ST Sports Talk Podcast: What is next for Lions after Middle East disappointment?

National football coach Tatsuma Yoshida has come under fire for fielding players who have seen little game time for their clubs in the Lions' recent World Cup qualifiers. PHOTO: FAS

Updated

Published

Jun 18, 2021, 06:10 PM

ST Sports Talk Ep 134: What is next for Lions after Middle East disappointment?

21:47 mins

Synopsis: ST Sports Talk is The Straits Times' monthly sports podcast.

In this episode, sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan invite former professional player and coach Shasi Kumar - who commentated on all three of Singapore's World Cup qualifying matches in Saudi Arabia June - to chat about the national football team's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Shasi - who now also hosts the Silverfox Hustle podcast - discusses with Sazali and Deepan the factors behind the Lions crumbling in the Middle East and what the team can do to rediscover the verve that made them a joy to watch not too long ago.

They discuss:

1. Pandemic or league standard to blame for fitness levels? (3:42)

2. Are criticisms of Tatsuma Yoshida's squad selection valid? (6:56)

3. How to forge leadership in the team? (12:37)

4. Is Yoshida still the right man to lead the Lions? (16:44)

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz (msazali@sph.com.sg), Deepanraj Ganesan (gdeepan@sph.com.sg) and Aleemah Basirah

Edited by: Aleemah Basirah

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