I do think this is a problem when trying to establish a sport on television. Heck, even ESPN’s interminable poker coverage has identifiable voices, but the most famous footie commentator in the US is Andres Cantor, who doesn’t even broadcast in English. Perhaps Dave O’Brien is placing an early bet on becoming the American Motty, but learning on the job isn’t ideal.

The botched call went against the Canes (Edmonton got away with a serious infraction). But that’s OK: instant karma was subsequently served.

harry- I’ve just been watching Univision, as you noted. I only understand about one word in a hundred, but the chatter makes a pleasing backdrop to the game. It seems to me that who-can-say-the-most-stupid-things competitions are common at least in US sports television—I remember egregious examples in both the NHL and NBA finals from last week.

I’m American but was not sorry to see the US go down to defeat because of 1) a compulsion to cheer the underdog, and 2) the mortifying behavior that US athletes show in international arenas. I know it isn’t fair to assume our soccer team will get up to the same kind of idiocy, but my fear makes me weak.

Also, IIRC, in 1994 they made it through as the third place team in their initial group of four. The setup was different then.

Team USA wasn’t as good as their results in 94 or 02, and perhaps not as bad as they played in 98 or 06.

they grow them in england – it’s called the premiership. if you really, REALLY want to tear your eyes out of head and throw them at the screen, watch a season of english football.

epoh: “I can’t help but think that the near-unanimous hatred of America around the world affected the refereeing of the US squad.”

that’s right. it’s because they hate american freedoms.

As for the American red cards in the Italy match, even Bruce Arena said they were justified. Of course, he’s a moron, so it’s still an open question.

Harry, meet Peter Gammons…

Oi. Half our main commentators are already crap, so we can’t afford to lose the few decent ones we have.

“The two red cards against the US in the Italy game were obvious crap calls. And the call leading to the PK for Ghana was also a crap call.”

I didn’t see the Ghana game so I’m more than willing to accept that was a crap call, but all three red cards in the Italy match were perfectly justified., and pretty much inevitable following the guidance FIFA gave to referees about studs up tackles.

I can’t help but think that the near-unanimous hatred of America around the world affected the refereeing of the US squad. The two red cards against the US in the Italy game were obvious crap calls. And the call leading to the PK for Ghana was also a crap call. Sure, other games and other countries have tasted the arbitrariness of the refs. But I can’t help but blame the whole thing on the idiot currently occupying the White House.

‘Nuff said.

Oh, before I forget, Crouch is waste of cleats. Let Joe Cole, Lampard, and Wolcott carry St. George into the back of the net.

But there’s no excuse for ESPN and ABC to have such complete morons covering the game. The main guy doing play-by-play this morning could barely speak, nevermind not understand the game beyond a basic level.

Here’s a trick: go to the UK, find a couple of decent commentators, and pay them a pot of money to move to The States and cover soccer full-time.

There, I solved it.