On Episode 12 of The Away End, John and Daniel unpack the wins and losses of the final World Cup playoff games and begin to look ahead, now that the 48 World Cup teams are set. Daniel does a deep dive into the Bosnia and Herzegovina National team, and John highlights Ali Al-Hamadi, a star player on the Iraqi team and former member of AFC Wimbledon.

If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review wherever you listen, spread the gospel of The Away End far and wide, and email us at awayendpod@gmail.com. 

On Episode 12 of The Away End, John and Daniel unpack the wins and losses of the final World Cup playoff games and begin to look ahead, now that the 48 World Cup teams are set. Daniel does a deep dive into the Bosnia and Herzegovina National team, and John highlights Ali Al-Hamadi, a star player on the Iraqi team and former member of AFC Wimbledon.
If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review wherever you listen, spread the gospel of The Away End far and wide, and email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awayendpod@gmail.com">awayendpod@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;

Two novelists, Daniel Alarcón and John Green, friends since they were teenagers, tackle questions big and small around the World Cup and international football more generally. The only soccer podcast that regularly name checks Toni Morrison, The Away End is about much more than sport: it's about politics, literature and culture, with an eye toward those moments and spaces where our collective love of soccer reveals something unexpected about who we are.

Two novelists, Daniel Alarc&oacute;n and John Green, friends since they were teenagers, tackle questions big and small around the World Cup and international football more generally. The only soccer podcast that regularly name checks Toni Morrison, The Away End is about much more than sport: it's about politics, literature and culture, with an eye toward those moments and spaces where our collective love of soccer reveals something unexpected about who we are.

The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green

Episode 12: The World Cup Stage is Set, Bosnia and Herzegovina Deep Dive, and an Ode to Ali Al-Hamadi

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d6b3094c-4ed2-4910-8b44-b42401543851/transcript

Author of the new book, World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments, Simon Kuper joins The Away End for a discussion about football and the complexity of national identity, the globalization of style at the top of the game and the lower quality of football that expansion of the World Cup could bring. They talk about the intellectual pursuit of the game and the counterpoint that expanding the tournament will lead to an evolution of the game where new countries with national football identities can test themselves against the best in the world. They also explore the collective delusion of winning, the fragility of confidence, the hotel concierge mentality of FIFA and how to enjoy the World Cup in spite of it all. 

Author of the new book, World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments, Simon Kuper joins The Away End for a discussion about football and the complexity of national identity, the globalization of style at the top of the game and the lower quality of football that expansion of the World Cup could bring. They talk about the intellectual pursuit of the game and the counterpoint that expanding the tournament will lead to an evolution of the game where new countries with national football identities can test themselves against the best in the world. They also explore the collective delusion of winning, the fragility of confidence, the hotel concierge mentality of FIFA and how to enjoy the World Cup in spite of it all.&nbsp;

Episode 17: Seeking Beauty with Author Simon Kuper

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5718aa65-5ba7-4952-81ba-b44800e8b481/transcript

On Episode 16 of The Away End, John has returned from England with something on his heart. After letting it out, he deep dives into the Haitian National Team. And Daniel tells the story of Jorge, his Honduran fixer who created an unexpected, impenetrable forcefield around him that revealed its real power during a walk to the stadium for the final of the Honduran League in the most violent country in Latin America at the time. 

Featuring Daniel and Jorge on backup vocals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAmSrU5cHZE 

If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review wherever you listen, tell your friends about The Away End, and email us at awayendpod@gmail.com. 

On Episode 16 of The Away End, John has returned from England with something on his heart. After letting it out, he deep dives into the Haitian National Team. And Daniel tells the story of Jorge, his Honduran fixer who created an unexpected, impenetrable forcefield around him that revealed its real power during a walk to the stadium for the final of the Honduran League in the most violent country in Latin America at the time.&nbsp;
Featuring Daniel and Jorge on backup vocals -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAmSrU5cHZE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAmSrU5cHZE</a>&nbsp;
If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review wherever you listen, tell your friends about The Away End, and email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awayendpod@gmail.com" data-outlook-id="7509ddfe-a304-4013-a5a7-0d9e1bd88f4d">awayendpod@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;

Episode 16: TV for Chickens for Humans, Haiti Deep Dive, and Daniel's Honduran Fixer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d50fb79a-da96-41fa-8e88-b44101247f9c/transcript

On Episode 15 of The Away End, Daniel begins with a call to action regarding the current, Kafkaesque reality of being a football fan and wishing to attend a World Cup game. Then Daniel's deep dive into the South Korean National Team brings back memories of a long-lost friend, "Hyun" and the crushing return of a symbolic gesture in a brown paper bag. John is fresh off his return from Sierra Leone and shares a lovely story about soccer and social connection at Kissy Psychiatric Hospital and a hopeful story that took place on the six-hour bus ride from Kono to Freetown. Plus, a wonderful listener mailbag segment! 

If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review wherever you listen, tell your friends about The Away End, and email us at awayendpod@gmail.com. 

On Episode 15 of The Away End, Daniel begins with a call to action regarding the current, Kafkaesque reality of being a football fan and wishing to attend a World Cup game. Then Daniel's deep dive into the South Korean National Team brings back memories of a long-lost friend, "Hyun" and the crushing return of a symbolic gesture in a brown paper bag. John is fresh off his return from Sierra Leone and shares a lovely story about soccer and social connection at Kissy Psychiatric Hospital and a hopeful story that took place on the six-hour bus ride from Kono to Freetown. Plus, a wonderful listener mailbag segment!&nbsp;
If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review wherever you listen, tell your friends about The Away End, and email us at <a href="mailto:awayendpod@gmail.com">awayendpod@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;

Episode 15: Failure is an Option, South Korea Deep Dive, and John Takes a Magical Bus Ride

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a9d07735-0cb8-4e09-a483-b43a0106a706/transcript

Episode 12: The World Cup Stage is Set, Bosnia and Herzegovina Deep Dive, and an Ode to Ali Al-Hamadi

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The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green

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