ESPN and Univision are now down to their last two games in their long legacies with the World Cup. After Sunday, it’ll be up to Fox and Telemundo to provide the coverage of soccer’s ultimate event from 2015 until 2024. Hopefully the two networks will be able to match what ESPN and Univision have been able to do with the beautiful game.
Let’s take a look at who will call the Third Place and Championship Games today and tomorrow on ESPN/Univision/Univision Deportes.
ESPN and Univision will air the Third Place Game between Brazil and the Netherlands today with coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 12
Third Place Game
Brazil vs. Netherlands — Estádio Nacional, Brasilia, Brazil
ESPN: Jon Champion/Stewart Robson
ESPN Radio: Ross Dyer/Shep Messing
Univision/Univision Deportes: TBD
For some reason, Univision never provided the announcers for the Third Place Game. Perhaps it will be announcer-less.
On Sunday, ESPN produces the coverage for ABC. It will also be simulcast on ESPN2. ABC/ESPN2 hits the air at 1 p.m. ET with 2014 FIFA World Cup Match Day and then transition to its game coverage at 2 p.m.
Univision/Univision Deportes will start at 11 a.m. ET with República Deportiva hosted by its regular cast of Fernando Fiore, Felix Fernández and Lindsay Casinelli. They’ll be joined by Pável Pardo, Enrique “El Perro” Bermúdez, Javier Zanetti, Ramón Ramírez and Iván “El Conde K” Kasanzew as they look back at the World Cup and preview the Final.
At noon, Univision/Univision Deportes will air Camino a la Gran Final which will be the only place you’ll see the Closing Ceremonies featuring a performance by Shakira. Univision says it will have coverage from Maracanã, Univision Deportes’ Rio de Janeiro studios, Buenos Aires and Berlin. The hosts will be Edgar Martínez, Iván “El Conde K” Kasanzew, Alan Tacher, Javier Zanetti, Félix De Bedout, Hristo Stoichkov, Mauro Camoranesi, Jorge Ramos and Raúl de Molina.
So here’s who will call the final on Sunday.
Sunday, July 13
FINAL
Argentina vs. Germany — Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ABC/ESPN2: Ian Darke/Steve McManaman/Jeremy Schaap
ESPN Radio: JP Dellacamera/Tommy Smyth
Univision/Univision Deportes: Enrique ‘El Perro’ Bermúdez, Luis Omar Tapia, Pablo “La Torre de Jalisco” Ramírez, Diego Balado, Javier Zanetti, Jesús “El Profe” Bracamontes
