ESPN Announces 2013 Confederations Cup commentators

The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup kicks off Saturday with hosts Brazil facing Japan, which will be shown live on ESPN beginning at 2:30pm ET. The complete TV schedule as well as coverage plans are available, and today ESPN announced the talent that will be bringing you the games.

Ian Darke and Stewart Robson have been announced as the lead match commentator team. Both are accomplished professionals. Darke was the recipient of the 2012-13 EPL Readers’ Choice Award for Best Commentator, while Robson won the EPL Editor’s Choice Award for Best Co-Commentator.

In the studio, the team will comprise Everton manager Roberto Martinez along with Alexi Lalas, Steve McManaman, Kasey Keller, Tato Noriega and Rubens Pozzi. Bob Ley will be the studio host.

Three commentator teams will call all 16 matches of the tournament off the monitor  from Bristol, Connecticut. The three teams are:

1. Darke and Robson, who will call the opening and title matches, and many others.

2. Fernando Palomo and Alejandro Moren, who will announce the Mexican national team games, among others, and

3. Adrian Healey and Kasey Keller, will work select games.

All games will be presented in HD.

ESPN’s coverage of the Confederations Cup will include 30-minute pre-game shows leading into the first match each day (except on June 17 and 20) and 45-minute programs in-between doubleheader matches.  ESPN’s John Sutcliffe, who is traveling with the Mexican National Team, will report news about the team daily.

The teams competing in the tournament representing the different regions are CONCACAF (Mexico), UEFA second-place team (Italy), CAF (Nigeria), CONMEBOL (Uruguay), AFC (Japan) and OFC (Tahiti), the 2014 FIFA World Cup host country (Brazil) and the 2010 FIFA World Cup champion (Spain).

What’s your opinion about the commentator and pundit teams that ESPN have selected? Have your say in the comments section below.