S1E57: An on-the-ground take of the ‘shock and awe’ World Cup

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth week of the month.Seismic shocks, upsets, last-minute winners and former champions crashing out. In terms of the football on show, the World Cup in Qatar has already been one of the most memorable and incredible tournaments in its 92-year history - and it's not done yet. In this episode, Straits Times sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz, reporting from the ground in Doha, sits down at Qatar's famous Souq Waqif marketplace with James Walton, sports business group leader for Deloitte South-east Asia. Over some coffee, they chat about what the atmosphere has been like at the first World Cup in the Middle East, how it compares to previous tournaments, and of course, the football they’ve witnessed.Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 How does Qatar compare to Brazil or Russia? 6:18 The ‘rocking’ Fan Festivals in Qatar 10:16 Is Qatar looking like Messi’s tournament? 14:16 Shocks and surprises at this World Cup 19:32 Best football moment so far Read more: https://str.sg/wCGM Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) & Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast episodes every second and fourth Wednesday of the month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS Read his stories: https://str.sg/Jbxq --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #sportstalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.