By DAN KARELL
With only three days remaining before the start of the World Cup, ESPN has released their broadcaster pairings for the first week of the tournament in Brazil.
Ian Darke will be the lead broadcaster for ESPN and is scheduled to broadcast the World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia in Sao Paulo, England’s opener against Italy in Manaus, and the U.S. Men’s National Team opener against Ghana in Natal. Darke will re-unite at ESPN with Steve McManaman for the Brazil and England games and Darke will work alongside former USMNT forward Taylor Twellman for the USA match.
In addition to Darke, veteran broadcasters Jon Champion, Adrian Healey, Daniel Mann, and Derek Rae have all been assigned to multiple games during the first week of the World Cup. Fernando Palomo and Alejandro Moreno have been assigned to broadcast Mexico’s opener against Cameroon.
Other TV analysts for the first round include Efan Ekoku, Kasey Keller, Roberto Martinez, and Stewart Robson.
The broadcaster pairings also included the coverage on ESPN Radio, which will be lead by veteran play-by-play man J.P. Dellacamera. Dellacamera will work alongside Tommy Smyth, while Ross Dyer will also handle play-by-play Mark Donaldson. Radio analysts include Shep Messing, Janusz Michallik, Paul Mariner, and Shaka Hislop.
Here’s a look at ESPN’s broadcaster pairings for the first week of the tournament:
| Date | Time (ET) | Network | Match | Group | Site | Match # |
| Thu 6/12 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Brazil vs. Croatia TV: Ian Darke, Steve McManaman Radio: JP Dellacamera, Tommy Smyth |
A | Sao Paulo | 1 |
| Fri 6/13 | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 | Mexico vs. Cameroon TV: Fernando Palomo, Alejandro Moreno Radio: Ross Dyer, Shep Messing |
A | Natal | 2 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ESPN | Spain vs. Netherlands TV: Jon Champion, Stewart Robson Radio: Dellacamera, Smyth |
B | Salvador | 3 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | Chile vs. Australia TV: Daniel Mann, Kasey Keller Radio: Dyer, Paul Mariner |
B | Cuiaba | 4 | |
| Sat 6/14 | 11:30 a.m. | ABC | Colombia vs. Greece TV: Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman Radio: Dellacamera, Janusz Michallik |
C | Belo Horizonte | 5 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ABC | Uruguay vs. Costa Rica TV: Champion, Robson Radio: Dyer, Mariner |
D | Fortaleza | 7 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | England vs. Italy TV: Darke, McManaman Radio: Dellacamera, Smyth |
D | Manaus | 8 | |
| 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | Ivory Coast vs. Japan TV: Derek Rae, Efan Ekoku Radio: Dyer, Mariner |
C | Recife | 6 | |
| Sun 6/15 | 11:30 a.m. | ABC | Switzerland vs. Ecuador TV: Healey, Moreno Radio: Dyer, Messing |
E | Brasilia | 9 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ABC | France vs. Honduras TV: Mann, Keller Radio: Dyer, Hislop |
E | Porto Alegre | 10 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina TV: Rae, Roberto Martinez Radio: Dellacamera, Smyth |
F | Rio de Janeiro | 11 | |
| Mon 6/16 | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN | Germany vs. Portugal TV: Champion, Robson Radio: Dyer, Messing |
G | Salvador | 13 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ESPN | Iran vs. Nigeria TV: Rae, Ekoku Radio: Mark Donaldson, Mariner |
F | Curitiba | 12 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | Ghana vs. United States TV: Darke, Twellman Radio: Dellacamera, Smyth |
G | Natal | 14 | |
| Tue 6/17 | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN | Belgium vs. Algeria TV: Healey, Ekoku Radio: Donaldson, Michallik |
H | Belo Horizonte | 15 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ESPN | Brazil vs. Mexico TV: Palomo, Moreno Radio: Dellacamera, Smyth |
A | Fortaleza | 17 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | Russia vs. South Korea TV: Mann, Keller Radio: Dyer, Messing |
H | Cuiaba | 16 | |
| Wed 6/18 | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN | Australia vs. Netherlands TV: Champion, Robson Radio: Donaldson, Michallik |
B | Porto Alegre | 20 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ESPN | Spain vs. Chile TV: Darke, McManaman Radio: Dellacamera, Smyth |
B | Rio de Janeiro | 19 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | Cameroon vs. Croatia TV: Rae, Keller Radio: Dyer, Messing |
A | Manaus | 18 | |
| Thu 6/19 | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN | Colombia vs. Ivory Coast TV: Healey, Moreno Radio: Donaldson, Messing |
C | Brasilia | 21 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ESPN | Uruguay vs. England TV: Darke, McManaman Radio: Dellacamera, Smyth |
D | Sao Paulo | 23 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | Japan vs. Greece TV: Mann, Ekoku Radio: Dyer, Mariner |
C | Natal | 22 |
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What do you think of these pairings? Do you intend to listen to games on ESPN Radio while in the car or at home?
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