Welcome to Soccer One-1, the show in which we delve deeper into basic aspects of soccer

that seem straightforward, but oftentimes have a lot going on under the surface.

This week, we're looking at World Cup preparations.

The Women's World Cup kicks off this coming weekend, I do believe. Is that correct, Graham Ruffman?

Let me just check on the basis of our previews.

So we're on E, we've done F, G and H is coming. Yes, I believe that is correct. That is now how I see our calendar is through our previews so we're on E we've done F G and H is coming yes I believe that is correct

that is now how I see our calendar as through our previews and how far through

we are yeah I think July 20th is when it kicks off if you're listening to this we've

got a little bit of time before that but we are very much in World Cup prep mode

as are many of the teams competing in the 2023 Women's World

Cup. But generally speaking, when it comes to World Cups, you get teams scheduling friendlies,

announcing squads, finding accommodation. And it occurred to, I guess, Graham. Graham, this is

your idea or we came up with it collaboratively. But it occurred to me, us, that we don't really

know much about how teams go about deciding where they're going to train.

And we don't know much about how managers go about selecting their squads and then informing the players.

So this episode is meant to be a broader overlook at some of those topics.

Let's start with the announcement of squads.

Graham, what are the kind of guidelines requirements for when teams are expected to release squads

or expected to make some phone calls to some very unhappy players or happy players?

Yeah, so first of all, there is a lot for us to draw on at the moment because, as you mentioned,

Women's World Cup just around the corner, and then we had another World Cup six months ago.

So this has been the most World Cup dense period in football history. We can't move for World Cups at the moment.

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