Watched the game live on TV, having just got back from Tokyo, or I would have been there in person. So, as soon as I heard who the commentators were, I knew it was going to be dire. Never heard of the actual commentator (been here 15 years and watch EVERY English game on TV, regardless of who is playing), but knew the colour commentator, Paul Caligari. In fact I met him when I was drafted by the San Diego Sockers in '86. He used to play for the USA team. That said, he clearly is no commentator and BOTH clowns seemed to think their job was to talk over the game for 90 minutes!
As has been said, some of the BS they were saying was laughable, the rest, simply cringeworthy! About 15 minutes in, I turned down the "commentary" to Volume Level 1, just so I was not watching in silence and could hear the occasional City song in the (distant) background!
Were it this way every weekend, I would be embarrassed FOR us, but it isn't. When the games are on FSC normally, we get the English commentary, with the half time highlights and after match comments done by "locals." However, even during the World Cup, FSC had Andy gray and Warren Barton (FSC regular) doing the analysis, plus one ex-USA player and a British moderator.
Normally, FSC game coverage comes via LA and is a SKY feed with SKY commentary. Every night, we have the Fox Soccer Report (1 hour soccer news show) that is from Canada, but is better than the Yanks, as the analysis is done by a Scot who knows his football.
ESPN games are not as frequent as they are over in England, as I think we still have Setanta over here. However, the World Cup was ALL on ESPN and their mothership network, ABC, in HD, which was great, because in most places it is impossible to get FSC in HD. It is also about £5/month for FSC and £15 MORE for FSC PLUS, which carries extra games and other premium soccer/sporting events. I think Murdoch MAY have purchased some of the Setanta rights for FSC Plus, as they show things that used to be on Setanta.
Anyway, the US coverage of the game was shockingly bad. Agreed, but not the norm.