ESPN's Jon Champion on FA Cup glories and a peculiar Manchester derby
Plus: TFW on Tour.
The Football Weekend is on tour this week with a first stop in Paris, France after a harrowing red-eye flight sat in front of the most formidable snorer in human history. More on that in this week’s episode — a quick one for a number of reasons, not least your host’s fitness levels.
I initially asked ESPN and NBC commentator Jon Champion if he had a few minutes to chat about one of the stadiums I’ll be covering on the ground next week for the latest edition of our CATHEDRALS series on the world’s great football stadiums. Look out for more on that soon, and check out more of Jon’s stadium expertise in our Goodison Park feature from last year.
But it also seemed like a fine time to check in with him about his work calling FA Cup matches for ESPN — our U.S. listeners can catch every game on ESPN and ESPN+ this season — because it’s already an extraordinary edition of the world’s oldest knockout competition. Macclesfield, yes, but Wrexham, too, and Jon was at the Racecourse Ground to call that one last weekend. Plus, we got into a bit of a Manchester derby preview:
———————————
Or check it out on APPLE PODCASTS 🍎
———————————
A few more matches worth your time this weekend…
On Friday, there’s a Ligue 1 clash with title implications: PSG vs LILLE. For once, the Parisians are not top of the table in January. That’s Lens, a remarkable story, and the defending French and European champions must see off fourth-place Lille to keep pace with their new challengers.
On Saturday, there’s a lively start to the slate with that aforementioned derby, MANCHESTER UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY. More on that in the episode above. Shortly after that, there’s REAL MADRID vs LEVANTE if you want to see how new Merengues coach Álvaro Arbeloa gets on after that disastrous Copa del Rey exit to second-tier Albacete on Wednesday. And they were so eager to rid themselves of Xabi Alonso…
Then you can settle in for CHELSEA vs BRENTFORD, another interesting test for new Blues boss Liam Rosenior after a semifinal first-leg defeat to Arsenal in midweek. Shortly after that, there’s EGYPT vs NIGERIA in the AFCON third-place game. Mo Salah’s last game for his country? Finally, those Gunners will travel up to the Midlands for NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs ARSENAL. The title-chasers will be hoping they don’t get Dyched.
And on Sunday, there’s the main event: SENEGAL vs MOROCCO in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Sadio Mané saw off Salah, his old Liverpool frenemy, with a single goal that proved enough for Senegal to get past Egypt in one semifinal. In the other, pre-tournament favorites Morocco required penalties to dispatch the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The Moroccans are seeking their first AFCON title in 50 years with their first appearance in the final since 2004 — proof they’ve got a true golden generation of players on their hands. The Senegalese were champions just five years ago, when Mané once again got the better of Salah in the final. Can he get the better of the hosts this time?