Given the events on the ground in France involving hooliganism and the need for on-site reporters with news gathering capability, ESPN is providing a strong example to FOX Sports as to the types of resources they must deploy on the ground to properly cover what may prove to be a controversial 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Case in point, Steve Bower’s reporting on Sunday from a violence-plagued Marseille gave the best account I’ve seen anywhere what the aftermath of the England-Russia match was like both in the stadium and after the match. Bower’s first hand account of the violence and comparisons with what he has observed at past international tournaments gave a perspective generally not offered on American television about these type of events.
Studio:
ESPN’s studio analysis thus far in this Euro 2016, with the exception of Abby Wambach who has a steep learning curve, has been even stronger than during the 2014 World Cup. Michael Ballack is much improved without the specter of constant fighting with Alexi Lalas (now at FOX). Plus the rotation of studio hosts has helped to liven things up. Steve McManaman has improved. And Taylor Twellman, whose skeptics can seemingly only point to his playing career as a reason he shouldn’t be commentating on this event, is making a strong case that he is the strongest American analyst of the world game in the modern era. Twellman and Ballack have developed a chemistry almost immediately that has enhanced ESPN’s coverage.