Whatever happened to the national anthems?

[soji22]

I don't know about television viewers around the world, but over here in America each World Cup match I've seen so far begins with the kick-off and not the playing of the competing sides' national anthems. I find that listening to La Marseillaise for example, has a way of stirring the passions and whetting the appetite. Does anyone know if FIFA abolished the playing of national anthems?

[SankaCofie]

you're watching in English.
switch to Spanish station to see the pre-game.

also... at halftime ESPN would rather talk about basketball and horesracing than the GAME THEY ARE CURRENTLY SHOWING.

just go to spanish channel.. its 5 - 10 seconds ahead of the english feed anyway.

[lanarkian]

I don't know about television viewers around the world, but over here in America each World Cup match I've seen so far begins with the kick-off and not the playing of the competing sides' national anthems. I find that listening to La Marseillaise for example, has a way of stirring the passions and whetting the appetite. Does anyone know if FIFA abolished the playing of national anthems?

I can assure you that the National Anthems are played before each game.

It is a pity that ABC/ESPN don't come in about 5 minutes before the game to show the teams entering the gladiatorial field (with the resultant atmosphere).

[usscouse]

ESPN didn't switch from the ads until the England game was about 30 seconds underway.
If the matches are secondary, the opening ceremonys ignored, imagine how far down the line anthems are.

[yellowbismark]

Univision, baby. I've watched all four of the games so far on this channel and am happy I've made that decision.

[ThreeStars]

Incredible. Scandalous. The anthems and the ritual before the match are part of the World Cup and must be shown on TV. Looks like ESPN has a bit to learn.

[Henry Porter]

They really should just start at 1:30 for a 1:55 match, show us some of this stuff and pepper it with ads. That way we both win.

[FMF_LFP]

UNIVISION FUL LCOVERAGE

Plus you get to see Hot sluts before the game :D

[Sneijder1]

LOL, weirdest thing i have ever heard, no national anthems on tv...? Great broadcasters you have there... ESPN? Must be some ignorant Americans...

[blackjack]

Incredible. Scandalous. The anthems and the ritual before the match are part of the World Cup and must be shown on TV. Looks like ESPN has a shitload to learn.

FYP :)

[FMF_LFP]

Great coverage from Univision before the game between Ivory Coast and Argentina. :cool:

They werer shwoing them in the tunnels at the entarnce then the 2 anthems

[DoyleG]

TSN is showing the anthems and the atmosphere of the game. Sportsnet has done the same as well.

[Henry Porter]

TSN is showing the anthems and the atmosphere of the game. Sportsnet ahs done the same as well.

Damn it, Canada. Why do you have to be so awesome?

[SankaCofie]

its strange how bad ESPN's announcers are... they did the friendlies better than they do the damned finals game.

if ONE more person feels the need to explain some obvious rule of soccer instead of actual insight i'm going to drive up to hartford or w/e the ******** ESPNs offices are and i'm going to personally cripple every member of the Disney duos staff from the ABC/ESPN executives on down to the mailroom workers.

[ilv2]

let's see if they show the american anthem before the us men's match

[MalboroDude]

TSN is showing the anthems and the atmosphere of the game. Sportsnet has done the same as well.

Yeah, but they completely ignrored the opening ceremony. I was looking forward to it, but I was totally dissapointed when they just started to show the teams coming out of the tunnels for the field.

Then Greg Forrest and the other 3 dudes are the most boring people on tv. They have no idea what to say and repeat the same boring/uninteresting crap.

Totally sucks to be in a Country that does not give a shit about football.

[King-James]

Is it just me, or is Univision's picture quality a quite better as well? At least compared to ESPN2 (they show a ticker at the bottom the entire match)

[STHLM]

its strange how bad ESPN's announcers are... they did the friendlies better than they do the damned finals game.

if ONE more person feels the need to explain some obvious rule of soccer instead of actual insight i'm going to drive up to hartford or w/e the ******** ESPNs offices are and i'm going to personally cripple every member of the Disney duos staff from the ABC/ESPN executives on down to the mailroom workers.

Anyone watch Argentina - Ivory Coast today? The announcers were a real joke in this game. You could hear the announcers talking in the background as Ivory Coast had a scoring chance.

[Boston-stadjer]

The comments are absolutely horrible, not to the point and most of the times way off. I really envy my soccer-friends in the Netherlands, where they have a thorough pre-show, they show the national anthems (without yakking through it..), and good comments without all the BS details!
The baseball/basketball analogies are especially irritating.. What's wrong with this country? Why don't they like to watch soccer? Ever try to watch a baseball-game? Boring! I rather see grass grow!:o

[benfica74]

Incredible. Scandalous. The anthems and the ritual before the match are part of the World Cup and must be shown on TV. Looks like ESPN has a bit to learn.

I agree!!!