Episode 50: Boca’s turbulent week, Lanús’ impressive start and more

The fiftieth episode of Hand Of Pod is a weekend release as we weren’t able to record earlier in the week. In it, we look back over an interesting first round of matches in the 2012 Torneo Clausura, and also consider Godoy Cruz, Lanús and Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores in midweek. Lanús, Rafaela and Boca started well with wins, San Lorenzo were dire, and Racing (in the eyes of Sam and Australian Dan) were pretty poor. English Dan disagrees on that last point, of course. We also discuss the Argentines at Catania, and some others abroad, including new Everton cult hero Denis Stracqualursi’s recent upturn in form. Thanks to all our listeners for helping us to fifty episodes (we wouldn’t have bothered if you weren’t paying attention), and we hope you enjoy the next fifty as well!

Tags: Argentine football podcast, Basile, Boca Juniors, Catania, Clausura 2012, Lanús, Racing, River Plate, San Lorenzo, Simeone

Episode 49: A very uncontroversial league name, Argentine football clubs as film genres and more

The forty-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod is the 2012 Torneo Clausura preview edition, and we begin with a brief discussion of the title name of this year’s competition, which has attracted really far more controversy than it merits in the British press. We then move on through our predictions for the next five months, to end by likening each club in the Argentine Primera (including a little-known, easily forgotten side called Boca Something-or-other) to a film genre. In between we discuss the key summer transfers, how much trouble San Lorenzo and Tigre are in and more. Enjoy.

Tags: Argentine football, Boca Juniors, Colón, Juan Román Riquelme, San Lorenzo, Seba Verón, Tigre, Torneo Crucero Belgrano, Vélez Sarsfield

Episode 48: Gay Simon, Platense and other silly names

The 48th episode of Hand Of Pod is another summer special for 2012. In it, Seba tells us about the foundation and history of one of the Argentine lower divisions’ biggest and most traditional clubs, Platense, who are the club David Trezeguet cut his teeth at. From there we take a diversion through other Argentine clubs and why they’re called what they are, in another shortened episode to help you warm up for what’s to come in the Clausura. Enjoy.

Tags: Argentine football club names, Argentine football history, Argentine football podcast, Newell's Old Boys, Platense, San Lorenzo

Episode 47: Summer special 1 with special guest Futsal Dan

English Dan is on holiday, but fear not, Dan lovers! The forty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod – and the first of our summer 2012 specials – features two Dans all the same. And what’s more, for the first time ever, both of them are Australian! This won’t be at all confusing. Sam and Australian Dan are joined by Dan Cappellaro, a futsal player from Perth who’s in Buenos Aires on trial with Deportivo Caseros, one of Argentina’s top futsal teams. You can follow him on Twitter here, and check out his website too. He tells us how he got noticed by them, compares Argentina’s football culture with Australia’s, and asks us just why Argentina is so crazy about football. It’s a short episode, but a sweet one to whet your appetite for the year ahead. Enjoy.

Tags: Argentine football podcast, Argentine futsal, Australian football, Australian futsal, futsal, Racing, Teo Gutírrez

Episode 46: The 2011 Apertura review

In the forty-sixth epsiode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Seba and English Dan look back on the 2011 Torneo Apertura, which ended on Monday. Boca Juniors ended as undefeated champions, and the champions with the most points difference ahead of the team(s) in second place. We look at Boca’s record, Racing’s underwhelming campaign, Tigre’s ongoing woe and Godoy Cruz’s joy at their Copa Libertadores qualification. There’s the Hand Of Pod Team Of The Apertura (well, most of it) and a whole glut of readers’ questions on everything from the structure of the league to Racing’s 1967 Intercontinental Cup win over Celtic. This is the last Hand Of Pod of 2011, so Merry Christmas to all, and a happy new year. We’ll see you in 2012.

Click here to subscribe to us on iTunes, or listen below.

Tags: Apertura 2011, Argentine football podcast, Belgrano, Boca Juniors, Franco Vázquez, Godoy Cruz, Racing, Tigre

Episode 45: Boca Juniors’ title win, more melodrama at River and romantic tales from the Copa

The forty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod is introduced by Queens Park Rangers star Alejandro Faurlín, and sees Sam, Seba and English Dan reflecting on Boca Juniors’ title win – the media bias, the key players, the impressive record and more. We reflect on Racing’s failure to satisfactorily challenge them, Teo Gutiérrez’s chances of getting a transfer to Europe, the political machinations behind the postponement of San Lorenzo v Tigre and the challenges awaiting Tigre during the coming Clausura. There’s an aside on the stupidity of the three different tables used in Argentina to decide the title, continental qualification and relegation, and we also talk about River Plate’s ‘hilarious’ weekend loss to Boca Unidos and subsequent midweek recovery in the Copa Argentina. We finish with a fairytale story from the Copa, about the president of fourth division Atlético Policial, who on Wednesday beat Nacional B (second division) leaders Instituto 4-1.

There are no predictions from Mystic Dan this week, as he’s buggered off to Hong Kong for a holiday. You can still click here to subscribe to us through iTunes, though.

Tags: Apertura, Argentine football, Atlético Policial, Boca Juniors, Copa Argentina, Godoy Cruz, Racing Club, River Plate, Tigre

Episode 44: Our first ever interview, Boca on the brink and Racing finally lose

The forty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Dan, Dan and Seba discussing the reasons for Boca Juniors’ title win, which will almost definitely happen this coming weekend since their win at Godoy Cruz took them nine points clear with nine to play for. Leandro ‘Vegetable’ Somoza is praised, Cristian Chávez and Pablo Mouche are criticised. Elsewhere, there was an entertaining match involving Racing, for a change, and they finally lost, 3-2 at home to Belgrano. Seba Verón scored possibly his last goal as Estudiantes beat Arsenal 201, and we praise Tigre for their great campaign so far. We also have a Hand Of Pod first – an interview with Emiliano Tade, a forward playing for Auckland City FC in New Zealand, who’ll be one of six Argentines featuring in the Club World Cup in Japan, which starts next week. Enjoy.

As usual, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below. You can click here to subscribe to us on iTunes.

Tags: Auckland City FC, Banfield, Belgrano, Boca Juniors, Chávez, Club World Cup, Diego Morales, Emiliano Tade, Godoy Cruz, Hauche, Juan Sebastián Verón, Julio César Falcioni, Lanús, Mouche, Racing, Román Martínez, Simeone, Somoza, Tigre

Episode 43: Verón’s argument with the barras, Teo’s idiocy, media bias and more

In the forty-third episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan, Dan and Seba begin with a look at Juan Sebastián Verón’s stand against Estudiantes’ barra brava, who on Monday caused their match with Banfield to be abandoned after only thirteen minutes. We then move on to talk about Boca Juniors’ 0-0 draw with Racing on Sunday, a result that edges Boca a tiny bit closer to the league title, and Racing striker Teo Gutiérrez’s idiocy in getting himself sent off, and the effect it’s likely to have on Racing’s squad for the rest of the season. Sam mentions River Plate’s first ever competitive match in Patagonia (a 4-1 win away to Guillermo Brown of Puerto Madryn), we talk about San Lorenzo’s woes as they change managers, and after Mystic Dan’s predictions we close with a discussion of media bias towards the two giants, and especially Boca.

As usual, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below. Click here if you like us so much you want us in your iTunes.

Tags: Apertura, barra brava, Boca Juniors, Copa Argentina, Estudiantes, Gutiérrez, Olimpo, Omar Asad, Omar De Felippe, Racing, San Lorenzo, Verón

Episode 42: Reviewing the qualifiers and looking forward to Boca v Racing, with Joel Richards

In the forty-second episode of Hand Of Pod, we turn one year old (well, it was a few days ago). To mark the occasion, we’re joined by Joel Richards, and Seba, clearly afraid of being shown up, has scarpered. We discuss a disappointing result for Argentina against Bolivia, a very good result for Argentina against Colombia, and what it means for certain players (we’re looking at you, Martín Demichelis…). Joel also does a fine job of justifying José Sosa’s existe- sorry, place in the national side. We then shift our focus to the upcoming weekend, which sees first play second in La Bombonera. If Boca win against Racing, they’ll need just a point to claim the title. All this, plus another rant about the organisation of the Copa Argentina (a tournament Hand Of Pod is leading the world’s media in covering, pretty much). What more could you want?

As usual, Mystic Dan’s predictions for the fifteenth round are below, and you can click here to subscribe to us on iTunes.

Tags: Agüero, Apertura 2011, Argentina v Bolivia, Argentine football, Argentine national team, Atlético Tucumán, Boca, Clemente Rodríguez, Colombia v Argentina, Copa Argentina, Demichelis, Higuaín, Messi, Nacional B, Racing, Riquelme, River Plate, Sabella

Episode 41: Boca edge closer to the title, Racing win again at last, & upcoming World Cup qualifiers

The forty-first episode of Hand Of Pod is introduced by a real-life professional Argentine footballer, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julián Speroni. After his dulcet tones, we discuss Boca Juniors’ continuing march to the league title, and Racing’s first win in six matches on Saturday night, as well as other weekend action including a hideous broken leg at Unión, and a derby win for Lanús (which means they need just a point to completely ensure qualification for next year’s Copa Libertadores). Attention then shifts to the upcoming round of World Cup qualifiers and Alejandro Sabella’s squad selection, which is starting to annoy us a bit. Towards the end, Ralph Hannah tells us about why he’s going to be meeting Paraguay and Vélez legend José Luis Chilavert on Friday, and we discuss some of the great man’s finest moments (you’ll find a couple of videos below).

Don’t forget you can find us on iTunes by clicking here.

Juan Ramón Fleita’s bicycle kick against Chilavert

Chilavert’s halfway line goal against River

Tags: Apertura, Argentina v Bolivia, Banfield, Boca Juniors, Colombia v Argentina, José Luis Chilavert, Lanús, Messi, Pastore, Racing, Sabella, Simeone, Vélez Sarsfield, World Cup qualifiers