2010 World Cup: Power-Ranking ESPN's World Cup Announcers

That's Martin Tyler on the right in the photo, receiving an award back in 2003 for Premiership commentator of the decade. Tyler is part of ESPN's World Cup coverage in 2010.

First, let me start off by congratulating the world's largest sports network. They don't always get it right, but for this World Cup, it has been spot on.

They are starting to get it right with their soccer (football) coverage. For me, it started last year when they got the rights to some Premier League games. They didn't try and send an American crew to cover say, Manchester City vs Wigan. They left it alone, giving us the Premier League the way it was meant to be. Letting us eavesdrop, as it were.

And they have continued that for the 2010 World Cup. They haven't tried to force American baseball or basketball announcers into these matches. They haven't even put American soccer announcers into these matches (with the exception of John Harkes, who is doing wonderfully as the only American commentator in the coverage).

No, ESPN has gone out and gotten some of the very best football announcers from around the world and given them these games, and it has made them extremely entertaining. They've even managed, occasionally, to drown out the blasted vuvuzelas.

The Americans that ESPN is using—other than Harkes, who is working the actual games—have been  put in the studio for the pre-game and post-game shows.

This is a stroke of brilliance.

Mike Tirico is the lead in-studio announcer, and he has been, as usual, great. Bob Ley has also been very good in this role.

Working with the American leads in-studio have been a host of side commentators from around the globe.

This has gone very well.

As I rank ESPN's coverage so far, let me do it in three categories. One will be play-by-play announcers for the games. Two will be analysts for the games. Three will be in-studio analysts for the pre-game and post-game shows.

Play-By-Play

There have been five main play-by-play announcers working the games, all of them from the U.K. As I rank them one to five, please understand they are all doing a fabulous job, and I grade them all very highly. Having said that, here is the list.

5. Jim Proudfoot—Proudfoot hasn't worked as many games as the other four, but he has been very good. At only 38 years of age, he is the youngest of the five, and figures to be around in English commentary for many years to come.

4. Adrian Healey—Understated, calm, in control. He has been very good.

3. Ian Darke—Darke will always have a special place in the hearts of U.S. soccer fans, as he called the U.S. vs Algeria game and his call on the Landon Donovan goal will become part of American history, much like Al Michaels call of the 1980 Winter Olympic American hockey victory over Russia. Darke has been great throughout his games.

2. Martin Tyler—Hired as the main announcer for the World Cup, Tyler has proven why. A beautiful approach to his games. He has worked well with Efan Ekoku and John Harkes.

1. Derek Rae—The Scottish-born announcer is still my favorite play-by-play for football. He calls a game with utter brilliance time and time again. He could read his laundry list on television and I'd listen.

Match Analysts

5. Efan Ekoku—Ekoku, who works Premier League games for the BBC, has been strong and informative.

4. Roberto Martinez—The Wigan manager has also been working in the studio, and has been solid in both roles.

3. John Harkes—The only Yankee voice during the matches, Harkes is a treasure of information. He knows when to inject the information, and does it in a slightly different style than that of his U.K. counterparts, but it works. He is great.

2. Robbie Mustoe—Working mainly with Derek Rae, Mustoe has been great. It is a pleasure to listen to the two of them work a game together.

1. Ally McCoist—Working alongside Adrian Healey, the Scottish-born McCoist has really found his calling. Coaching may keep him away from the commentator booth for some years, but when he does get behind a mic to impart his wisdom, football fans will be better off for it.

In-Studio

5. Alexi Lalas—His tell it like it is style can put some people off, but for me he is always engaging and informative. It is also nice to have that U.S. support in the studio to give the American team a voice.

4. Jurgen Klinsmann—I questioned this choice, but Klinsmann has been very informative, especially about the German team. I thought he might be a bit uncomfortable in this role, but not so. He is soft-spoken, but comes across well.

3. Roberto Martinez—Martinez, the Wigan coach, made my analyst list as well. He is quite informative and interacts well with the host. Might have a career in broadcasting after coaching.

2. Mike Tirico—Mike has either really boned up on his football or he is a big fan. Either way, he has immersed himself in the moment, and is doing his usual bang-up job. Great as a lead for golf, or for American football, it seems to me Mike has found another calling. I hope he becomes a regular host for this tournament every four years.

1. Steve McManaman—McManaman is the British version of Alexi Lalas, and he has been great at telling it like he sees it. He has also held no punches in being critical of the English team and their poor start to this World Cup.

ESPN has learned a lot in recent years about learning to stop trying to Americanize the Beautiful Game, but instead just let us watch it as it was meant to be. ESPN is letting the experts describe the games for us, and for that the whole World Cup has been a better experience.