Fox will go heavy on network coverage of World Cup 2018
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Sep 27, 2017
U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena and
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio were on hand for the Road to Russia event that also featured Fox Sports soccer personalities Alexi Lalas, Landon Donovan, Kate Abdo, Rob
Stone and Fernando Fiore.
Earlier in the year, Fox Sports announced that it will have John Strong, Stuart Holden and Donovan -- three "American voices"
-- its lead announcing team.
Fox Sports will have its main studios at a two-story facility being constructed with two sets, a main anchor desk and an interview area in Moscow’s Red
Square. Abdo will host pre-game, post-game and halftime coverage on World Cup Live, Stone will anchor the day-time World Cup Live show, while Fiore will present World Cup Tonight.
Fox
will be working with National Geographic to bring Russia to life to American viewers and Russian pianist and composer Kirill Richter has composed an original theme song entitled “Where
Angels Fear to Tread."
Fox Sports president and executive producer Eric Shanks: “We will showcase the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Russia as an international cultural moment unlike ever before in U.S. television history.”
Gaak! That's a terrible lineup. Get rid of the ginger ninja. I'd take Stu over LD, and I'd pick a yin to Fiore's yang (poach Herc Gomez?). Please don't make me gouge my eyes out while my ears bleed--enough Lalas, already! Seriously, who is demanding him? No one under 40 even knows who he is!
I don't even know if he is still alive the announcer during 1994 WC. He worked for Harvard university he brought foreign students into the school that was his real job. He had an English accent very knowledgeable I thought. He did the game when Romario scored on that beautiful half volley from Babeto. It was a wonderful goal I must have seen it 100 times. He called the goal sheer elegance. I just can't remember his name. He must have had a coaching license as well. I loved listening do a game. I actually called Harvard in 1994 and told him that.
Since having seen the worst quality of WC soccer in '14, and now looking at this announcer line up , I guess, I'll turn the volume off.
Holland won't be there Frankie, don't worry.
The announcer you are referring to is Seamus Malin. He also called the Cosmos games in the old NASL with Jim Karvellas.
Thanks Nick yes I forgot his name. I never spoke or used the language that he used, but I thought it was perfect when describing the game I love and especially that goal by the great Romario. Is he still breathing?
Frank it is funny you said that. Normally when I watch our football on tv I turn the sound off as well. I listen to the Doors music while I watch a game. One time we had company so I went up stairs to watch a game. Claudio Reyna gets the ball he is wide open in the center of the field close to the area. Instead of shooting or dribbling then shot he passes the ball out to the flank. The last I heard there is no goal on the flank. I went a little crazy when I saw that and threw my tv out my window.
Nick, LOL. I remember Reyna, he was too slow in speed of ball handling. I've never seen him give a one-touch pass . Every ball he received required two-touches before he released it. It was a rhythm and in the last world cup he played ,the opponent stole the ball off his foot before getting the second touch ,ran and scored. The opponents studied his weakness and took advantage of it. Reyna looked good only because no one guarded him one on one so he always had plenty of time and therefore his ball-handling speed was not helped by that...
I thought ESPN's coverage had been getting better and better and that the Brazil coverage was excellent. Hopefully Fox is as good.
There was a time when the networks did not want the announcers to get too technical in their description of the game. They thought it would confuse knew fans. So they actually told some announcers to dumb down their commentary. Hopefully that has changed. But the thing where the official makes a tv screen when he wants a replay is just a little annoying no?
Oh I don't think channel five owns espn. Hopefully their won't be an espn soon.
Nick, they just fired, Ancelloti at Bayern....
I live in Miami,read all the comments and I can yell you that Alexis Lalas is direct and he knows the game well, he is a great asset to Fox Sports, can not say the same about Fox Deportes, the Spanish commentators are an embarrassment to the the game, both of them. An example, Fox have the rights to the UEFA Champions League and while doing the game these two clowns say hello to Lupita, the owner of the Restaurant of a town, say Happy Birthday to Juan Perez (Joe Smith) , congratulate a friend by name in Alabama or Texas or New Mexico and the game is going on and goals are being scored and they couldn't care less. For Russia 2018 FOX has to bring real Professionals, hoping that Fox Management can listen to replays of any games done by these guys and take action.
YES, Lalas is direct , but he doesn't that much game insight. What do expect, he has spend whole chasing the heels of attackers, he has time to think with a little more substance. Brad Friedell is a total zero as an analyst.
meant to say he doesn't have that much game insight. What do you expect from a player who was a defender who spend his whole career chasing the heels of attackers and therefore little time to think about the game itself
Type error, it was meant to say " I can tell you that Alexis Lalas......)
I liked lalas when he had the clown hair. :)
Fired Ancelloti wow two too many loss's I guess. I hope that does not hurt Christians playing time. Hey maybe they will hire the great Juergen to take his place :)
Nick, Christian is playing for Dortmund....
I have been very forgetful lately Frank yes your right :)
Nick, watch Jimmy Johnstone. I don't see players today have that can do attitude and not be afraid of different defenders.
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzeY4bfEtbA