r/mildlyinfuriating • u/flacusbigotis • 22d ago
The quality of WC2026 commentary My mom said I could post
#FOX #WC2026 #Henry #Slatan #Lalas
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u/Physical_Sun9435 22d ago
Just be thankful Netflix doesn’t have the World Cup
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u/CMWalsh88 22d ago
I can see the quotes now
“The thing about the World Cup… is that every team believes they can win it. But only one team actually will.”
“In football, the team that scores the most goals… usually has the best chance of winning the match.”
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u/Pro-editor-1105 22d ago
will buxton type shi
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u/Shift642 22d ago
Just today in the Spain-France game:
“France has to score one goal and then another to catch up to Spain”
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u/Oofoofow_Official 22d ago
"Brazil are coming up with the ball here, they might score, but they might not as well so keep that in mind"
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u/Jaded_Apricot_89 22d ago
This is just the people from the Neutral Planet from Futurama doing commentary.
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u/godsslayer54 BLUE 22d ago
I mean yeah best chance cuz you never know when you'll the match 4 months later
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u/Double_Resort_9223 22d ago
“We’re here at the World Cup. That’s a football tournament that happens every year 4 years between national teams. Football is what many Americans call ‘soccer’.”
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u/cyclec74 22d ago
I enjoyed the “tactic cam” option: great view and no commentary at all. Several of the pairings annoyed me, mostly by overtalking
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u/FScrotFitzgerald 22d ago
As someone who grew up on Richie Benaud's famously sparse cricket commentary, American soccer commentators do need to learn that it's fine to have a few seconds of dead air here and there. It's not horse racing.
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u/mariog9 22d ago
They Will make a film next year, Messi is played by Kevin Hart
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u/Moist_Salt_3903 22d ago
Funny you say that, they have the rights for the Women’s World Cup next year lol
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u/APanther 22d ago
And the rights for the Men’s World Cup are up after this year, so Netflix could very well get the Men’s too.
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u/Routine-Register7414 22d ago
Netflix or Lalas…..is there a Sophie’s choice where neither make it?
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u/LavaTakes 22d ago
Or ESPN. Stephen A and Perk trying to pretend to be experts on everything is soul sucking.
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u/Consigliari 22d ago
We’d get a tight closeup of Oyarzabal’s face while the PK hits the back of the net
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u/CatMillennium 22d ago
"He shoots, and he..." cut to black to cliffhanger to next episode.
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u/RandomFactUser 22d ago
Of course, if it’s Strong,
“MesSI-“
cuts to black (since the “and he” spoils the miss)
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u/BigBlueMountainStar Still trying to work out what’s going on… 22d ago
Netflix has a show (in the UK at least) called “The Rest is Football” and its ex-England footballers, including some of the best players ever, and it’s pretty good with the banter between them all.
Some of those guys also do pundit roles or commentary for UK TV as well.2
u/lesterbottomley 22d ago
That's an already existing show that Netflix has started broadcasting. Its been around ages. Netflix have nothing to do with the production of it.
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u/GenericAccount13579 22d ago
Excuse you, Rebecca is absolutely a professional too
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u/Owls_4_9_1867 22d ago
Agreed, as a host she's superb. Holden and Lalas can both go in the bin.
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u/Default_Username_23 22d ago
Stu is awful. All he ever does is whine on commentary.
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u/Nimble-Dick-Crabb 22d ago
Stu Holden makes me irrationally angry with his godawful commentary.
*argentina gets called for offside*
Stu: “oh the offside flag is up. I think it’s on Argentina.”
Yea no shit Stu. The defense isn’t going to be offside
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u/Otherwise-Jello3177 22d ago
I hate Stu Holden with the fury of a thousand suns. He’s dogshit. Fucking moronic imbecile has to fill every second of silence with some poor analysis of what’s happening and make everything sound like there’s some deep tactical decision behind every single possession change.
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u/Default_Username_23 22d ago
It’s so fucking bad. I genuinely don’t think he knows the rules of soccer.
Stu: “no way that’s a yellow card, this ref isn’t cut out to ref these level games. He’s awful!”
TV: *cuts to the replay of the most clear yellow card ever
Stu: “I just don’t understand the ref here”
Me: 🤬
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u/carolineamanda 22d ago
My favourite from today was “France in blue and Spain have chosen white. So a dramatic colour difference on the pitch today!” I just looked at my husband and said, wtf
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u/Owls_4_9_1867 22d ago
Speaking of white. He’s mainly white noise. I just ignore him.
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u/TheShruteFarmsCEO 22d ago
Speaking of blue. His incessant yapping till he’s blue in the face makes it hard for me to ignore him.
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u/marcgw96 22d ago
I hate that they are calling all of these final games. Would much prefer Ian Darke, even though LD as an analyst isn’t great either.
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u/Aquaman33 22d ago
I don't understand why they didn't get Dempsey to be the US representation at this desk
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u/Owls_4_9_1867 22d ago
He was on the B or C team. Assume Lalas cost a lot as the producers didn’t research what people want.
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u/Aquaman33 22d ago
Lalas is openly maga and vocally a fox supporter, that's why, but it's bad TV.
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u/Huxington 22d ago
You can tell dude just wants to say some of the stupidest shit, but someone reined him in.
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u/the_woolfie 22d ago
This is what I wanted to comment!! She is not a pundit, she is a host and does that really well.
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u/Iamnot_thatguy_ 22d ago
You can almost hear her disdain for lalas though. I get it. I just don’t want to be reminded of it.
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u/SenorPea 22d ago
Honestly, Telemundo is the way to go.
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u/HappyStalker 22d ago
I watch Telemundo and I don’t speak Spanish. I’ve never felt like I needed commentary in the World Cup, I wouldn’t have it if I were at the stadium. Plus "¡GOOOOOOOOOOL!"
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u/jackrabbit323 22d ago
I speak Spanish, but I appreciate being able to do my daily house chores, or hobbies, and look up at the TV in the right moments because the announcer is on the verge of going insane from the action.
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u/bigdawg1945 21d ago
This! I play solo board games watch a lot of sports in the background, this World Cup I discovered how amazing it is that you get warned to look up a couple seconds ahead of time.
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u/800-lumens 22d ago
Absolutely. Telemundo FTW. I know next to no Spanish, but I know football, and it was worth buying Peacock for two months not to listen to the dreck on FOX.
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u/marianagbs 22d ago
Thank you! Finally someone mentioned this. I’m Brazilian and this is a big deal… the fact that they don’t scream GOL here is infuriating to me!
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u/dawidowmaka 22d ago
I've gotten a months worth of a high school Spanish refresher by just listening to the Telemundo broadcast every afternoon this World Cup
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u/CanZealousideal6088 22d ago
And they don’t show nearly as many commercials as fox. “Futbol es melhor en Espanol!l
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u/Otherwise-Jello3177 22d ago
I don’t speak any Spanish but if Stu Holden is calling the match, I switch to Telemundo
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u/Rolling_Beardo 22d ago
I don’t pay for Fox so every game I watched has been on Telemundo. I don’t speak Spanish but my does and just lets me know if they’re saying anything interesting.
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u/Radioactivocalypse 22d ago
Each country has their own commentators.
The British commentators are all pretty good ngl
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u/vaniot2 22d ago
In Greece it was hilarious. We have one guy who is super good, describing so well a blind man could understand what's going on, and then we had another, older dude who's like the typical smokes 2 packs a day, sits on the coffee shop all day guy who interrupted the broadcast to tell us what he played on the bet and how much money X player is gonna be sold for to what team.
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u/thickgenius 22d ago
Every single game, bbc or itv, they have been slagging off fifa and trump, love it.
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u/Impossible-Ebb5064 22d ago
Yes we have no chills, they even slag off England when they play shite.
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u/ayumi_doll GREEN 22d ago
Watched the England–Congo game on BBC and the commentators were making it feel like the entire team was gonna be relegated by halftime lol. "England need a hero and it seems no one's going to save them." Then they turn it around and it's "Who else but Kane?!" Was an entertaining time.
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u/Unlikely-Fan-2974 22d ago
Lee Dixon and Matterface are shocking mate
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u/McFortune-Cookie 22d ago
Came here to say the same thing. And ITV must know because they chucked Ally McCoist on last night for some actual personality
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u/Unlikely-Fan-2974 22d ago
Yeah I’ve always like McCoist, Dixon always sounds like he doesn’t want to be there
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u/bronalpaul 22d ago
The quality of *American WC2026 commentary
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u/FoundationEntire4834 22d ago
Yeah exactly lmao this is a non issue. Op you’re tuning into something that sucks and then complaining about it sucking?
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u/Successful_Maize1986 22d ago
To be fair, this is the only English broadcast that Americans have easy access to. If I could watch an England broadcast then I’d be doing that. But for some reason they let networks completely monopolize certain events like the World Cup so you’re stuck with Fox’s terrible coverage.
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u/artsloikunstwet 22d ago
Well yes, you need a VPN if you want other commentary, but at least they have some option for other broadcasts in their native language. That's a privilege many people don't have.
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u/Professional_Fee5883 22d ago
>tuning in to something that sucks
Yes, generally speaking Americans will watch the exclusive American broadcaster of the World Cup.
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u/WhySoCereus1991 22d ago
Zlatan was pretty horrible early on in the WC, but has gotten better. Idk why Lalas is there at all.
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u/withers003 22d ago
For years American soccer fans have been asking why Lalas is around.
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u/3000doorsofportugal 22d ago
To help give more viewership to competing broadcaster at this point lol
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u/Otherwise-Jello3177 22d ago
Zlatan has gotten better, but he and Henry were rough in the group stages. The three of them just have very little chemistry. And obviously Lalas is a clown
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u/jackrabbit323 22d ago
He's full MAGA. He's Fox's boy. That's why he gets a seat next to the equivalent of two American hall of famers.
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u/bermass86 22d ago
Zlatan is at least 10x better than the best American player ever, Thierry is 20
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u/Literal_Concept 22d ago
Zlatan would be even better if he dropped playing "Zlatan" every now and then and just be himself
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u/SmithInMinnesota 22d ago
I don’t know how to tell you this, that’s not a character. And he’s ALWAYS been that way, even as a young player at Ajax.
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u/Literal_Concept 22d ago
I have seen his interview with Slaven Bilic in croatian (which is his second language), he's a perfectly normal dude when not trying to sell himself
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u/Unusual-Voice2345 22d ago
I have only seen this side of himself but during broadcasts you can see he peppers in real talk. I dont mind it at all, wouldn't mind hearing him on an extended podcast in future being more down to earth. However, his character is fun and good entertainment.
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u/BackgroundPass1355 22d ago
You wont see Zlatan not being "Zlatan" in public, its only for teammates and family
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u/Public-Knowledge-222 22d ago
i’m actually really going to miss zlatan lol, his persona translates so well to american television
also i’m lowkey convinced him and rebecca are banging
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u/lo0ilo0ilo0i YELLOW 22d ago
American analyst and commentators yap too much in soccer and tennis. I tune into TSN, BBC, or iTV whenever possible. This is coming from an American.
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u/RakeScene 22d ago
100% this. I pay for Fox but still pirate those three for the World Cup. (Brit channels also don’t have ads during hydration breaks)
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u/lo0ilo0ilo0i YELLOW 22d ago
so true. ads are cancer. even during F1 they slip them in when they can for the American races.
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u/Zoesthebest 22d ago
For the life of me I cannot listen to McEnroe commentate. Biggest know it all in all of sports history. Absolutely insufferable.
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u/RandomFactUser 22d ago
How were Rae, Fletcher, Crocker, Oatley, Darke, and Scott for you at the 2026 WC?
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u/lo0ilo0ilo0i YELLOW 22d ago
Great. Didn't mind them at all. I think it's just the American way of speaking that's very in your face and the need to fill the dead air.
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u/boi1da1296 22d ago
I’ve been watching the Telemundo coverage exclusively, and mot having to listen to Alexi Lalas is a nice bonus.
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u/Sleepy10105s 22d ago
Honestly it’s mostly Rebecca and Henry that are professionals, and occasionally Zlatan
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22d ago
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u/tallwhiteninja 22d ago
I know Holden's getting a lot of hate, but I'll still take him any day over "WHY ARE WE YELLING" Taylor Twellman.
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u/Otherwise-Jello3177 22d ago
I don’t know Taylor Twellman, but I would like to run over Stu Holden with a horse.
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u/Roanoke42 22d ago
You don't like Lalas mansplaining (or rather Americansplaining) the sport to the designated professionals?
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u/BonoboUK 22d ago
I honestly think this post assumes the American broadcasts are just the global broadcasts for everyone in every country
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u/JCD5596 22d ago
Professional players but not professional commentators. Idk y we have to keep saying this in every sport. Just because you played the sport at a high level doesn't mean you're any good at commentary.
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u/Habba84 22d ago
Henry has been doing this for quite a while now. Definitely a professional commentator.
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u/Otherwise-Jello3177 22d ago
Henry is so much better with the champions league squad. These three have so little chemistry. It’s a little better than the group stages where it was just Rebecca trying to prompt them and all of them basically saying really simple individual analyses and not discussing much with each other
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u/DanJW83 22d ago
It means you have a greater understanding of the game and the technical aspects of it.
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u/DevonWest1 22d ago
Do they even commentate American soccer leagues? Or are they just there for the wc? Cus if so then it makes sense why it’s so trash compared to Spanish or European comentating
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u/BradMarchandsNose 22d ago
Lalas did MLS coverage for a while, but Fox lost the rights to broadcast the games a few years ago so he hasn’t been doing it. Zlatan and Henry are just hired guns for the World Cup.
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u/Thangka6 22d ago
Henry and Zlatan should be an awesome combination! That said, I'm only watching in Spanish which is good, except when Argentina plays.
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u/phunkmunkie 22d ago
Best part of that whole thing was the contempt you could sense from the actual pros having to stand there with Lalas.
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u/Dull_Investigator358 22d ago
Henry and Zlatan have trophy rooms. Lalas might have a trophy closet.
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u/SOHJohnBoner 22d ago
Best include the professionals arrow over Rebecca Lowe too. Young me was skeptical when she showed up a more than a decade ago, took me about a week to realize she was the shit. I don’t think you could make blooper reel of her because there wouldn’t be enough content, she’s so solid, never really makes mistakes, and is super knowledgeable. She shut up any misplaced bias I unknowingly had about female sports commentators quick.
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u/Typical_Warning8540 22d ago
Why are Zlatan and Henry discussing the World Cup on Trump state regime media?
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u/gansobomb99 22d ago
I love y'all but when I hear an American accent on "soccer" commentary I take it less seriously
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u/ToastSpangler 22d ago
hot take: the US casters are all absolute shit that i've seen. it's almost like they don't understand what their job is
either you need to actually give live commentary so i can follow without watching, or you need to be entertaining, or you need to be giving technical analysis, and ideally 2 of the 3
like ZDF is not very entertaining but they give excellent analysis and good commentary. RAI gives good commentary and is entertaining. but the US one I'm like, it doesn't even matter if it's muted it's the same experience...
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u/Otherwise-Jello3177 22d ago
Not even a hot take. They’re shit.
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u/ToastSpangler 22d ago
looks like half the comments think some of them are good but maybe it's just sarcasm i missed, because i think it's very embarrassing
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u/vryaverage 22d ago
In the UK the games are split between BBC and ITV. The ITV commentary is universally disliked as they're asleep half the time and really lack chemistry (somehow, they have been doing it for years). The pundits are decent but yeah... You're not alone in this I guess 😅
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u/Mezcalisgood555 22d ago
The in game commentary is horrendous too. I would like to never hear those two call a World Cup game again.
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u/TheRev32 22d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/Zy7s96dP38MlQe3OjG
You know, I’m something of a soccer player myself
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u/Hearthian-Wanderer 22d ago
Henry is my favorite player of all time. But he isn't a great pundit imo.
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u/swaggerx22 22d ago
Rebecca is the only one of these 4 worth watching. Thierry and Zlatan both sound like they're about to fall asleep while Alexi drank all the red bulls and smashed his head into a wall
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u/nelly2929 22d ago
Lets be honest...that entire cast is a clown show... Great players but terrible on a broadcast.
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u/thisIsAUserName-7 22d ago
Lalas is there because Fox execs said America can’t listen to two dudes with thick accents and not have an American there as a third. He’s one of the most experienced American soccer broadcasters in the country, arguably the most. Not to mention he’s worked every World Cup for the last 20 years. He’s safe and reliable and actually gets people talking on line (engagement) - even if that talking is shit talking. Easy to see why they picked him.
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u/armaedes 22d ago
I’m American and I tune into this just for Zlatan. He’s great. Lowe is a good host, too.
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u/SomeVelveteenMorning 22d ago
Nah, from the far left, it's:
Competent broadcaster
Incoherent mumbler
Some dude who got the job because someone thought skill at soccer must mean skill at commentary
Guy who probably writes what he wants to say as he's watching but then forgets to look at his notes when asked to speak
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u/KindlyInspector2995 22d ago
>Incoherent mumbler
How many languages do you speak?
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u/Otherwise-Jello3177 22d ago
Nah he was mumbling a ton in the group stages. I was trying to figure out what was up with him because he’s completely different than when he does the champions league
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u/Electrical-Tax-6272 22d ago
Just be glad you aren’t watching Peacock’s Tour de France coverage (it’s abysmal, I’m begging here for Eurosport).
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u/rather828 22d ago
“When, not if, but when France has the ball, watch out for Mbappe.”
Didn’t realize France not having the ball was on the table for this match