83 episodes

School is back in session. Join a rotating collection of some of Australian football’s finest brain thinkers in Joey Lynch, Nick Stoll, Nick D'Urbano, and Josh Parish -- as well as some special guests along the way -- for The National Curriculum.
Every week, the TNC crew will look back at the week that was in Australian football and bring you the best analysis and opinion in Australian football. No cow is too sacred, no topic too taboo, or figure too untouchable to be spared the wrath of Good Football Takes™

The National Curriculum ESPN Australia/NZ

    • Sports

School is back in session. Join a rotating collection of some of Australian football’s finest brain thinkers in Joey Lynch, Nick Stoll, Nick D'Urbano, and Josh Parish -- as well as some special guests along the way -- for The National Curriculum.
Every week, the TNC crew will look back at the week that was in Australian football and bring you the best analysis and opinion in Australian football. No cow is too sacred, no topic too taboo, or figure too untouchable to be spared the wrath of Good Football Takes™

    The International Curriculum | One-on-one with Graham Arnold | November 15, 2023

    The International Curriculum | One-on-one with Graham Arnold | November 15, 2023

    The Socceroos quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin this week, so we’re bringing back a special episode of the International Curriculum – Joey Lynch sitting down one-on-one with Australia coach Graham Arnold. 
    With games against Bangladesh and Palestine looming, Arnie talks about his squad selection for this window and how his squad will adjust to being the ball-dominant, proactive side in possession against the parked bus of Asian minnows.
    There’s #VolpatoWatch, #IrankundaWatch and reflections on his past four years as he prepares to set the record for most games in charge of Australia with 59 games – breaking Frank Farina’s record -- and reflections on that Japan defeat in Sydney, arguably the lowest point across his tenure.
    Thanks and Success.
    TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:
    ► Follow TNC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball
    ► Follow TFP on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefarpostpod
    ► Follow ESPN on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► Like TNC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► ESPN Australia and New Zealand's Football Home: https://www.espn.com.au/football/
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    • 25 min
    TNC gets sacked two weeks into the season | November 3, 2023

    TNC gets sacked two weeks into the season | November 3, 2023

    One normal day of Isuzu Ute A-Liga Hombres. All I ask. Will never happen.
    After a bonkers week of Aussie sokkah, Joey Lynch is joined by Jason Pine, the voice of New Zealand football on Sky Sport NZ and the host of Weekend Sport on Newstalk ZB, to try to make sense of it all.
    Rado Vidosic is out at Melbourne City after just two games, the last of which was a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Adelaide. Why did it happen? What does it mean? And will new interim coach Aurelio Vidmar be any good? There's also the Auckland expansion franchise and talk of Chris Greenacre being tapped as its next coach, is that a good move? And how's that endeavour placed anyway? Australia's World Cup bid certainly isn't placed well, with the 2034 men's World Cup now set for Saudi Arabia after a bespoke bidding process by FIFA.
    Then there's the games. Adelaide United are looking the goods, as is Melbourne Victory -- but City, Sydney and the Mariners aren't. Of those three, who are most likely to right the ship? Are the Wanderers the team to beat? And is Wellington... well... are they good or not?
    Then, the great man, Ben Smith of the West Australian, jumps into the show to provide his on-the-ground view of the Matildas' Olympic qualifying campaign. Is Tony G good now?
    Thanks and Success.
    TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:
    ► Follow TNC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball
    ► Follow TFP on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefarpostpod
    ► Follow ESPN on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► Like TNC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► ESPN Australia and New Zealand's Football Home: https://www.espn.com.au/football/
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    • 1 hr 56 min
    TNC needs a $500k Bank Guarantee | October 25, 2023

    TNC needs a $500k Bank Guarantee | October 25, 2023

    The A-Leagues are in full swing, Danny Townsend is off to Saudi Arabia, someone might (finally) buy the Jets, Silver Lake might want their money back, and there are new NSD rumours! Bit happening.
    Joey Lynch is joined by ESPN contributor and all-around superstar Stephanie Brantz and Fagiano Okayama midfielder and one-haff of the Football Friends with Ben & Stef podcast Stefan Mauk to look at yet another big week in Aussie Sokkah.
    With the A-Liga back, what's the vibe and how can the leagues kick on? With Townsend off to the Middle East, what's his legacy and what does it say about the nature of the leagues as an entity? Are the Jets finally on the verge of ownership? Are the reports surrounding Silver Lake's involvement in the A-Leagues a reason to be concerned? And what about that leak of supposed second division details -- what does that tell us?
    And as usual, there's a very in-depth look at all 12 games across the A-League Men (39:20) and A-League Women (01:14:45) competitions. Victory makes a Big Blue statement, Adelaide is giving the keys to the kids, Noah Botic is demanding to step up, Sydney's women are still in transition, Western United's women are back on their late comebacks, 14-year-olds (14!!!) are playing in the Dub, and much more!
    Thanks and Success.
    TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:
    ► Follow TNC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball
    ► Follow TFP on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefarpostpod
    ► Follow ESPN on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► Like TNC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► ESPN Australia and New Zealand's Football Home: https://www.espn.com.au/football/
    ► Follow Football Friends with Ben & Stef on Twitter: https://twitter.com/benandstefpod
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 50 min
    STILL UNDEFEATED | October 19, 2023

    STILL UNDEFEATED | October 19, 2023

    The Grand Final deal is dead! Long live the Unite Round!
    Joey Lynch is joined by AAP and the Far Post Podcast's Anna Harrington and rising star Lani Johnson to look at a huge ten days in Aussie sokkah.
    The A-Liga's scrapping the grand final deal is front and centre but there's also Auckland expansion, Perth's new owners, the Sokkahroos in action against England and New Zealand and the return of #VolpatoWatch! And how about the record-setting return of the A-Liga Feminina and the Matildas announcing their squad for Olympic qualifying?
    Thanks and Success.
    TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:
    ► Follow TNC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball
    ► Follow TFP on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball
    ► Follow ESPN on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► Like TNC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► ESPN Australia and New Zealand's Football Home: https://www.espn.com.au/football/
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 43 min
    Destination A-Liga Feminina | October 10, 2023

    Destination A-Liga Feminina | October 10, 2023

    The National Curriculum is back for 2023-24! No nonsense here? No, nonsense here!
    Joey Lynch is joined by AAP's George Clarke, The West Australian's Ben Smith, and ESPN superstar Steph Brantz to look at all the big stories in Australian sokkah and preview the A-League Women and Socceroos.
    What's the go with the A-Liga Blokes and VAR? And what about expansion, the Grand Final deal, Stephen Conroy, and Danny Townsend?
    What about the A-Liga Feminina? After the Women's World Cup there's a lot of hope and promise but where are we trying to go? Is the competition able to become a destination league?
    And with the Socceroos set to meet England, what are realistic expectations for Graham Arnold's side?
    Thanks and Success.
    TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:
    ► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball
    ► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► ESPN Australia and New Zealand's Football Home: https://www.espn.com.au/football/
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 59 min
    Law and Order: A-Liga Intent | February 26 2023

    Law and Order: A-Liga Intent | February 26 2023

    In the A-Liga justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The PFA who investigate crime and the Independent Judiciary Committees who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories. DUN DUN
    When the week is highlighted by claims that a coach punched one of their players and the PFA are investigating, you know it's a weird one. Stoll and Joey are joined by TNC's man in West Australia Ben Smith to discuss the allegations that were levelled against Perth Glory coach Ruben Zadkovich last week, as well as his suggestion that someone might be out to get the club.
    The boys are also joined at the start of the show by Taryn Heddo, who helps break down the increasingly tight race for the final playoff place in the A-Liga Femenina.
    Taryn also gives an insight into the importance of pride and acceptance in football and the broader community, as the team talks about a successful first-ever A-Leagues Pride round across the weekend.
    There's also a breakdown of the latest A-Liga Hombres round, including Nestor Irankunda's screamer to earn Adelaide a point against Melbourne Victory, and a whole lot more.
    Thanks and Success.
    TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:
    ► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball
    ► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​
    ► Join the TNC A-Leagues Men's Fantasy League: https://play.keepup.com.au/a-league-men/fantasy/?action=join-group&code=102854
    ► ESPN Australia and New Zealand's Football Home: https://www.espn.com.au/football/
    Remember, Joey Lynch is the worst person in the world.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 43 min

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