In this episode of The Liberal Playmaker, we dive into Croatia’s dramatic 2018 World Cup quarterfinal against Russia. Through the lens of Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, and Marcelo Brozović—The Three Amigos—we explore how a war-touched generation turned resilience into rhythm. With their midfield triangle tested, dissolved, and reborn, Croatia didn’t dominate—they endured.

We contrast this story of collective survival with past episodes on Aimar, Riquelme, and Totti—individuals who tried to shape the game alone. This time, it’s about shared control, tactical improvisation, and mental strength.

What happens when three midfielders carry not just a team, but a nation’s memory?

💡 Ideal for fans of tactical football, timeless narratives, and World Cup history.

In this episode of The Liberal Playmaker, we travel back to the 2007–08 Champions League Round of 16, where a 32-year-old Francesco Totti—injured, slower, and visibly struggling—refused to fade.

Against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, Totti could no longer outrun the game, so he outthought it. With limited movement and a broken body on the verge of an ACL tear, the Emperor of Rome reinvented himself in real time—stealing rhythm, time, and control from a match far too fast for him.

We break down Roma’s chaotic victory, the symbolism of their black kits, and how Totti—like a ghost in the midfield—found a way to remain decisive and dominant. This is the story of resistance, intelligence, and one last heist before everything changed.

In this episode, we finally dive into that night in Buenos Aires—Argentina vs Brazil, 2005. Riquelme doesn’t just orchestrate a performance; he owns the tempo of the entire continent. We break down the game, the rhythm, the moments, and what made this a performance for the ages—especially in contrast to our last episode on Aimar.

Before that, I run through this weekend’s key fixtures in La Liga and Serie A, with the title races and European spots hanging in the balance.

Then we go Offside with a bit of football news and whatever else is floating around in this chaotic football world.

Breathe in. Pause. Let Riquelme take it from here.

In this episode of The Liberal Playmaker, Jose explores the emotional dissonance of Pablo Aimar—a player searching for rhythm in a match that refuses to dance with him. It's about beauty denied, the silence around creativity, and what happens when La Pausa has nowhere to land.

Then we head into Europe. In La Liga, the show breaks down a fantastic Clásico—while elsewhere, we fly through the weekend’s scorelines. In Serie A, Napoli’s second goal takes center stage: McTominay (yes, McTominay) delivers a perfectly timed pause to unlock the play, setting up a gorgeous Raspadori touch and finish.

This episode is about timing—when it’s rejected, and when it changes everything.

In this episode of The Liberal Playmaker, we dive into what might be the greatest Champions League semifinal of all time: Barcelona vs. Inter Milan. The old guard of Inter defied time itself to pull off a miracle against Barça’s bright young stars. (Sorry Arsenal fans, but we all knew PSG would handle business—and they did.)

Then it’s on to the real magic: the Europa League semifinal between Manchester United and Athletic Club. Mount levels it with a beauty, and then—boom—a Beckham-esque screamer from just in front of the halfway line! Hojlund scores, Amad gets in on the action, and it’s pure chaos.

We wrap it up with your must-watch matches across La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga for the weekend. Let’s go!

In this episode of The Liberal Playmaker, I dive into the 2003 Champions League Final between AC Milan and Juventus—yes, that final, the one often called the most boring ever. I talk about why I wanted to revisit it, how I couldn’t remember a single detail from the match, but still vividly remember how it made me feel. From the slow, tense midfield battle to the control and collapse in the final third, this game opened up a whole new world of football for me—one full of imagination, tension, and dreams of traveling across Europe. I also take a quick look ahead to this week’s Champions League second-leg semifinals, plus a little hope (and fear) for Manchester United in the Europa League.

This week on The Liberal Playmaker, the Champions League serves chaos and class in equal measure: PSG out-hustle Arsenal like they’re chasing a bonus, while Barcelona’s boy wonder Lamine Yamal tries to write poetry—only for Inter’s veterans (and Denzel “Not Today” Dumfries) to edit the ending. Over in the Europa League, Manchester United pull off the heist of the season at San Mamés, leaving Athletic Club dazed and confused. We then hop around the upcoming weekend drama in La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga—and finally drift Offside for some news and a few half-baked takes.

Barcelona’s baby brigade lifts the Copa del Rey in style! Then it’s off to Serie A where Scott McTominay rockets Napoli into first place (yes, that Scott McTominay), after Roma’s huge win over Inter Milan at the San Siro. We speed through a quick Bundesliga roundup, preview the UEFA Champions League semifinals, and brace ourselves for the Europa League chaos between Manchester United and Athletic Club. Finally, Scott Pelly finds his big soccer balls and calls out Paramount’s bosses over the Trump lawsuit drama. Goals, drama, rebellion — The Liberal Playmaker delivers it all!

This week on The Liberal Playmaker, we dive into a packed midweek of football. I break down the latest La Liga action with a special spotlight on Athletic Club, then head over to Italy for a look at the key results in Serie A. As we gear up for a crucial weekend, I unpack the title race and top-four battles that are heating up across Europe. Plus, in this episode’s Offside segment: a look at why travel to the U.S. is declining and a heartfelt goodbye to Pope Francis.

#LaLiga #SerieA #AthleticClub #EuropeanFootball #FootballPodcast #SoccerAnalysis #Top4Race #TitleRace #PopeFrancis #OffsideSegment #TheLiberalPlaymaker

Buckle up—this week on The Liberal Playmaker, it’s chaos and drama across Europe. Real Madrid pulled off a heist in broad daylight against Athletic Club (and I’m still trying to figure out what Athletic was even trying to do tactically). Barcelona said “not today” to Celta Vigo with a classic remontada. Napoli came alive, McTominay turned into prime Ronaldo (just the heading part), and Inter Milan got Bologna’d—complete with a stoppage-time scissor kick from Orsolini that deserves its own Marvel origin story. And just when you thought we were done, we Drift Offside into the world of politics, because finally people are finding their soccer balls.