World Cup Legends in the Commentary Seat: From Criticism to Original Projects

Due to the intensity of the broadcast schedule during every World Cup, television channels around the world employ former footballers as commentators to attract millions of viewers. While this has become a common practice globally, the performance of former stars in studios varies greatly from country to country. While some build a second career in these roles and achieve great success, others are forced to bid a similar silent farewell to their careers from studio microphones as they did when leaving the pitch. The cutthroat nature of the media world harshly tests not only footballers' on-pitch performance but also their post-career communication skills. Part of this equation involves the criticism of coaches and teams, which sometimes puts teammates in a difficult spot but attracts significant interest.

A notable figure in the German press and broadcasting is former footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger, who currently commentates for ARD. Schweinsteiger began criticizing his national team with harsh language before the World Cup started, going as far as calling the team "average" after they were eliminated on penalties against Paraguay. By stating that German football has "lost its strength, identity, and ability to play good games," he cast doubt on whether coach Julian Nagelsmann should continue in his post. However, no matter how harsh his criticisms, his attempt to shield his former teammate by remaining silent about goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's mistake against Ecuador was perceived as double standards by German viewers and was widely covered in the media.

In England, the situation came to the fore with a list prepared by FourFourTwo magazine ranking BBC and ITV commentators "from worst to best". In this list, Olivier Giroud, the top scorer in French history, was placed at the bottom due to his level of English, with emphasis on the awkward moments he created for viewers. Spanish defender César Azpilicueta was described as "solid but very passive," while the only Brazilian on the list, former Liverpool player Lucas Leiva, was criticized for being on "autopilot" despite praise for his international experience, and for just appearing to smile. Such harsh criticisms reveal that the popularity of former players does not always encompass their quality of commentary.

In French broadcasts, while Omar Da Fonseca's passionate but divisive comments on beIN Sports sparked debate, Brazilian legend Sonny Anderson has garnered wide appreciation as a valuable part of the team since the Qatar World Cup. Some have preferred to pursue their individual careers outside of traditional broadcasters; German figure Toni Kroos continued his "Kroos & Kroos" format on TikTok with his brother instead of sitting in the studios of major channels like ARD or ZDF with former teammates. Meanwhile, England's famous defender Rio Ferdinand left TNT Sports, where he worked for over a decade, to focus on his own YouTube channel, rejecting an offer from Fox, the holder of mall broadcasting rights. However, he has not completely severed ties with commentary, appearing as a guest on a program that airs at night with James Corden and recaps the day's matches in a more entertaining tone.

The final parts of the news address the situation in the United States, noting that despite the US national team's surprisingly good performance in the tournament, former players' broadcast performances were not at the same level. In particular, former defender Alexi Lalas's attitude, which disturbed both viewers and studio colleagues, and his open joy for his friend on the team when the occasion arose, exposed the compatibility issues experienced in the broadcasting world. These developments show how complex the relationships and dynamics behind the camera in the sports world can be, not just those on the field. The brand value and personal reputations of former stars are subjected to a new and perhaps even more difficult test the moment they sit in the commentary seat.