champions. Ireland play Nigeria in their final group game on Monday after which they will return home. Dave Kelly talks through the highs and lows of a game that started so well for Vera Pauw's side. Join Sinéad and Dave for the Indo World Cup Daily and you won’t miss a kick from the 2023 Women’s World Cup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louise Quinn is set to be fit for Ireland's second game of the World Cup against Canada on Wednesday. The Ireland squad has arrived in Perth with Quinn wearing a protective boot over the weekend after a foot injury she picked up in the opening 1-0 loss to Australia. Dave Kelly has all the latest from the Ireland squad in Perth with news also of a boost for Canada with their Chelsea midfielder Jessie Fleming set to be fit. Join Sinéad and Dave every day for the Indo World Cup Daily and you won’t miss a kick from the 2023 Women’s World Cup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's World Cup group has been thrown open after Nigeria held Olympic champions Canada to a 0-0 draw in Melbourne today. Aussie media have also been giving their reaction to some of Ireland captain Katie McCabe's tackles during their 1-0 defeat to Australia yesterday. Our reporter in Australia Dave Kelly goes through Ireland's group ahead of next week's game with Canada in Perth. Join Sinéad and Dave every day for the Indo World Cup Daily and you won’t miss a kick from the 2023 Women’s World Cup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What the hell was that?!" Dan McDonnell and Aidan O'Hara thought they had the best-suited kick-off time for deadlines and podcasts. As it turned out, Dan had to go straight to the airport from the World Cup final. So much happened in this game that ended with Argentina being crowned world champions. The Enzo Fernandez tackle on Mbappe got lost somehow in the madness. The Upamecano block, whilst amazing, deemed almost irrelevelant in this game to end all games. The plot twists as France came back from what looked like their grave with 10 minutes remaining. As Kingsley Coman looked to have showed the passing of the guard as he shoved a tired Lionel Messi and ran away with the ball. And yet Messi wasn't done, was he? In a World Cup decider packed with incident, drama, entertainment, emotion and pure skill, Lionel Messi was indeed the story but the story could be hand-picked from this one - magic is in the eye of the beholder and there was enough magic to go around, you could afford to be selective. From a tournament that started in a cloud of questions, it ended with Gianni Infantino and Qatar inserting themselves into the winner's presentation in a distasteful and uncomfortable manner. Thankfully, those weren't the prevailing memories. The final Indo World Cup podcast of the tournament is here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Breen joins Dan and Aidan to relive France's 2-0 semi-final win over Morocco. The former Republic of Ireland defender discusses the best way to try and live with Kylian Mbappe on a football pitch, Girezmann's brilliance and the Argentina and French World Cup final ahead. Dan dials in from Qatar where they're celebrating their two biggest stars on their books at PSG making it to Sunday's showcase.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a victory for Croatia's football culture. They're not some plucky underdog, like the numbers would suggest. They've been doing this consistently over a sustained period of time and it's a habit they've formed produces brilliant, effective football players. But the Argentina culture stands in their way of a World Cup final spot. The frenzy, the chaos, the passion of Argentinian players, the Argentine support and the push for Lionel Messi to join the greats with a World Cup medal. The first semi-final kicks off at 7pm and Dan joins Aidan from Qatar to preview.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dion Fanning of The Currency joins Dan and Aidan today to preview England v France, the notion of rooting for the English and everpresent debate of Gareth Southgate's chops for the job. Pre-tournament favourites Brazil are gone whilst Argentina came out at the other side of their own penalty shootout but Dan McDonnell was in the stadium for that late game where the match quickly became insignificant due to the tragic and unexpected passing of US sportswriter Grant Wahl. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's media has been in Qatar a number of weeks now and, more and more, the reviews are coming in that this place isn't so bad after all. As broadcasters move from waterfront apartments to VIP access at football games, too many are mistaking their personal experience for the reality of the country. Dan McDonnell has been speaking with residents who have laughed at the idea that the Qatar World Cup reflects everyday life there and certainly, not withstanding all the issues leading to this tournament, the wavering atmosphere, empty seats and quiet streets aren't even that big of a distraction anyway. McDonnell offers his extended thoughts on The Indo World Cup where the Moroccan supporters seemed to be one of only four sets of fans who weren't able to acquire tickets for their last 16 clash on Tuesday. The manufacturing of a good time hasn't generated the buzz FIFA would've liked but, still, positive sentiments from the press are being stacking up. Meanwhile, Portugal ripped through Switzerland with Ronaldo sat on the bench for most of it and Spain continue their run of terrible penalty shootouts - unless they're playing Ireland of course.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe it's not fair on any modern footballer to use Damien Duff as an unattainable yard stick but Gary Breen goes there when assessing the finished product of this Brazil squad and Neymar Jr. England stormed through into the quarter-finals last night by swatting Senegal aside and Roy Keane was all over Jude Bellingham. Dan McDonnell was at France's win over Poland as Deschamps set up a first-time major tournament face-off with Gareth Southgate. And Arsene Wenger's comments on teams being too focused on politics at this World Cup were especially disappointing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Kerr joins The Indo World Cup today to preview Argentina v Australia and Netherlands v USA and, as expected, it's detailed and insightful. On Friday, the tears of Luis Suarez quickly turned to the anger of a lot of Uruguay players who chased the referee off the pitch following their 2-0 win over Ghana. The victory wasn't enough to see Uruguay through their World Cup group after South Korea beat Portugal and secured their path into the last 16 by virtue of one goal. Both Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani had shouts for penalties during the game - VAR checked Nunez's but both were turned down and Dan McDonnell and Aidan O'Hara wonder how outrageous it really was that they didn't get a penalty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.