Hard Tackle

It's one week on since the big kick-off.

While it started with Robbie Williams pitching his greatest hits album, that was swiftly followed by an extraordinary opening match and series of surprises, both good and bad. World Cup 2018 has already seen its fair share of upsets, some involving the rise of the divisive VAR technology.

Host Jonathan Roberts is joined by SPH head of podcasting Ernest Luis and Stomp editor Azhar Kasman to discuss the highs and lows so far. A word of warning, Mr Kasman is a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Also in this episode, David Lee sends his first audio postcard from Russia where, aside from meeting the fans and reporting on the matches,  he has been getting to grips with the local food.

Watch out for the next episode after the Group Stage...

Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's one week on since the big kick-off.

While it started with Robbie Williams pitching his greatest hits album, that was swiftly followed by an extraordinary opening match and series of surprises, both good and bad. World Cup 2018 has already seen its fair share of upsets, some involving the rise of the divisive VAR technology.

Host Jonathan Roberts is joined by SPH head of podcasting Ernest Luis and Stomp editor Azhar Kasman to discuss the highs and lows so far. A word of warning, Mr Kasman is a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Also in this episode, David Lee sends his first audio postcard from Russia where, aside from meeting the fans and reporting on the matches,  he has been getting to grips with the local food.

Watch out for the next episode after the Group Stage...Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

The greatest football competition is moments away.

It's one month featuring 32 teams and 64 matches across 12 venues in 11 cities. 

To prepare you for the thrills, spills and shenanigans such an event can bring, your host Jonathan Roberts brings in Straits Times sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee.

Aside from weighing up the teams' chances, we also give David, who will be our man in Russia, a test on the Russian language...

Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The greatest football competition is moments away.

It's one month featuring 32 teams and 64 matches across 12 venues in 11 cities. 

To prepare you for the thrills, spills and shenanigans such an event can bring, your host Jonathan Roberts brings in Straits Times sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee.

Aside from weighing up the teams' chances, we also give David, who will be our man in Russia, a test on the Russian language...Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

It's a final that Liverpool fans will probably prefer to forget.

Their main striker brought down, two goalkeeping blunders and a team seeming trying to keep it together.

It all ended 3-1 to Real Madrid for a record third consecutive final win.

Host Jonathan Roberts (a Liverpool fan) also tries to keep it together as he discusses the aftermath and implications of that night in Kiev with ST Sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz...

Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a final that Liverpool fans will probably prefer to forget.

Their main striker brought down, two goalkeeping blunders and a team seeming trying to keep it together.

It all ended 3-1 to Real Madrid for a record third consecutive final win.

Host Jonathan Roberts (a Liverpool fan) also tries to keep it together as he discusses the aftermath and implications of that night in Kiev with ST Sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz...Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Synopsis: Singapore may have the new National Stadium in Kallang, but it is widely acknowledged that Farrer Park has provided for decades, the real sporting soul of Singapore sports, breeding future champions and local legends, right into the current day and age with world beaters in para-athletes Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh.    There are now plans for the eventual transformation of the Farrer Park fields - a hallowed ground for sports from the 1930s through to the 1980s - into a residential area.    The land is leased to national sports agency Sport Singapore, and The Straits Times understands that SportSG has to return it to the state by the middle of 2020. str.sg/oqrk   We catch up with Yip, Goh and former swimming icon Ang Peng Siong in this recording at Farrer Park itself, as they share memories, thoughts on sporting heritage and why this simple-looking area has bred champions. They also talk about an online petition to save Farrer Park. str.sg/opsg   Link to petition: goo.gl/bTxUCd   Produced by: Jonathan Roberts & Ernest Luis   Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: Singapore may have the new National Stadium in Kallang, but it is widely acknowledged that Farrer Park has provided for decades, the real sporting soul of Singapore sports, breeding future champions and local legends, right into the current day and age with world beaters in para-athletes Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh.  There are now plans for the eventual transformation of the Farrer Park fields - a hallowed ground for sports from the 1930s through to the 1980s - into a residential area.  The land is leased to national sports agency Sport Singapore, and The Straits Times understands that SportSG has to return it to the state by the middle of 2020. str.sg/oqrk We catch up with Yip, Goh and former swimming icon Ang Peng Siong in this recording at Farrer Park itself, as they share memories, thoughts on sporting heritage and why this simple-looking area has bred champions. They also talk about an online petition to save Farrer Park. str.sg/opsg Link to petition: goo.gl/bTxUCd Produced by: Jonathan Roberts & Ernest Luis Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Synopsis: Singtel, StarHub and Mediacorp have scored a historic three-way partnership to broadcast the 2018 World Cup in Russia from June 14 to July 15 in Singapore. This is the first time there has been no price hike since paid World Cup subscriptions were introduced here in 2002. Fans will be paying the same prices as they did in 2014 to watch the World Cup on their home screens or mobile devices. These remain at $94.16 (early bird price till May 22) and $112.35 for those who sign up after. How was this pulled off? Did a united team bid work for once, in the Singapore context?   Produced by: Jonathan Roberts & Ernest Luis   Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: Singtel, StarHub and Mediacorp have scored a historic three-way partnership to broadcast the 2018 World Cup in Russia from June 14 to July 15 in Singapore. This is the first time there has been no price hike since paid World Cup subscriptions were introduced here in 2002. Fans will be paying the same prices as they did in 2014 to watch the World Cup on their home screens or mobile devices. These remain at $94.16 (early bird price till May 22) and $112.35 for those who sign up after. How was this pulled off? Did a united team bid work for once, in the Singapore context? Produced by: Jonathan Roberts & Ernest Luis Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt