Lukas Podolski has been on everyone's lips for the last two transfer windows. Many wanted to see the former Bayern Munich striker at Arsenal as backup to captain Robin Van Persie in January. Unfortunately he decided to stay in Cologne simply to cement his position in the German national teams for the looming Euros this [.

Our German correspondent is back with a look at some of the teams and players doing well as the Bundesliga restarts.

Languagecaster's Football Language Quiz 3 is here - test your football language knowledge

On Sunday, January 22, 2012, Manchester United will take the pitch against Arsenal at the Emirates. Cognizant of the simple fact that Manchester United handed Arsenal an 8-2 loss that is counted amongst the very worst in a period of 100 years, no one is giving much reason to believe that the Gunners have a chance against the Red Devils.

| Subscribe: Predictions On this week's predictions we have games from around the world including the Bundesliga, the African Nations Cup curtain raiser, big games in the Premier League, as well as a crunch tie in Italy. You can listen to Damon and Damian discussing their predictions on this week's show.

How much do you know about the Football League Cup? Listen to this week's languagecaster podcast to find out.

Infographic - If Premier League clubs were countries

Chances are, your beloved Premier League club has accumulated a decent amount of wealth. Instead of comparing Aston Villa to Werder Bremen or Liverpool to PSG, this infographic puts things into a completely new perspective.

The Oxford Dictionary reckons 'squeezed middle' was the word of the year in 2011, but what about in the footballing world?

In this week's review of the footballing action, we congratulate Manchester City, wonder how long Ronaldo will be out after picking up a nasty illness and spotlight Liverpool's controversial defence of their banned Uruguayan striker, Suarez.

On this week's podcast it's Christmas and football - stories and traditions.

As Christmas approaches, on this week's main listening report, we take a look at football at Christmas through the years: folk football and rioting, a football game in the middle of war, and Boxing Day.

In this week's review of the footballing action, we take a look back at the football life of the great Brazilian player Socrates as well as congratulating his former club Corinthians on winning the Brazilian title.

The Club World Cup kicks off in Tokyo, there is El Clásico in La Liga and some big games in England, France and Italy on this week's languagecaster predictions.

On this week's podcast, Damian looks forward to the exciting climax in the Brazilian championship with a host of derbies and the title in the balance.

Este 26 de Noviembre Javier Hernandez jugo contra el equipo de Kuno Becker en la pelicula de Goal, la suerte no estaba de lado del mexicano Chicharito Hernandez quien tuvo varias oportunidades y un gol anulado, el tanto que vino a dar el empate definitivo al Manchester United fue de rebote y así el delantero mexicano salvo de nuevo a los red devils.

On this week's podcast, we hail one of the great modern footballers - Juventus and Italy's Del Piero.

In this week's main listening report, we salute a remarkable achievement and a fantastic player as Del Piero appoaches 700 professional games.

Who has been winding who up in the football world - and what does 'to wind up' mean? Check out the latest football phrase from langaugecaster.com

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Weekly Football Phrase

Each week the languagecaster team will explain a football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. On this week's show we feature the phrase headless chicken.

Our weekly podcast with a review of the weekly football stories, a main report, an English for football phrase and match predictions.

This week, languagecaster's podcast focuses on what is happening in the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga. Remember, you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

Who is your team's talisman? - languagecaster.com's weekly football phrase

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Weekly Football Phrase

Each week the languagecaster team will explain a football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. On this week's show we feature the word talisman.

This week's languagecaster football phrase is - To lay down a marker. Do you think Man City laid down a marker by beating United 6-1?

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Weekly Football Phrase

Each week the languagecaster team will explain a football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. On this week's show we feature the phrase To lay down a marker.

This week on languageacster.com, we spotlight the run in to the title in the J League in Japan, looking at who can win it and at a big team staring at relegation.

This week on languageacster.com, we spotlight the run in to the title in the J League in Japan, looking at who can win it and at a big team staring at relegation. Remember, you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Weekly Football Phrase

Each week the languagecaster team will explain a football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. On this week's show is the English for football phrase to shore up.

Does your team need to shore up its defence? This week's English for football phrase from languagecaster - to shore up

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Main Listening Report | Complete List Here

On this week's main report, Hans, our German correspondent spotlights Bayern Munich, a team that has had a fantastic start to the season in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

On this week's main report, Hans, our German correspondent spotlights Bayern Munich, a team that has had a fantastic start to the season in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

In the seventh podcast of season 6, we take a look at La Liga and which teams will struggle for survival and which teams will be fighting for the title and a Champions League spot. Remember, you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Weekly Football Phrase

Each week the languagecaster team will explain a football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. Click on the link below to hear the word or phrase, while you can also read the transcript below that.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In this week's review section, a wonderful gesture by the Old Lady, Korean clubs in the Asian Champions League and a football executive forced to resign in England.

After lots of European action last week with the national teams, it's time for the clubs to get in on the action. On this week's podcast, the team at languagecaster.com previews the Champions League group stages as they kick off next week. Remember, you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In this week's review section, success in Europe for the big teams as they march towards the European finals in Poland and the Ukraine in 2012, while Wales let England off the hook.

It's week four season 6 and already it's an international break. On this week's podcast, the team at languagecaster.com previews the European Championship qualifiers as they begin to approach the business end of the qualifying stages. Remember, you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

The World Cup is over, the Women's that is, and Nadeshiko Japan are champions! The Copa America has also finished with Uruguay surprise winners. But around the world football fans are beginning to look forward to the new club season in Europe. Languagecaster.com will be back for the start of the new English Premier League season next week with a new series of podcasts and English-learning materials for football fans everywhere.

Robin Van Persie doesn't think that the present Arsenal squad can consider themselves as title contenders, not after making a has of it at the end of most seasons, and he thinks that Arsene Wenger needs to bring in a "number of players" to make the Gunners into real trophy contenders again. He said: "Every [.

U.S. Soccer's Studio 90 has got a cool profile of USMNT midfielder Clint Dempsey about his time abroad playing for London's Fulham FC.
In his time at the Cottagers, Dempsey has had to impress five different managers (and another one on the way) and was crucial in keeping Fulham from relegation a few years back scoring a game winner against Liverpool.