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TV battle for Euro 2024 final: ITV and BBC teams rated – who should you watch?
Both sides bring strengths and weaknesses to the table – but who comes out on top? Also, take part in our quiz...
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While England and Spain battle it out in the final of Euro 2024 in Berlin on Sunday, there will be another contest happening out of view – that for TV supremacy.
The final will be shown on both BBC and ITV, setting up a last tussle between the broadcasters at this summer’s European Championship.
Ultimately, the viewers are the ones with the power to decide the winner but here, ahead of Sunday, Telegraph Sport runs the rule over both and you can have your say below.
BBC
Presenter
A consistently accomplished presenter, but, at 63, Lineker is also growing increasingly strident during analysis. His description of early England performances as “s---” on his podcast was meant flippantly, but still jarred with the players. On-screen confidence has not dimmed, however, as he showed by speaking in Spanish during concluding remarks at the end of Tuesday’s semi-final.
Likely pundits
It is a shame Wayne Rooney left punditry duties early in the tournament but Lampard, another key player of that England generation, has also more than earned the right to be listened to. Part of the team accused of being overly positive at half-time about England’s performance against Switzerland. Articulate and less over-exposed than some other members of BBC talent.
Offered astute analysis of England’s early struggles, particularly with some forthright observations on Phil Foden before England switched formations. Would be an obvious choice to make a return to duty for the final if he does not have duties elsewhere. Having won it all internationally with Spain, his insight would be valuable.
Broadcasters cannot get enough of Richards’ larger-than-life presence. Has been appearing with Lineker and Shearer on The Rest is Football podcast and was slightly less critical than the other two of England early in the tournament. Consistently called for Foden to be used more centrally before Gareth Southgate successfully switched systems. Can be guaranteed to wax lyrical about the City forward on Sunday.
He has been out and about with England fans during the Euros and has referred a couple of times to his passion for the team during his appearances on BBC coverage. Ferdinand is a first choice for both BBC and TNT as a former player who has done it at the top. Now a seasoned broadcaster but not always the most measured.
Commentators
Unfussy, less-is-more commentary style. Keeps it simple in line with the great traditions set by Barry Davies. Davies, however, might have thought twice about taking the commentary job on Gladiators.
Like his big mate Lineker, Shearer is very much at ease as one of the older hands in the punditry game. Brutal when needed in his summaries.
Reporter
Straightforward operator who also hosted highlights pitchside from England’s semi-final win. Keeps it no-nonsense in her questioning technique with the players and Southgate.
BBC’s final rating
ITV
Presenter
Public school-educated broadcasting heavyweight Pougatch has firmly established himself as the main man for ITV after a tense parting of ways with BBC 5 Live four years ago. With no footballing pedigree, Pougatch asks the right question instead of imposing his own views. His word count is significantly below Lineker’s on BBC.
Likely pundits
During early tournaments in his BBC era, he sometimes appeared overly-excited, but he has been a much more impressive and plain-speaking operator in Germany. Wright said recently that he had only felt completely at ease in broadcasting in the last two years. Even when you disagree with him, Wright’s delivery and chemistry with other pundits is natural and enjoyable viewing. BBC will rue his absence.
Nobody goes it two-footed like Roy, but he had consistently resisted following other pundits into attacking Southgate early in the tournament. Instead, he said he looked back favourably on matches in his career when he had won ugly. Having been seen out on shopping trips with his friend Wright, the hard man image has softened in Germany.
One of the best pundits in the game is marked slightly down because, like Lineker, he is becoming rather overused in the sporting media landscape. Somehow fits in his excellent match analysis between interviewing Sir Keir Starmer for party political broadcasts, podcast duties and the odd random appearance on Sky News sports bulletins.
Generally provides pitchside analysis with the presenter Laura Woods. We only hear from her in relatively small snippets but she always delivers her opinions with authority.
Commentators
There is rarely a blockbuster line from Matterface, who instead relies on his enthusiasm to carry him through the big moments. “And surely Ollie Watkins has won it,” was his straightforward observation at England’s semi-final winner. Yet he got so excited that his voice started to go. Criticism on social media has been unfair.
Dixon has been more outspoken than usual and intervening more regularly, attacking Southgate’s late substitutions and England’s failure to get wide men running into spaces early in the tournament. Significantly more positive against the Netherlands, which was a relief for everyone’s sake.