2014 World Cup

[Ed Anger]

By the way, Yanks, how's Roberto doing on ESPN?

He's the best thing about ESPN's coverage by far. Not that it's terrible, it's actually pretty damn good. FOX has the rights for 2018 so I'm treasuring ESPN's coverage now because FOX's will be utter shit.

Aka, the Gus Johnson experience.

[Sheilbh]

Things I like about Bosnia:
Besic.
Sensible haircuts.
Lulic.

So far Bosnia is winning the hottie supporters on camera competition.

I imagine mostly Brazilians hating on Argentina.

Though in my experience Bosnians are very pretty.

[Admiral Yi]

They were wearing Bosnian jerseys.

[Sheilbh]

They were wearing Bosnian jerseys.

Yeah. A Times sports journo's just posted a video of a group of England fans in France shirts singing 'Deutschland Uber Alles' to a group of Germans, who sang 'God Save the Queen' back.

No doubt some will be Bosnians but there's probably a lot of locals or tourists who got tickets and picked the right side

[Norgy]

Not at all impressive by Argentina. I really can't wait for the second round of group games.

Yes, of the pre-tournament favourites none have impressed so far.  Let's see if Germany does any better tomorrow.

I thought Italy looked very solid.

On paper, Italy is no contender. The Serie A is weaker than it has been. Then again, the English still think they can win something because the Premiership attracts good players at ridiculously high wages.
I'd say fuck them all. Fuck Kissinger, Reagan, the Bushes and that lot.
Go Chile! Make those Languish much debated socialists that were tortured and killed by proxy count.

[FunkMonk]

By the way, Yanks, how's Roberto doing on ESPN?

He's the best thing about ESPN's coverage by far. Not that it's terrible, it's actually pretty damn good. FOX has the rights for 2018 so I'm treasuring ESPN's coverage now because FOX's will be utter shit.

Aka, the Gus Johnson experience.

"Messy fires a LASER, wide in the AREA for a gold kick. "

It will be horrible, and the analyst coverage will be even worse.   

[Admiral Yi]

I'm glad the Brits have stopped using "danger man."  Always thought that sounded dorkumatic.

[PDH]

It will be horrible, and the analyst coverage will be even worse.   

Enjoy the Darke while you can.

[Josquius]

I find it very unusual (but good for me) that American coverage of footy always has british commentators.
Why is this? Does it not put off American viewers?

My American friend is flying to Brazil with her dad today. She has tickets to see Russia vs Korea- it was a pretty random draw about which game she would get. Not the most spectacular sounding of games but still, I am jealous.

[Admiral Yi]

Why is this?

Ours suck.

[Sheilbh]

Why is this?

Ours suck.

You've taken good ones from what I can tell 

[alfred russel]

I find it very unusual (but good for me) that American coverage of footy always has british commentators.
Why is this? Does it not put off American viewers?

You miss a key demographic feature of American soccer fans. For a lot of them a big thing is about being international and not just some American rube focused on American centric things like baseball, american football, and bombing 3rd world countries.

If you read articles for American soccer fans, you will often see some british / non american phrases too and references to just how important it all is in some other country. The point is to keep feeding that part of the audience what they want to hear: you are now on some plane above a narrow american perspective--you have progressed into the global community.

[jimmy olsen]

I find it very unusual (but good for me) that American coverage of footy always has british commentators.
Why is this? Does it not put off American viewers?

My American friend is flying to Brazil with her dad today. She has tickets to see Russia vs Korea- it was a pretty random draw about which game she would get. Not the most spectacular sounding of games but still, I am jealous.

Koreans don't seem terribly optimistic about their chance of advancing from what I've seen.

[Admiral Yi]

In addition to what Fredo4Fettucine said, we're very accustomed to foreigners showing up on American TV.  We have Australian anchors on CNN, Iranian reporters, British chefs yelling at their underlings, Australians calling tennis, all kinds of actors and musicians lounging about New York and LA.

[garbon]

That said in the little bit I saw, I missed the American enthusiasm. When Pogba, there was sort of deadpan stating of "tempers have reached a boiling point."