Kicks for Free
107 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago -This is a podcast where Dhiman Sarkar and Vivek Krishnan of the Hindustan Times sports desk talk about the beautiful game. From transfers to tournaments, their discussions will cover what matters in football, in India and abroad. So, join them every week on Kicks For Free, if football is a matter of life and death -- or more -- for you.
This is a Hindustan Times production brought to you by HT Smartcast.
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Episodes
Red cards, Mohun Bagan's march and more
September 28, 2023 14:17 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBThe first week of ISL10 is behind us and Bengaluru FC began the second with two red cards. Will Mohun Bagan, Odisha FC and Mumbai City pull away from the rest? Will East Bengal be among the top six? Here's what we think.
That night in Munich and other Champions League games
September 21, 2023 16:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBSeven goals between former champions Manchester United and Bayern Munich was the highlight of the opening fixtures but don't tell Ivan Provedel that.
Looking at Asian Games and a new ISL season
September 14, 2023 13:24 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBWith preparation that could be a study in contrasts, clubs and country get down to business next week. With colleague Aditya Chaturvedi as guest, we talk about the teams, how the Asian Games was the elephant in the room in ISL's media days and more.
Talk about transfers
September 08, 2023 10:20 - 22 minutes - 21 MBFrom Bellingham to Bonucci, from Chelsea's splurge to City's conservatism, from Saudi Pro League to Alessia Russo and Ona Batlle, we look at the big moves of the summer window.
The last Asian Games gold, after 61 years.
August 31, 2023 14:05 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBSeptember 4, 1962, was when India, led by Chuni Goswami, won the Asian Games gold. We take a look back, hand held by football statistician Gautam Ray who relives those days with a meticulous eye for detail.
The Women's World Cup: a first-hand account
August 25, 2023 14:14 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBBelgian journalist Samindra Kunti was in Australia and New Zealand reporting on his second World Cup in less than one year. Hear from him about the month-long competition, the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Women's World Cup final: Our preview
August 17, 2023 12:04 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBEngland and Spain, Sarina Wiegman and Jorge Vilda, countries and coaches, will meet on Sunday for their first shot to be on top of the world. What will it be? A humdinger? A nervy, narrow win? HT's Dhiman Sarkar & Vivek Krishnan discuss in this episode of the weekly football podcast Kicks for Free.
It's kick-off in Europe
August 10, 2023 14:59 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBAnother season starts in Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1. Will it be the same old same old with Manchester City dominating or will there be new winners? Will Arsenal finish the unfinished business of last time? Will Mbappe stay at PSG? Will Neymar Jr? We don't have the answers but that doesn't stop us from discussing the questions.
The Sunil Chhetri Interview
August 02, 2023 15:07 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBOn his birthday, the India and Bengaluru FC captain talks about the biggest change in his life and of the challenges on the pitch in a season that has the Asian Games, Asian Cup, World Cup qualifiers, Indian Super League and the Federation Cup.
Anecdotes from the Durand Cup
July 27, 2023 16:33 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBOnce a tournament synonymous with Delhi, one for which the capital would wait all year, this is now a competition that starts the Indian season. One which has a home in Kolkata. Through Jaydeep Basu, who has been following Durand Cup much before he began writing on football, we go back in time. The 132nd Durand Cup starts on August 3.
Women's World Cup preview: From Megan to Marta, Sinclair to Sam and everything else
July 19, 2023 12:23 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBIn this episode of the weekly football podcast Kicks for Free, hosts Dhiman Sarkar and Vivek Krishnan talk about what we can expect from the ninth edition in Australia and New Zealand, the first with 32 teams.
Saudi Arabia and China are like chalk and cheese: Simon Chadwick
June 30, 2023 08:38 - 37 minutes - 34 MBIn this episode, Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy at the SKEMA Business School, explains why the boom in the Saudi Pro League is unlikely to go the way of the Chinese Super League. Chadwick also speaks on whether the influx will help the Saudi Arabia men's national team and give the women's game a fillip.
From Pakistan: A football story
June 21, 2023 08:36 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBYou can't blame Umaid Wasim for having conflicted feelings about Pakistan in the SAFF Championship. The Pakistani in him wants the team to win a first South Asian title but the journalist in him -- Wasim is the sports editor of Dawn, Pakistan's largest circulated English daily --- is far from hopeful
Quarter-finals is our target, says Bibiano Fernandes
June 15, 2023 13:11 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBBefore the Asian under-17 finals, the India head coach said they have done all that they could, which included a pep talk from Fernando Torres, to get ready for the competition from where the semi-finalists qualify for the World Cup.
More to coaching than winning titles: Manolo Marquez
June 08, 2023 18:33 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBAfter hauling Hyderabad FC from obscurity to an ISL title and a semi-final in three seasons, Manolo Marquez has moved to FC Goa. Can the Spaniard repeat the performance? And how does he think the Champions League final will unfold? Listen here
Winning smoothly: The Gokulam Kerala women's story
June 01, 2023 16:07 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBAs he looks back at a season where the club completed a hattrick of Indian Women's League titles, head coach Anthony Andrews explains why prolific goalscorer Sabitra Bhandari is called Samba, how players from Manipur kept their focus even as violence rocked the state, why morning kick-offs were difficult and more.
Shooting from the lip, Stimac style
May 25, 2023 13:24 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBIn this exclusive interview, the India head coach talks about the challenges of playing two tournaments in June almost back-to-back, why he is unlikely to go to the Asian Games, his plans for the Asian Cup and why it is important to have only Indians playing as strikers.
The Renedy Singh interview
May 18, 2023 15:45 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBThe former India midfielder is forthright about the situation in Manipur, talks about his academy in Imphal, the role of the Football Players' Association in India, how it came into being, and looks ahead to the national team's engagements
Half-time in the Champions League semi-finals
May 11, 2023 14:34 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBCan Real pull off another heist? Or will City take one more step towards a first? Can Milan come back stronger or will it be Inter in the final after 13 years? Tune in to find out our thoughts
The return of Napoli
May 04, 2023 16:31 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBNot even when Diego Maradona helped them win it in 1990 could they dominate the Serie A thus. But after years of hurt, can Napoli build on this and be what they were in the Maradona years.
Clifford Miranda on the Odisha FC juggernaut
April 27, 2023 15:03 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThe first Indian coach to win the Super Cup also looks back at how Arthur Papas changed his life and ahead to when he will not be an interim head coach
Maitanam: A football love story
April 20, 2023 15:51 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBIn this episode, we are in conversation with Misha Kumar, who directed the film that tells the world about why all roads in Kerala often lead to a football stadium.
Super Cup, Champions League
April 13, 2023 13:23 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBFrom Liston to Lampard, Manjeri to Manchester, imperiousness of a team in sky blue and ennui in a football hotbed, we talk about them all in this episode.
Why the Super Cup matters to Edu Bedia
April 06, 2023 11:57 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBSix seasons in India, the Spaniard talks about when FC Goa won the cup competition under his captaincy in 2019 when it was last held. But that is not the only reason why the former Racing Santander midfielder is looking forward to its resumption.
Imphal musings and Lahm's thoughts
March 30, 2023 14:11 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBIndia's title run in Imphal takes up the first part. In the second, Germany and Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm shares his thoughts on the change of manager, Jude Bellingham and Der Klassiker.
India's win and the ISL final
March 24, 2023 09:41 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBIn this episode, hosts Dhiman Sarkar and Vivek Krishnan discuss Anirudh Thapa's goal against Myanmar, Sunil Chhetri's misses and everything in between. Those penalties by Petratos and ISL's most successful team becoming history.
Jeje Unplugged
March 16, 2023 08:59 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBVivek and Dhiman in conversation with former India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua talking about the highs of his career, the agony of ending his playing career at 32 and what it takes to win the Indian Super League
Santosh Trophy's Riyadh rendezvous
March 09, 2023 16:35 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBVivek and Dhiman speak to Hindustan Times' colleague Shantanu Srivastava on what was good and what could have been better in the men's national championship in Saudi Arabia
Ahead of the Kolkata derby, Bhaichung Bhutia unplugged
February 23, 2023 13:34 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBFormer India captain Bhaichung Bhutia played and starred in many Kolkata derbies during his career. He talks to us about his experience and also how things are at the All India Football Federation now.
Remembering Tulsidas Balaram
February 17, 2023 10:30 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBIn this special issue, Dhiman Sarkar talks to football writer Jaydeep Basu about the legendary forward who was such an important part of the 1962 Asian Games gold medal winning team.
The worst of times for Manchester City?
February 09, 2023 14:01 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBThe Premier League has charged Manchester City for alleged breaches of financial rules. Hosts Dhiman Sarkar and Vivek Krishnan discuss their plight and also look ahead to the Champions League Round of 16 fixtures
From Gakpo to Gallego, the movers and shakers of January
February 02, 2023 17:56 - 19 minutes - 18 MBA look at the major ins and outs from Europe and elsewhere in the January transfer window.
Can Arsenal go all the way in the Premier League?
January 27, 2023 07:24 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBWe discuss Arsenal's victory over Manchester United and whether they can go all the way. Also up for discussion is the prospect of Lionel Messi playing club football in Saudi Arabia and AIFF's 25-year roadmap for the growth of Indian football
A World Cup final for the ages - France vs Argentina
December 19, 2022 12:41 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBIn this episode of the Kicks for Free podcast, hosts Dhiman Sarkar & Vivek Krishnan discuss Lionel Messi's legacy and relive a final that will be spoken about for as long as the World Cup is held.
Looking ahead to the World Cup final
December 18, 2022 13:15 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBThe two best teams, Argentina and France, are in the final. We discuss Messi and Mbappe, recent finals and other subplots from the game
FIFA Semi-final 2: France make second successive final
December 15, 2022 09:55 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBIn this episode, hosts Dhiman Sarkar and Vivek Krishnan review the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup tournament where they talk about why France is good at getting the job done and what Morocco needs to do to build on this run in Qatar.
FIFA Semi-final 1: Messi, Alvarez take Argentina to the final
December 14, 2022 12:25 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBAt the age of 35, Messi is still running the show. In this episode of the Kicks for Free podcast, hosts Dhiman Sarkar & Vivek Krishnan speak about his greatness and looks ahead to the second semi-final between France and Morocco.
Looking ahead to Argentina vs Croatia semi-final
December 13, 2022 12:03 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBIn this episode of the Kicks for Free podcast, hosts Vivek Krishnan and Dhiman Sarkar discuss the importance of Lionel Messi and Luka Modric and where the semi-final is likely to be decided.
Morocco make history, will face France in semis
December 11, 2022 11:18 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBWe look back at Morocco's historic win over Portugal and France's 2-1 victory against England
Brazil stumble, Messi leads Argentina to semis
December 10, 2022 09:47 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBBoth the quarter-finals on Friday were decided by a penalty shootout. While Brazil lost to Croatia, Argentina pipped Netherlands to keep Messi's World Cup dream alive
Looking ahead to Brazil vs Croatia and Argentina vs Netherlands
December 09, 2022 09:08 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBIn this episode, hosts Vivek Krishnan and Dhiman Sarkar talk about why Brazil and Argentina will go into their respective quarter-final matches as favourites
Morocco upset Spain, Portugal thrash Switzerland
December 07, 2022 10:55 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBHosts Vivek Krishnan & Dhiman Sarkar discuss Morocco's historic achievement and why Portugal may be a better team without Ronaldo.
Brazil cruise against Korea, Croatia pip Japan
December 06, 2022 11:38 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBHosts Vivek Krishnan and Dhiman Sarkar discuss Brazil's 4-1 win over South Korea and why Croatia's experience helped them prevail against Japan in the penalty shootout
Mbappe magic takes France to quarters
December 05, 2022 08:28 - 13 minutes - 12 MBMbappe has nine goals in just 11 World Cup appearances. He is just 23. Can anybody stop the French forward? Hosts Vivek Krishnan and Dhiman Sarkar talk about Mbappe's magic that took France to quarters.
Messi's magic left foot to the fore again
December 04, 2022 10:51 - 18 minutes - 17 MBArgentina and Netherlands progressed to the quarter-finals on Saturday. We discuss that and look ahead to France vs Poland and England vs Senegal
More upsets in FIFA World Cup
December 03, 2022 10:05 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBPortugal lose to South Korea and Brazil go down to Cameroon on the final day of the group stage. We also look ahead to Netherlands versus US and Argentina versus Australia in the Round of 16.
A day of incredible drama at FIFA World Cup
December 02, 2022 10:15 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBJapan advance to the Round of 16 after a 2-1 win over Spain as Germany make a group-stage exit for the second successive campaign
FIFA World Cup: Messi's Argentina advance to Round of 16
December 01, 2022 12:02 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBBy beating Poland 2-0, Argentina show why they were one of the tournament favorites coming into the World Cup
FIFA World Cup: England, US, Netherlands and Senegal advance
November 30, 2022 11:01 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBIn this episode, hosts Vivek Krishnan and Dhiman Sarkar discuss the final round of matches from Group A and B.
FIFA World Cup: Brazil, Portugal advance to Round of 16
November 29, 2022 11:57 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBIn this episode, hosts Vivek Krishnan and Dhiman Sarkar discuss why defensive midfielder Casemiro is so integral to the way Brazil plays.