We All Speak Football – SBS reveals on-air presenters and commentary team
Thursday 26 April
As football fans prepare to see legends of the game Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and Salah play for their countries, Argentina, Portugal, Brazil and Egypt respectively, in a once in a lifetime parade of FIFA World Cup™ superstars, SBS is proud to also reveal the creative campaign, We All Speak Football, alongside the expert broadcast team.
SBS’s coverage of the tournament will feature in-depth analysis of every team by former Socceroo Captain Foster, who will co-host SBS’s match of the day coverage together with Zelic live from the studio in Red Square, free and in HD on SBS, the FIFA World Cup™ app and online via The World Game. The pair will also host a daily live highlights show that will cover all 64 games and feature special guests hailing from all over the world to share a range of perspectives on each day’s events.
Trusted sports journalist David Basheer and former Australian footballer Craig Moore will join Zelic, Foster and Tyler, taking pride of place in the SBS commentary box to call every Socceroos match. Pitch-side tournament coverage and the best access on the ground will come from David Zdrilic, returning to Australian television especially for this year’s competition, and a number of SBS reporters will round out the roving reporting team in Russia.
SBS Director of Sport, Ken Shipp, said: “We’re extremely proud of our football heritage at SBS and we are pleased to again be offering Australians the most experienced group of football broadcasting professionals presenting the comprehensive trusted analysis we are known for, live from Russia.
“It’s SBS’s first World Cup without our beloved Les Murray, a.k.a. Mr Football, and we’re committed to doing Les and the broader football community who will miss him proud. The campaign, We All Speak Football, taps into the unifying nature of the sport that bonds the world’s diverse communities, and the fact that the World Cup is the absolute representation of this spirit.”
SBS will broadcast the match of the day, every day of the tournament, live, free and in HD on television including all Socceroos matches, semi-finals and finals, totalling 25 matches across the month. SBS’s coverage will begin with a blockbuster weekend of football featuring the opening match, Russia v Saudi Arabia, on June 14, and Australia taking on France at the family friendly time of 8pm on Saturday 16 June AEST.
SBS Radio will bring Australians all 64 matches live from the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in English and in the languages of the teams competing. SBS Radio English coverage will feature expert analysis by former Matilda striker Kate Gill, former Socceroos goalkeeper Clint Bolton and current Melbourne City FC defender Scott Jamieson. Audiences will experience the passion of commentary in their language for free in the 2018 FIFA World Cup app, SBS Radio app and nationwide on SBS 1, SBS 2, SBS 3, SBS Arabic24, on digital TV and online.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia kicks off on June 14 live, free and in HD on SBS.
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP — TELEVISION BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
Opening Ceremony and Match: Russia V Saudi Arabia LIVE
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Thursday 14 June, 10.30pm AEST** – kick-off at 1am, Friday
Group C: France V Australia LIVE
Kazan Arena, Kazan
Saturday 16 June, 7pm AEST** – kick-off at 8pm
Group C: Denmark V Australia LIVE
Samara Arena, Samara
Thursday 21 June, 9pm AEST** – kick-off at 10pm
Group C: Australia V Peru LIVE
Fisht Stadium, Sochi
Wednesday 27 June, 11pm AEST** – kick-off at 12midnight
**Times subject to change
FULL TELEVISION BROADCAST SCHEDULE TBA
SBS is presenting the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in partnership with Optus Sport. Visit www.theworldgame.sbs.com.au for further details on how to watch every match.
*The FIFA World Cup is the most widely followed and watched sporting event in the world, with Brazil 2014 generating more social media conversation than the Superbowl, Oscars, and Winter Olympics of the same year combined. https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/14/tech/social-media/world-cup-social-media/index.html
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EDITORS NOTES:
BIOS:
Craig Foster, SBS Chief Football Analyst
Craig is Australia’s 40th Socceroo Captain with 29 international appearances and formerly Captain at Crystal Palace FC, England having represented the likes of Adelaide City and Marconi in the National Soccer League.
A veteran football broadcaster of fifteen years with SBS Television, Australia, Craig is part of the Logie and multiple award winning team that covered six consecutive male FIFA World Cups, four female, the UEFA Champions League, Olympic tournaments and the English Premier League.
Life Member and former CEO and Chairman of Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), Australia’s representative body for professional female and male players, Craig has a long history in player rights and the PFA awards an annual media scholarship in his name to encourage retiring players to achieve standards of excellence in the football media.
Australia’s only Ballon d’Or judge for World Player of the Year (awarded by the prestigious France Football Magazine), columnist and author, Craig is one of Australia’s most recognisable football voices and opinion shapers.
Holding a Pro-Coaching License, Craig coaches some of Australia’s finest young talent as Head Coach with the Football NSW elite development program along with a Postgraduate degree in Football Management and Masters in International Sport Management from the Johan Cruyff Sports Institute in Barcelona, Spain for whom he acts as Education Ambassador to encourage young players to complete their secondary and tertiary education for life after football.
Craig’s work in football extends to numerous charities and social causes such as John Moriarty Football (JMF) for indigenous kids in remote communities and Football United for refugee kids with UNSW.
He is currently Head of Football for the Southern Expansion team bidding for a professional club license from Football Federation Australia to compete in the W-League and A-League in 2019/20 tasked with creating the club’s playing philosophy and technical department.
Lucy Zelic, SBS Football Presenter
A passionate football journalist and lifelong sports fan, Lucy Zelic has been a key member of SBS’s football coverage team since 2013.
Lucy currently hosts SBS’s flagship football news program The World Game, appears as a sports presenter on SBS World News, writes for The World Game online and presents SBS’s coverage of local and international football including the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, and more.
In 2014, Lucy hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches from the Sydney studios. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was Lucy’s first for SBS. In 2015 she hosted the Australian matches and the finals for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Prior to joining SBS Lucy was well known amongst football fans from her work on the official podcast of the Hyundai A-League, which she hosted for the 2012-13 season. A seasoned radio host and presenter, Lucy was the commentator for all Canberra United home games in the Westfield W-League on 2XXFM and was a regular guest on the popular Balls n’ All show on 106.3FM. She has also hosted the nationally streamed football podcast Nearpost and holds a Bachelor in Journalism and Sports Business from the University of Canberra.
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Martin Tyler, SBS Commentator
Considered one of the world’s best football commentators, Martin Tyler has commentated some of the biggest matches in international football. Hailing from England, Martin is the iconic voice of football in the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and FIFA’s immensely popular video game series. His commentary of blockbuster matches in the past nine FIFA World Cups and a host of other tournaments has been avidly listened to right around the globe.
SBS will have world exclusive Martin Tyler commentary for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. This is Martin’s sixth FIFA World Cup with SBS.
David Basheer, SBS Socceroos Commentator
A Commentator, Presenter and Reporter, David Basheer’s media career spans over 30 years and includes five FIFA World Cups, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, Asian Cup and five Olympic Games.
David started calling National Soccer League (NSL) matches for the ABC in 1989, his first appearance on SBS was commentating on Olympic qualifying matches in 1995. David would go on to cover the NSL on SBS as the Melbourne based Commentator/Reporter.
David worked as a reporter on SBS’s France ’98 FIFA World Cup. In 2002 David hosted the World Cup Today show on ESPN Star Sports Asia. In 2006 he was in Germany for ESPN, then at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, David was the lead commentator from South Africa and Brazil for SBS. David has called four UEFA Champions League finals and an FA Cup final from the famed Wembley stadium.
With ESPN Star Sports Asia he commentated on the 2000 Asian Cup in Lebanon, was a Presenter and Commentator for the network’s UEFA Champions League and Spain’s Primera coverage and was a commentator on Olympics football finals in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 & 2016 for various broadcasters.
At SBS, David has commentated three FIFA Women’s World Cups and the recent men’s Confederations Cup as well as A-League football. A long time host of The World Game & UEFA Champions League programs, he currently shoots the football breeze on The World Game Facebook Live with Lucy Zelic.
David has also been lead commentator on five World Athletics Championships, fronted the Tour de France review program and hosted various cycling broadcasts including the World Road Championships.
Craig Moore, SBS Socceroos Commentator
Craig Moore is an Australian football personality who was born and raised in Western Sydney.
Throughout his playing career, Moore has made over 50 appearances for the Australia national team in International football, a number of times as Captain, representing the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup in Germany (where he scored a crucial goal against Croatia) and 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Moore is best known globally for his two spells with Scottish Premier League club Rangers. Having graduated through their youth system, he made 252 appearances for the Glasgow based club from 1993 to 2005, punctuated with a season in England with Crystal Palace in the 1998—99 First Division.
In his time at Rangers he became team captain and won numerous domestic league and cup honours, including making 44 appearances and scoring four goals in their 2002—03 Treble-winning season.
Between 2005 and 2010, Moore played for German Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, English Premier League club Newcastle United, A-League side Brisbane Roar as captain and finally Greek Super League side AO Kavala.
Since retiring as a player, Moore had a stint as Brisbane Roar Director of Football until earlier this year and has been a regular commentator in the football media, including calling two A-League Grand Finals and Arsenal’s 2017 Tour to Sydney with SBS.
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David Zdrilic, SBS Reporter
Former Socceroo David Zdrilic brings a wealth of football knowledge and playing experience to the SBS football team. He has featured regularly on SBS’s football coverage over the past decade, including appearances on UEFA Champions League and The World Game both as an analyst and host. He was an integral member of SBS’s Logie Award winning 2014 FIFA World Cup presenting team, hosting key FIFA World Cup matches from the Sydney studio, including all Socceroos matches.
David earned his first call up to the Socceroos in 1997 and was a member of the Australian team that beat Brazil in the 2001 Confederations Cup. David played for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League and was part of their inaugural championship winning team. He is currently a part of the coaching team with German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig after spending two seasons coaching at Sydney FC.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is David’s third World Cup with SBS.
Clint Bolton, SBS Radio Football Analyst
A former Socceroos goalkeeper, Clint Bolton has won two A-League championships with Sydney FC. More recently he has become a voice to reckon with in the media appearing on a range of programs including The World Game, SBS Radio and more.
Kathryn Gill, SBS Radio Football Analyst
Former Matilda player, Kathryn Gill was named the Asian Player of the Year in 2010. As a striker she has played 83 times and scored 40 goals for the Matildas. Recently she was named the Deputy Chief Executive at Professional Footballers Australia (PFA).
Scott Jamieson, SBS Radio Football Analyst
Current player for Melbourne City in the A-League, Scott Jamieson previously played for Adelaide United, Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory. His international career took him to clubs in the English Premier league and in the Swedish league. Scott also represented Australia at Under 17 level and Socceroos level.