“Henry v Lalas Is the World Cup’s Most Compelling Battle”
Although I’ve seen a highlight or two, I have not overcome my FIFA+Fox+Trump disgust to watch any of the World Cup so far. MAGA dipshit Alexi Lalas is high on the list of reasons not to tune into any of Fox’s braindead coverage, but it sounds like he’s being dragged on the regular by Thierry Henry. The French Aristocrat and the All-American Idiot: Henry v Lalas Is the World Cup’s Most Compelling Battle:
Lalas enjoyed a solid playing career, but he’s obviously not in the same league as Henry, widely considered the greatest footballer in Premier League history. This vast gulf in on-field pedigree has become more awkward as the tournament has progressed, with Lalas retreating into a meek silence whenever Henry reveals his depth of footballing experience. In a conversation where his co-panelist is casually reminiscing about his days playing alongside Messi or exchanging shirts with Ronaldo Nazário at the World Cup, what exactly is Lalas going to talk about — coming on as a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart in a friendly against Scotland in 1998? Helping the Kansas City Wizards finish last in the 1999 MLS Western Conference? Did Lalas enjoy an elite playing career? No. But does he do the background reading that could compensate for his relative lack of standing in a conversation with titans like Henry and Zlatan? Also no. But is he charming or funny or charismatic or otherwise magnetic on screen? Eh, no.
Savage. Here’s Henry and Zlatan kicking the ball around in the studio and pointedly not letting Lalas have a go:
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I've been watching the tournament on Telemundo, via Peacock, and it has been a delight. My Spanish is very limited, but the announcers have great energy and they do a fantastic job of calling out which player is in on the action. I especially like that they don't cut away to commercial during the hydration breaks, opting instead to focus on the players and sometimes recapping exciting plays. I'll also say, the joy of the crowds and the warm reception the visitors to our country have received has been an utter balm during these rather dark times. It's been a welcome reminder that there are good people here.
Same. It's also a lovely tertiary side effect to just have Spanish commentary running in my house all day as a casual way of hearing (and learning) more of the language.
I felt fortunate to stumble upon a Telemundo match and catch Jozy Altidore interviewing players in Spanish https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/soccer/jozy-altidore-now-broadcaster-bullish-us-making-deep-world-cup-run-rcna347988
Absolutely!!
https://www.tiktok.com/@giovanni.canales/video/7652470503256460574?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7604956205395625486
Oh I've been watching on FOX, when the UK announcers are on it's pretty decent. Not so when they have Americans doing the game. I'll check out Telemundo/Peacock. Thanks for the rec. And while I haven't watched any USMNT games, watching all the other countries, esp the underdogs, has been much more enjoyable than I expected. Like others, watching the fans and the energy and outstanding gameplay has lifted my mood! I'm sad the group stage is ending soon because watching two random (to me) countries pour their hearts into a game has been the highlight of my recent afternoons.
I’m also enjoying the Telemundo broadcasts. There was an interview this weekend in the NYT with Cesar Conde of NBCUniversal in which he says, “Our Telemundo team has this great philosophy that some things are better in Spanish, and soccer is just one of them.”
here's an example of Jozy showcasing his Spanish skills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9oxJbOzTO0
I loathe FIFA and infantino (let alone Trump) but I simply refuse to let them ruin the World Cup for me (lifelong USMNT fan here— saw them in 1994 and everything). Ignore the halftime/post game commentary. Look at the spectacular and (mostly) high-sports-integrity soccer that’s happening. And the crowds— the crowds!!! I love witnessing passionate fandom.
I had been feeling this ragey anti-FIFA feeing, until I read this and it reminded me of all the things good sport does and it rekindled the joy. I’m going to a watch party in a beer garden where commentary won’t matter https://www.patreon.com/CultureStudy/posts/is-it-vibe-shift-161275117?post_id=161275117&utm_id=6edf8a2b-e4c3-478d-bf2e-6f46a4ea41a7
Honestly, I think they were doing Lalas a favor by not letting him touch the ball. the are at a very different level.
A. Timms writing about A. Lalas:
I adored this article. Possibly because I agreed with 100% of it. (Zlatan is a dud as a commentator.) Was Alexi always a blowhard and I just missed it when he was at ESPN? Or did his move to Fox allow him to let his particular freak flag fly? Despite all the Fox cringe, there are fantastic Mens World Cup underdog ties & wins--Cabo Verde scoring their first MWC goals?! Amazing to witness!Wow, Alexi Lalas. Who knew he still existed? Really had to excavate that one. Kind of hard to figure out how he's being paid to comment on elite soccer.
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