This week Sam, Andrés, Dan and Santi bid farewell to Tony, who's hosting us as he appears on his final episode (at least as a regular panelist). We discuss the opening two rounds of the Copa de la Liga, which included two wins from two matches for Santi's team Independiente, who had a chaotic/hilarious/mysterious story in preseason that we forgot to tell you about last week.

Hand Of Pod 2024

Episode 480: Independiente's perfect start ... after a less than perfect preseason

This week Sam, Dan and Andrés discuss a long 'weekend' of Copa de la Liga action that saw two thrashings, one fine turnaround and not an awful lot more excitement. There's also chat about Franco Mastantuono, who on Wednesday broke Javier Saviola's record as River Plate's youngest ever goalscorer, and an update on how the Olympic qualifying competition is going.

Episode 481: the Copa de la Liga continues

This week we look at two rounds of Copa de la Liga action that saw Racing score eight and concede only one, River have a good game and a bad one, and Vélez Sarsfield win late on not once but twice. And Javier Mascherano's quest for a third Olympic gold medal is still alive, because Argentina Under-23s have qualified for the football tournament at Paris 2024.

Episode 482: a great week for Racing and Argentina's Under-23s

This week's episode follows one that we recorded last week and that, due to a combination of tiredness and busyness, Sam never uploaded. You'll be able to hear it if you head over to patreon.com/handofpod. Here, though, Sam, Chris and Andrés review last weekend's clásicos, which saw a draw between River and Boca, away wins in Rosario and Avellaneda and plenty more besides.

Episode 483: Reviewing the clásico weekend

This week Sam, Dan and Andrés round up the last couple of rounds of Copa de la Liga action, which saw Godoy Cruz lose for the first time (domestically) this year, leaving River Plate – who ended a run of four straight draws by beating Independiente Rivadavia on Wednesday – as the last unbeaten side in the competition. Boca Juniors aren't much good, Carlos Tevez is a conspiracy theorist and we have a short roundup of the lower leagues so far, now that they've mostly kicked off.

Episode 484: Godoy Cruz finally lose and a lower-league roundup

This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Andrés and Santi look back on a Copa de la Liga weekend that saw an awful lot of draws, including one between Independiente and River Plate that gives us a chance to discuss both managers' 2024s so far. Wednesday evening saw River claim another (minor) trophy, and we also discuss national team news, including new kits and Lionel Scaloni's decision to call up Lisandro Martínez even though he's not back from injury yet.

Episode 485: Delusional Demichelis and tactical Tevez

This week's pod was delayed by two days due to rain, so Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Chris and Santi met up on Friday evening to talk about last weekend's Copa de la Liga matches – including a win for River Plate, defeat for Independiente and not much else of real note – and to have a look at Argentina's squad for their friendlies against El Salvador (played right after we finished recording) and Costa Rica, as well as the Copa Libertadores group stage draw.

Episode 486: The Copa de la Liga takes a week off

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi look back on Argentina's two comfortable friendly wins over El Salvador and Costa Rica in the United States, which included Alejandro Garnacho's first start – a performance Sam has some thoughts about. There have been a bunch of Copa Argentina games since we last recorded, and listeners' questions include who's playing in this year's edition and how the very bottom league of the pyramid has gone so far.

Episode 487: Garnacho's first Argentina start and more

The Copa de la Liga group stage ends this weeke— well, in the first half of next week, actually, and Sam, English Dan, Santi and Chris are here to run down which teams need which results to make it into the quarterfinals, with only runaway Group B winners Godoy Cruz already knowing which position they'll finish in. We also look at the first couple of rounds of Copa Libertadores group games and have a bumper postbag of listeners' questions.

Episode 488: previewing the last round of Copa de la Liga group games

This week Sam, English Dan and Chris review an entertaining end to Group B in the Copa de la Liga and a really thrilling climax to Group A. They also look ahead to this weekend's quarterfinals, which include a superclásico between Group A winners River Plate and Group B fourth-placers Boca Juniors on Sunday.

Episode 489: The Copa de la Liga quarterfinals are upon us

Powerful & emotional memories of the Munich Air Disaster. Des Cahill reports from Old Trafford on the 40th Anniversary of the crash for the Gay Byrne Show on RTE Radio. Contributions from Harry Gregg, the goalkeeper, who survived; Shay Brennan, a young apprentice at Old Trafford at the time; the family of Irish international, Liam Whelan, who died in the crash; current United player,Alex Ferguson,  Denis Irwin :Pat Crerand; Bertie Ahern on the impact in Ireland

Munich Air Disaster/ Des Cahill reports from Old Trafford - February 1998

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