

Hand Of Pod
Sam Kelly
The English-language Argentine football podcast, fuelled by fernet since 2010
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 5min
Episode 541: a wild finish at the Cilindro, champions Platense lose to River and more
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi S meet to review the first round of action in the 2025 Torneo Clausura, which saw champions Platense concede three times in one game for the first time this year, not one but two injury-time winners (sort of) in the Cilindro and a less brilliant than anticipated clash of the Juniors as Argentinos and Boca ground out a stalemate.

Jul 12, 2025 • 1h 25min
Episode 540: previewing the 2025 Torneo Clausura
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Santi S and Santi B get together to preview the 2025 Torneo Clausura, which kicked off a few hours before we recorded but will be going on for the next few months. Who's had a good transfer window? Who's appointed Carlos Tevez as their manager to replace their previous manager, who didn't take charge for a single game? And most important of all: who will be the next champions of Argentina?

Jun 28, 2025 • 1h 5min
Episode 539: River and Boca crash out of the Club World Cup
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and both Santis (for the first time!) review the group-stage exits of River Plate and Boca Juniors from the Club World Cup, and answer some listeners' questions.

Jun 14, 2025 • 1h 21min
Episode 538: rounding up the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi Bauzá review Argentina's two World Cup qualifiers – a win away to Chile and a draw at home to Colombia – and cast our eyes over the other games in the campaign as well, with Brazil and Ecuador confirming their places at next year's tournament and Chile eliminated. We also discuss Franco Mastantuono's transfer to Real Madrid and answer listeners' questions.

Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 37min
Episode 537: ¡PLATENSE CAMPEÓN!
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Remi and Marcus look back on the final of the Torneo Apertura, which saw Platense crowned champions of Argentina for the first time in their history thanks to a 1–0 win over Huracán in Santiago del Estero in front of a frankly underwhelming number of fans. Remi is a Platense season ticket holder, so gives us his take on their campaign, and we also have updates including a new (old) manager at Boca Juniors, some absolute ridiculousness in Rosario and the small matter of the national team playing two World Cup qualifiers before we next record.

May 30, 2025 • 1h 9min
Episode 536: previewing Huracán v Platense in the Torneo Apertura final
This week on HOP Sam, English Dan, Santi Sourigues and special guest Marcus Haydon review the semifinals of the Liga Profesional Torneo Apertura, which saw Huracán squeeze out Independiente on penalties and Platense get a 1–0 win over San Lorenzo to set up a final in which either El Globo will win their first title in over fifty years or El Calamar will win their first ever. We also take a look at the domestic players likely to be added to the Argentina squad and the last week of Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana group stage action.

May 23, 2025 • 1h 23min
Episode 535: someone's title drought is ending, one way or another ...
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi Sourigues look back on the quarterfinals of the Liga Profesional's Torneo Apertura and forward to this weekend's semifinals. Whoever ends up taking the title now it'll be the end of a length title drought, and for one of the remaining teams it would be their first top-flight title ever.

May 17, 2025 • 1h 54min
Episode 534: reviewing the Torneo Apertura round of sixteen
Sam, English Dan, Santi and Andrés have a bumper episode this week, in which we review the eight matches from last weekend's Liga Profesional round of sixteen and preview the quarterfinals, which run from Sunday to Tuesday. We also cast our eyes over the midweek continental action and let you know who Lionel Scaloni's called up from the foreign legion for Argentina's next two World Cup qualifiers.

May 9, 2025 • 1h 11min
Episode 533: the Apertura group stage comes to an end
This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés finally have some meaningful football to look forward to, and here we review the final weekend of group stage action in the Liga Profesional de Fútbol Torneo Apertura 2025, and take a look at this weekend's last sixteen fixtures. We also look at how Argentina's representatives in the Copas Sudamericana and Libertadores got on.

May 2, 2025 • 1h 26min
Episode 532: Franco Mastantuono puts Boca to the sword in the superclásico
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Andrés and special guest Santi Sourigues review last weekend's action, and in particular Sunday's superclásico, in which Franco Mastantuono was imperious – and scored an astonishing free kick – for River Plate. Boca Juniors manager Fernando Gago became former Boca Juniors manager Fernando Gago after the game, so we also ask what's next for them.


