TV REVIEW: Just like Gareth Southgate's England side, the BBC raised their level for quarter-final coverage - Gary Lineker and Co were brilliant as the Three Lions marched on at Euro 2024

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So in the end, the very end, the pale light of dawn grew very much brighter for another embattled manager. But this time it was in Dusseldorf, not Downing Street. Until then, as the great baseball star Yogi Berra was wont to observe, it was deja vu all over again.

It was perfect Saturday evening TV drama — two hours of gripping narrative with several plot lines that left you guessing how it would all end.

And then a dramatic final scene. Lynda La Plante couldn’t have written it any better and the Prince of Wales was on hand to jump up and down in the best Fan Zone manner.

Maybe it was James Blunt that won it. The fresh-faced, posh balladeer with a smart line in self-deprecation announced that if Switzerland won, he had been asked to perform for the England team.

At least we were in the company of the national broadcaster and didn’t have to listen to too much stating of the obvious — ‘I tell you something, that was a great tackle, a very good tackle’.

England booked their place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals after beating Switzerland on Saturday

The BBC hosted the match and - similarly to England - raised their levels for the occasion

And in Guy Mowbray the BBC have a classically good broadcaster, economical, unobtrusive and spot on, just like England’s penalty-takers.

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The pitchside wisdom of Theo Walcott, still insanely youthful, is never less than razor-sharp. ‘I’ve played in that 10 position, but what I did contribute was making runs. One of them (Foden and Bellingham) has got to make runs in behind.’

Bubbling with enthusiasm and oozing positivity, the BBC clearly had felt a bit under fire over their recent ill-judged onslaught on Southgate’s team. Not so much on Saturday though. The studio formation, as opposed to the on-field one before Saturday, was very effective.

Lineker up top, Micah Richards, positively bouncing, and a thoughtful Rio Ferdinand giving solidity at the back, with Frank Lampard brilliant in the middle.

Micah was at his most exuberant: ‘We have been crying out for it (Foden playing in a central role). Frank, you’re a midfielder, tell us about Foden. It’s delightful to see him in a position where he can have an impact on the game.’

Lamps agreed: ‘He feels more comfortable with the idea of starting central, but he is moving around the pitch. It gives you a feeling of control.’

Happiness reigned — who would have thought it? Lamps even launched into some tasty gossip, revealing Ed Sheeran had sung at his wedding. But before we could learn more, we were quickly ushered back into Foden at No 10 and all that.

Pundits such as Frank Lampard (left) and Micah Richards (right) were positively bouncing throughout the quarter-final clash 

Gareth Southgate (left) watched on as the Three Lions battled their way to the final four

There was no Swiss player on the studio panel and a welcome lack of cuckoo clock jokes, though this was smart from Mowbray: ‘The Swiss cowbells are ringing, but all I can hear is alarm bells.’

The pundits were fascinating, but they need to think about younger viewers more.

When Rio says, ‘He’s playing with a six and an eight’, they could be forgiven for thinking it’s Rory McIlroy’s choice of club.

The best of England and the best of the BBC. Now for the last four.