Hand Of Pod

In the final HOP episode of 2018, Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Tony look back on River Plate's Club World Cup semi-final failure, before taking a look at what lies ahead for River and defeated Copa Libertadores finalists Boca Juniors in the summer break. We also discuss the 2019 Copa Libertadores group stage draw, and the first round of the Copa Sudamericana. Merry Christmas or the holiday greeting of your choice to all our listeners, and we'll see you again in 2019!

In the three hundred and eighteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Tony, Andrés and English Dan meet to review what turned out – for all the controversy and sadness surrounding the match – to be an entertaining Copa Libertadores final second leg, which culminated in River Plate being crowned champions of South America for the fourth time after beating Boca Juniors in extra time. We also review the final weekend of Superliga action of 2018, which sees Racing very much in the driving seat as the teams head into the summer break.

In the three hundred and seventeenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés discuss a weekend of action which saw a five-goal thriller in the Tucumán clásico that helped Racing open up a five-point lead at the top of the Superliga going into the last weekend before the summer break. We also preview the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca Juniors – again ...

It's not often HOP gets to talk about genuinely the biggest story in world sport of the last week. In HOP316, Sam, Andrés and podcast newcomer Chris take you through the timeline, fallout, mistakes and conspiracy theories surrounding the postponement of the Copa Libertadores final second leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors. We also talk a bit about the Argentine Superliga, to lighten the mood.

Well, this is quite a way to return from our month-and-a-half-long hiatus. On Saturday, River Plate will host Boca Juniors in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final; the biggest match in the history of Argentine – and probably South American – club football history. In episode 315 of Hand Of Pod, Sam and English Dan look back on the semis and the first leg of the final, before previewing the superclásico to end all superclásicos.

The three hundred and fourteenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and Tony to discuss a weekend on which there was less football than normal, due to a rainstorm which resulted in only one match being played on Saturday. Racing won that game to extend their Superliga lead (pending Atlético Tucumán's game in hand), while Boca returned to winning ways and River's reserves tonked Lanús, before beating Independiente 3-1 on Tuesday to qualify for the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores. We also have a look at Lionel Scaloni's latest Argentina squad. HOP will be a little less frequent for the next few weeks, because Sam is going on holiday, but we'll still have occasional episodes, and normal service will be resumed towards the end of November.

In episode three hundred and thirteen of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by Andrés and English Dan to discuss River Plate's 2-0 win over Boca Juniors in Sunday's superclásico, as well as yet another win for Racing, who remain top of the league, and more success for Aldosivi, who are enjoying a fine start to life back in the top flight.

The three hundred and twelfth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Tony come together for a bumper episode, discussing the role of the VAR and all the others ins and outs of the first legs of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals (the three involving Argentine clubs, anyway), and previewing Sunday's titanic clash in the Bombonera between Boca Juniors and River Plate.

In the three hundred and eleventh episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés give a quick roundup of the Copa Argentina, before taking a deep dive into the lukewarm pool of the national team, whose two clean sheets against Guatemala and Colombia – with two different goalkeepers! – were arguably the brightest thing about their first two games under caretaker manager Lionel Scaloni.

The three hundred and tenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés meet to discuss the action from the fourth round of Superliga 2018–19 action, which saw Racing leapfrog Rosario Central into the top spot by beating their visitors 2-0 in Avellaneda. River Plate and San Lorenzo drew yet again (with each other), Boca Juniors got back to winning ways, and Tigre once again scored two goals, but managed not to concede any this time. All this, and we've a preview of Argentina's two upcoming friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia, as the national team begins a delicate rebuilding process after the trauma of the World Cup.

The three hundred and ninth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés discussing a chaotic week of Copa Libertadores administration which saw much-publicised disciplinary decisions regarding River Plate's Bruno Zuculini and Santos' Carlos Sánchez in their ties against Racing and Independiente, respectively. As well as this, we've a roundup of the third round of Superliga action, which saw Rosario Central maintain their 100% record, and a number of belting goals.

The three hundred and eighth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés discuss a weekend of Superliga action in which River Plate flattered to deceive, Boca Juniors lost and thus ended a long run of being top or joint top, and Edgardo Bauza's Rosario Central got another 1-0 win thanks to a headed goal.

The three hundred and seventh episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés look back on a Superliga opening round that was notable for three teams only drawing after going 2-0 up, and not an awful lot else apart from Huracán's atrocious pitch. There's some Copa Libertadores action to review as well, and we also tackle some of the likely names in Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad, which was announced about 14 hours after we finished recording.

In the three hundred and sixth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés preview the 2018–19 Superliga season, which kicks off on Friday evening, and also have a look at the Copa Libertadores round of sixteen, which began on Tuesday evening with Estudiantes' surprise win over defending champions Grêmio.

The three hundred and fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés all excited because there are fewer than ten days remaining until the start of the 2018–19 Superliga season, and we've got some kickoff times to tell you about. We discuss which teams still have some work to do in the transfer market (including a bit of a fuss about whether Boca Juniors should be allowed to sign the left back they want), River Plate's rather lovely kit, which is free of sponsors on the chest until December, and the AFA's apparent decision to wait until December before deciding on a new manager; it seems youth team managers Lionel Scaloni and Pablo Aimar will be in charge of the Argentina team who will head to the United States for friendlies against Colombia and Guatemala next month.

The three hundred and fourth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés catching up with what's been going on in the Copa Argentina, which has seen a number of shocks this year but notably not in Independiente's or River Plate's matches since we last recorded – those two scored fifteen goals between them in seeing off Central Ballester and Central Norte respectively. There's also a look at the round of 32 of the Copa Sudamericana, which is well underway (indeed, for Lanús it's finished) and listeners' questions ranging from the national team to Argentines abroad to the structure of the Superliga and the mysterious Copa de la Superliga.

The three hundred and third episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés to discuss where the Argentine national team go next after parting ways with Jorge Sampaoli, and also to look forward to the upcoming Superliga season and go over the main transfer business of the window so far.

The inevitable has happened: Argentina are out of the 2018 World Cup after a 4-3 defeat to France in the second round. In the three hundred and second episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by Andrés and English Dan to pick over the bones of the defeat, and of the chaotic campaign that led to it. Listeners' questions cover what the next steps should be, who might come into the team in the next few years, whether Jorge Sampaoli should remain as manager, and much more besides.

For the three hundred and first episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés are celebrating after Argentina's last-gasp 2-1 win over Nigeria saw them through Group D of the 2018 World Cup in second place behind Croatia, and into a second round tie against France. Were the players really picking the team? Was Javier Mascherano awful or amazing? Is Marcos Rojo the greatest footballer of all time? All these questions and more are up for consideration.

The three hundredth episode of Hand Of Pod is a less celebratory affair than we'd hoped for such a landmark, with Sam and English Dan picking over the bones of Argentina's second half catastrophe against Croatia, which leaves them needing to beat Nigeria – possibly comfortably – on Tuesday if they're going to advance. We ask what needs to change, when these problems first took root. Thanks to all our listeners for sticking with us through 300 episodes. We hope you continue to enjoy the show!