ITV 2 BBC 0
Sunday 21 June 2026
While rummaging through old blogs, I discovered that in 2010 I wrote a piece titled Blame ITV.
My conclusion was simple:
“It’s not Capello. It’s not the players. It’s not the tactics. I’m firmly squaring the blame of England’s inadequate start to the campaign firmly on the shoulders of ITV.”
Later, I went on to suggest ITV should be banned from televising football altogether.
Sixteen years later, I find myself arguing the exact opposite.
Either ITV have improved dramatically or I’ve mellowed considerably.
The smart money is probably on ITV.
At the time, it felt perfectly reasonable. ITV’s football coverage lagged behind the BBC in almost every department. It wasn’t even close.
Never in a million years did I imagine that sixteen years later the roles would be completely reversed.
Yet here we are.
Last night Gary Lineker briefly appeared on ITV. A masterstroke.
While most of the BBC team remain in Salford covering matches at ungodly UK hours, ITV and Lineker appear to be having an absolute ball.
I actually support the BBC’s decision to save money by presenting the group stage from MediaCity.
Financially, it makes perfect sense.
Competitively, however, it increasingly looks like an own goal.
The problem isn’t the studio.
The giant digital backdrops and expensive technology are fine. Slightly artificial perhaps, but forgivable.
The bigger issue is that the coverage has no identity.
Alan Shearer splitting his time between Netflix and co-commentary duties has left the crucial seat beside the presenter vacant.
Instead of appointing a clear replacement, the BBC seem to have turned it into a rotating cast.
Wayne Rooney.
Gaël Clichy.
Theo Walcott.
Olivier Giroud.
Thomas Frank.
Steph Houghton.
And that’s just the people I’ve noticed.
For all I know Martin Keown has finally been handed his dream promotion during a 4am group game.
The presenter situation feels equally muddled.
Having several presenters of equal status works perfectly well on Match of the Day.
A World Cup is different.
Big tournaments need familiarity.
A number one.
For years viewers have instinctively known who would present the biggest games and who would occupy the key pundit positions.
ITV understand this.
Mark Pougatch is number one.
Laura Woods is number two.
Roy Keane occupies the Roy Keane chair, looking permanently annoyed by modern life and occasionally resembling an angry Captain Birdseye.
Everyone knows their role.
The result is coverage that feels coherent.
That isn’t to say ITV are flawless.
Recruiting Adam Richman largely because he’s American and supports Tottenham feels increasingly bizarre.
Semra Hunter sometimes appears to exist purely to provide local colour.
Then there’s referee analyst Christina Unkel, whose rapid-fire explanations during VAR incidents somehow leave me more confused than before she started talking.
Fortunately, VAR itself has been relatively quiet.
The Emma Hayes experiment was another strange decision.
Putting a perfectly capable analyst in what appeared to be a kitchen and asking her to deliver tactical breakdowns during hydration breaks always felt forced.
The idea seemed unnecessary from the start and has quietly faded away.
To be fair, the BBC improved considerably during Netherlands versus Sweden yesterday tea time.
Mark Chapman was excellent.
Thomas Frank brought insight.
Ellen White was sharp.
Micah Richards looked genuinely happy for perhaps the first time all tournament.
Most importantly, they laughed.
For the first time, the coverage felt relaxed and enjoyable.
The team finally looked as though they wanted to be there.
They’ll need more of that for England versus Ghana.
Although knowing the BBC, they’ll probably change the entire line-up again.
The coverage may improve once they finally head to America after the group stage.
The problem is that by then ITV might already be too far ahead to catch.
WORLD CUP LOG #3
Manchester, England
The Listening Log 