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Hola Big Interview listeners!

World Cup 2018 is now well underway. And to help get you in the mood for the next batch of group games we are bringing you a very special World Cup compilation show!

You will hear from Slaven Bilic, Michael O'Neill, Kevin Kilbane, Rafael van der Vaart and Ander Herrera as they talk about their experiences and thoughts on tournaments past and present.

You'll laugh, you'll learn, you'll love these World Cup stories.

Graham is currently hard at work in Kazan ahead of Spain's match with Iran, before he catches a late flight back to La Roja's training base in Krasnodar. We hope to bring you his thoughts on the game by lunchtime tomorrow, but right now you can sign up as a Socio and send Graham a question for our next special Q&A episode.

Until then ... dasvidanya!

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Hola Big Interview listeners!

After their remarkable World Cup group opener with Portugal, Spain's players will be hoping for a quieter evening against Iran - a team coached by Carlos Queiroz. Believe me when I say that getting one over on the former Manchester United assistant will matter to the likes of Gerard Pique.

A victory will also mean a lot to Fernando Hierro. I have spent a great deal of time in his company as he settles into the job of Spain manager and, in this podcast, I discuss how Hierro is coping with the role and describe the relationship he is cultivating with the Spanish media.

The job of covering La Roja in Russia means that I have not been able to see every game in this tournament, but I did watch England's victory over Tunisia and I also give my views on their team and manager Gareth Southgate.

Dasvidanya!

Graham

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Hola Big Interview listeners!

Ahead of La Roja's second group match in Russia, I take you into the Spanish camp and give you an insight into the mood of the players, as well as introducing you all once again to Real Madrid's Marco Asensio.

I also tackle a question from one our wonderful Socios and discuss the relationship between Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos - two men who are regarded as polar opposites off the pitch, but who unite to make up the heart of this Spanish defence.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my preview of Spain's match with Iran.

Dasvidanya!

Graham

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Socrates was one of the most iconic footballers of the 20th century. tall and thin, with a thick black beard and talent to burn, he lit up Brazil at the 1982 and 86 World Cups. But the football was only part of the story - Socrates was also a qualified doctor and political activist who campaigned endlessly for social justice in Brazil. His was a remarkable story and Dr Socrates, Andrew Downie’s biography, is a remarkable book. Here's his conversation with Martin about it. Enjoy

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With the dust settled on a remarkable World Cup opener for Spain, I take a closer look at one of the big characters from that match: Nacho.

What makes this born-and-bred Madridista such an important player for both club and country despite almost always being benched when all his team-mates are available? Why have successive Madrid managers refused to trade him up for a more glamorous model? What made him - and not Odriozola - the obvious choice to start against Portugal? What will he make of the return of the player for whom is he so often under-study: Dani Carvajal?

And I also dig into the way Diego Costa changed Spain's game and give my verdict on La Decision - Antoine Greizmann's public commitment to Atleti - and what it means for La Liga.

Dasvidanya!

Graham

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Hola Big Interview listeners!

Oh what a night that was! There was so much to talk about in Portugal's remarkable 3-3 draw with La Roja ... where to begin? Right here, with The Big Interview at the World Cup, that's where.

From a dodgy flight to a Fernando Hierro's wrong turn at the stadium, you got the sense that this wasn't going to be Spain's night. And so it proved, with a little help from a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

This was a truly captivating World Cup match and this is my report.

Enjoy!

Graham

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Hello Big Interview listeners!

To help you warm up for Spain's opening World Cup group match we are bringing you our special mini-doc about one of La Roja's most iconic players: Andres Iniesta.

This next hour and a bit is the story of the man, and the player; his role in this remarkable era for Spain and FC Barcelona; the memories he has left us with.

You'll hear a host of voices on this one, Big Interview guests such as David Moyes and Gordon Strachan, and journalists who have tracked this remarkable story in Spain.

We first produced this episode for our Socios - it was just one of several of several podcasts we produced patreon.com/grahamhunter

With Graham hard at work in Sochi with the Spain team today we will be back tomorrow with an in-depth analysis of their game with Portugal.

See you then!

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Call that an emergency? THIS is an emergency!

On the eve of the World Cup, Spain sack their coach, Julen Lopetegui and replace him with Fernando Hierro.

In this podcast, Graham walks us through a crazy 48 hours in Krasnodar - how and why it happened, and what it might mean for Spain as they prepare for the Group B opener against Portugal tomorrow.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

We were in the middle of recording a podcast about Spain's World Cup opener against Portugal when news broke that Real Madrid and the Spanish federation had agreed terms for the move of Julen Lopetegui to the European Champions after the World Cup.

Here's Graham's take on how the news broke, what it might mean for Spain in Russia, and everything you need to know about the man who will replace Zidane. 

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Henry Winter, chief football writer of The Times, talks about the experience of covering major tournaments as a journalist: from the press' relationship with the FA, the players who light up the interview room through to climbing trees in an attempt to glimpse England training sessions

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com