In Brazil, the Joy of English

“Twenty minutes from the end of their opening game in the group stage of the World Cup, Belgium—Team U.S.A.’s upcoming round-of-sixteen opponent—was trailing the underdog Algeria, 1-0. But then the Belgian substitute midfielder Marouane Fellaini, hitherto remarkable only for his spectacular Afro, outjumped a defender and headed home the equalizer. ‘Big man … big stage … big hair … big goal … Belgium back in business.’ What would the World Cup be without these over-the-top grace notes from English commentators like Adrian Healey, who called the game for ESPN?” New Yorker

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