Episode 384: the tenth anniversary episode

At the end of this week, HOP turns ten years old, and we’re celebrating with a bumper episode. Sam, English Dan, Tony, Andrés and Santi review the recent action from the Copa Sudamericana and Copa de la Liga Profesional de Fútbol, consider the thorny issue of how clubs should deal with players awaiting trial in a country with a legal system which moves as slowly as Argentina’s and bid farewell to Fernando Gago, who announced his retirement shortly before we recorded. We also look forward to Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifying double header and look back on our favourite memories of Argentine football (and the podcast) over the last decade.

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Hand Of Pod · Episode 384: the tenth anniversary episode

Episode 267: Previewing Argentina’s two final World Cup qualifiers

The two hundred and sixty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod is a look at the Argentine national team as they approach two high-pressure World Cup qualifiers at home to Peru and away to Ecuador, which will either see them finally make it to Russia 2018 or not (all right, or end up in the playoff). Sam and English Dan give their thoughts on the four(!) lineups tried by Jorge Sampaoli in training on Tuesday, and discuss what needs to change from last month’s disappointing double header if the selección are to make it over the line at last. We also look at the weekend in the Superliga, where Boca Juniors kept up their 100% record – just – and Arsenal de Sarandí stunned Banfield to record their first points of the season.

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Last week, Mystic Sam and Mystic Chris drew 7-7 in the prediction battle. This week, Sam and Dan give their predictions for the last two rounds of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying action.

Dan
Bolivia v Brazil
Venezuela v Uruguay
Colombia v Paraguay
Chile v Ecuador
Argentina v Peru

Paraguay v Venezuela
Brazil v Chile
Ecuador v Argentina
Peru v Colombia
Uruguay v Bolivia

Sam
Bolivia v Brazil
Venezuela v Uruguay
Colombia v Paraguay
Chile v Ecuador
Argentina v Peru

Paraguay v Venezuela
Brazil v Chile
Ecuador v Argentina
Peru v Colombia
Uruguay v Bolivia

Episode 90: previewing the 2013 Torneo Final & wondering where Riquelme will go

In the ninetieth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan and Joel preview the 2013 Torneo Final, which kicks off with Unión hosting Arsenal de Sarandí on Friday evening. We discuss Fernando Gago’s move to Vélez Sarsfield – easily the most spectacular signing of the summer – and what Vélez’s chances are of retaining their title, as well as talking about Racing’s transfer window departures, River Plate’s relative success and most of the other ins and outs, before moving on – we couldn’t very well avoid him – to the interminable saga of Juan Román Riquelme’s ever changing mood. Will he play for Boca? Will he play for Tigre? Should we really care any more? After that, we answer listeners’ questions on Argentine sides in the 2013 Copa Libertadores and more.

Don’t forget, you can subscribe to us here on iTunes, if you want. Or follow us on Twitter. And check Mystic Sam’s progress through the first weekend of the Final by reading his predictions below the line.