Atleti’s Adventure Ends - AFR Voice Ep. 42

And… breathe out. The whole world was treated to an exhausting but fascinating Champions League final at the weekend. The praise, press and acclaim has inevitably swamped victors Real Madrid, but what about Atletico? With their amazing adventure finally hitting the buffers, the La Liga winners find themselves at a cross-roads. AFR and Bleacher Report writer Anthony Lopopolo joins us to examine why Atletico fell just short and help identify the major obstacles to another year of unprecedented Simeone-fuelled success.

Anthony also provides analysis on the shocking news that new all-time leading MLS goalscorer Landon Donovan has been left out of the USMNT’s trimmed-down roster. Is there any method in Klinsmann’s apparent madness? Elsewhere, we wave one last goodbye to Europe’s domestic leagues with our reactions to the nail-biting high-stakes playoff finals in England, before extending a very excitable welcome to the World Cup with the news that we will be doing several shows during the tournament in Brazil – all from the sun-soaked, bikini-clad, flamboyant, soccer capital of the world….North London. To get the ball rolling on all things Mundial we give the latest on the crocked South American legs of Suarez and Falcao, and highlight the main threat to England’s bid for glory – mouldy Parma ham.

With just a fortnight to go, now’s also the time to get the all-important World Cup wall chart sorted. Fortunately, we’re offering one lucky listener a copy of London-based graphic design pair Kieran O'Keefe and Lynsey Power’s luxurious poster-sized A2 guide to the action. For your chance to win, listen out for the competition at around 44 minutes into the show. Entries close at 23.59 BST on Sunday 1st June, and must be made by contacting the AFR Voice team on twitter.

Unsurprisingly, it’s off to Brazil for the #whereisfootball Instagram project this week - where a certain American sportswear brand’s campaign is building on huge billboards around the host country. User Jose Cabaco, caught a few members of the Seleção looming over São Paulo.

Remember, you can get in touch with the team by emailing afrvoice@gmail.com, or on Twitter @AFRvoice. You can also find us on iTunes here.

(Source: SoundCloud / A Football Report Voice)