That's just it. They are NOT NOVICES. ESPN has been broadcasting WC games since the '86 tournament. That means this is the 6th tourney they've done, with some of the same people calling the game, and they've gotten NO BETTER! They've even regressed in some ways.
I will say this - that the sports reporters on ESPN are self absorbed, totally clueless idiots about the World Cup. Besides Kornhiser and Wilbon who are actually knowledgable, the rest of them, including the nightly screamers and the Sunday cast of clowns, should pack up their bags and go back to their respective hometowns and play kiss up to the local teams, because they are out of their league.