Xavi

We’re heading back to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil for today’s episode of Greatest Games, in association with The Blizzard. The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew joins us to discuss the Netherlands’ 5-1 dismantling of Spain, as “Louis Van Gaal created something he loved - and then destroyed it.” Spain arrived at this tournament with the same formula that saw them win the preceding three as the likes of Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andrés Iniesta looked to dominate possession. They took the lead and controlled the early exchanges in El Salvador but, with Louis van Gaal switching to a back three for this game, his Netherlands side took advantage of Spain's lethargic midfield. We discuss a fantastic game that featured scintillating goals from Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben, and saw the end of Spain’s possession-dominating era. For more stories from the annals of football history, visit www.theblizzard.co.uk to explore their archives that contain over 700 articles of stories just like this one! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No international team has typified the last ten years of football better than Spain and their three trophies in a row between 2008 and 2012. With a group of all-time great players such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, La Furia Roja dominated the international landscape for our first five years in the studio. Those teams were a joy to watch and a joy to talk about, and here we reminisce on what was undoubtedly one of the greatest eras in football history. The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.