Planet Fútbol with Grant Wahl

Brian is finally back in Moscow, albeit in the hotel from hell, and he and Grant look ahead to the France-Croatia World Cup final on Sunday. Plus Grant interviews Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist for the Washington Post, who talks about his visit to Russia and soccer in the bigger picture.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and Brian discuss Liverpool’s pulsating victory over Manchester City to end City’s hopes of an undefeated Premier League season, Landon Donovan’s surprise un-retirement to join Mexico’s León, and this week’s United Soccer Coaches convention in Philadelphia, also known as Tracksuit Woodstock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With December winding down, it's time to do some reflecting on 2015, a year in which we were able to, at last, bring back the Planet Fútbol Podcast. We're thankful that we were able to re-launch, we're even more thankful for every single one of our listeners and we're grateful that we were able to welcome some terrific guests while we discussed all of the happenings in the soccer world on a weekly basis. Over the last eight months we assembled an interview lineup that included three World Cup winners and a host of other international stars, coaches and executives, so it's only appropriate that as we compile a best-of edition of our show, we go position by position to come up with a five-a-side team (plus a coach) we'd take to battle on the field any day of the week. == The Planet Futbol Podcast is brought you by the SeatGeek app, available in app stores and at seatgeek.com. Enter code PLANET in the app to for a $20 rebate off your first purchase. We are also sponsored by FanDuel. Enter promo code PLANET at FanDuel.com to play a risk-free tournament for up to $10.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Champions League final is set: Juventus will play Barcelona on June 6 in Berlin, and SI's Avi Creditor, Grant Wahl and Ben Lyttleton discuss the semifinals, whether Juve can slay another Spanish giant and wonder if managers Luis Enrique and Max Allegri are getting enough credit. SI's Brian Straus joins the fray to pay tribute to the careers of Brad Friedel and Dwayne De Rosario, with both announcing their retirements this week.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant speaks to his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, a CNN medical analyst and co-host of the podcast EPIDEMIC, about the latest coronavirus news and listener questions. Then he interviews American Lauren Barnes about playing for Melbourne City in the Australian women's league final on March 21, one of the last pro sports events anywhere on the planet during the virus. Barnes describes what it was like winning that final in an empty stadium and details her harrowing trip back from Australia to Los Angeles on a full Qantas flight, one of the last ones that wasn't canceled. Barnes adds her thoughts on her NWSL team, OL Reign, what kind of changes are in store under new owners from Lyon and what's up next for the NWSL as it hunkers down like the rest of us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices