Podcast: FIFA, Sepp Blatter, Women's World Cup, Champions League final

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 4, 2015

Weeks in world soccer don't get much more monumental than this one.

Between Sepp Blatter's shocking resignation announcement, the revelations and threats from Chuck Blazer and Jack Warner and the forthcoming Women's World Cup and Champions League final, there's no shortage of topics to delve into for the latest Planet Fútbol Podcast.

What was the real motivation and reasoning for Blatter stepping down (which won't actually happen until FIFA holds its emergency election, something that could take place as late as December or even into 2016)? Is true reform really on the way? Or is this actually a calculated move by Blatter to ensure he has control over FIFA's future before he steps aside?

The U.S. women's national team, meanwhile, begins its quest for its first World Cup title in 16 years on Monday against Australia. How impactful is Alex Morgan's injury going to be, and how important is it for the U.S women to finish first in their group given who could be waiting in the knockout round?

FEATURES: USWNT doctor on WWC turf | Morgan | Wambach | Lloyd

Finally, either Barcelona or Juventus will capture the treble on Saturday, with each bringing a domestic league title and cup into the Champions League final in Berlin. Can Juve put a strangehold on Barça's dynamic Messi-Suárez-Neymar front line and ride Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo to victory? Or will Barcelona win its fourth title in 10 seasons? Regardless this season has been about redemption for both managers, Max Allegri and Luis Enrique, who each battled critics from the start to reach the cusp of the club pinnacle in his first season at the helm.

SI's Grant Wahl, Brian Straus, Ben Lyttleton and Avi Creditor discuss that and more in the new Planet Fútbol Podcast. Listen below: