Is it just me being spoiled from watching PL or are the fox announcers just terrible for the most part. I so wish I could get the UK broadcast of the games.

I hate most of the studio show stuff as well.

You mean you don't want more zlatan or lalas?

I have a lot more fun watching with the British announcers. Just seems more official for some reason.

Want Ian Darke to call a US game but unfortunately it looks like that won't happen this year.

Yeah it's not good. All the way around. Camera angles/zoom, production, graphics, not mic'ing the fans enough - you name it.

I genuinely wish I knew Spanish well enough to watch on Peacock instead.

ETA Derek Rae on this Swiss game right now is the number 1 play by play guy for ESPN's coverage of Bundesliga, so he's legit.

The only things they talk about:

1. Club Teams only if they include MLS, the English Premier League, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.
2. Mixed background for players. Mother is from Serbia, Dad is from Angola, spent his life in England until he was 15 and then moved to France. Chose to play for Spain because Paella is his favorite food.
3. Messi even when he is not playing
4. Hydration breaks coming at a good time (Think ad revenue to pay their salary)

deadbq03 said:

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ETA Derek Rae on this Swiss game right now is the number 1 play by play guy for ESPN's coverage of Bundesliga, so he's legit.

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Yep. The best option by far.

Duh I forgot about that. I guess maybe the angle issues I perceive are due to being in stadiums where camera positions are designed for NFL?

Not a huge fan or experienced with watching leagues to know enough to be critical , but have enjoyed the WC so far often with the sound down.

Do love the FIFA miraculously manages to get all the games televised and started on time, something no large American sport can seem to manage, ever, in season and playoffs and tournaments.


Also got a pretty big kick out of one of the first pregames where Lalas called someone a Wanker and the two Brits looked like they wanted to dive under the desk and die. When they got their breath back they said they would all be fired in the uk for the remark.

I don't know, I watch mostly Prem but some others during the season, and the WC video hasn't really stood out to me either way. I may just not be very discerning; the only video out of England, Germany, Spain, and Italy that bothers me in season is Serie A (I don't think I get Ligue 1, but I also don't care because there's too big a drop from PSG to the rest of that league). I don't know what it is, but Serie A just looks a step below in video quality.

Absolute said:

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Do love the FIFA miraculously manages to get all the games televised and started on time, something no large American sport can seem to manage, ever, in season and playoffs and tournaments.

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Soccer matches are much more predictable as to how long it takes: 45m 1st half + Extra time + 15m halftime + 45m 2nd half + Extra time.

With football, there are so many things that can add time - team timeouts, penalties, injuries, overtime, etc. And the games run much longer so the window between games are shorter.

Telemundo is effing outstanding

Peter Piper said:

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Absolute said:

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Do love the FIFA miraculously manages to get all the games televised and started on time, something no large American sport can seem to manage, ever, in season and playoffs and tournaments.

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Soccer matches are much more predictable as to how long it takes: 45m 1st half + Extra time + 15m halftime + 45m 2nd half + Extra time.

With football, there are so many things that can add time - team timeouts, penalties, injuries, overtime, etc. And the games run much longer so the window between games are shorter.

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This is not a FIFA thing it is a general world soccer thing. When they say kick off is 1pm baring something extraordinary the game starts at 1pm. In the US, a noon kickoff actually starts at between 12:10 and 12:15.

Yes College and pro football vary a lot in length due to other factors but there is no reason to delay the kickoff to provide 10 more minutes of pregame.