It’s the big question ahead of Sunday’s Euro final, even more important than whether Harry Kane should start. And that question is: which channel should you watch the big game on?
The BBC and ITV share the honour of televising the match and have done their utmost to persuade viewers that they are the ones to rely on on an occasion such as this.
Now you have the remote control in your hands. Still haven’t decided?
Sports mailThe Battle of the Announcers guide will guide you in the right direction…
BBC to compete with ITV for highest number of viewers during Euro 2024 coverage
Ian Wright (left), Gary Neville (centre) and Roy Keane (right) returned to the ITV schedule
The Three Lions beat the Netherlands and booked their place against Spain in Berlin on Sunday
PRESENTERS
Gary Lineker (BBC) – 5/10
No, the beeping noise you hear isn’t because you haven’t closed the fridge properly. It’s Gary Lineker, who is in reverse and trying not to call England “shit” on his podcast.
Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan did solid work in the early rounds, but since then all eyes have been on the BBC’s highest-paid staffer and his £16 Next T-shirts. Gary never misses an opportunity, whether blaming journalists for their own words or promoting his team.
Mark Pougatch (ITV) – 8/10
A presenter who focuses on the task at hand and keeps the focus on the action, rather than the wardrobe department.
Pougatch may not have won 80 international caps or scored 48 goals for the Three Lions, but that shouldn’t be a problem for him. Pougatch knows exactly what question the average Joe at home is asking and he gets the answer.
Lineker has been criticised for calling England “shit” but has been the main character in most of the BBC’s live broadcasts.
Mark Pougatch has stuck to his task at home and focused on the action on the pitch.
EXPERTS
Rio Ferdinand (BBC) – 6.5
You can’t fault Ferdinand’s passion for his country, but for one of the greatest defenders in English football history, you do feel a little short-changed when it comes to tactical analysis.
Ian Wright (ITV) – 7.5
It’s impossible not to be charmed by Wright’s sheer passion for the game, though his incessant use of players’ first names has sometimes left my finger hovering over the remote.
However, Wright’s analysis has improved markedly over the years and it is a shame that he hung up his Match of the Day microphone just as he was entering the peak of his powers as a pundit.
Ian Wright’s analysis has improved over the years and his sheer passion is delightful.
Frank Lampard (BBC) – 7
There is no doubting Lampard’s knowledge of modern football, but his effusive praise, along with Ferdinand’s, for England’s poor first-half performance against the Swiss was strange.
Maybe they’re the glass-half-full type. In that case, I’ll take what they’re drinking for the final, please, waiter.
Roy Keane (ITV) – 7.5
Keane is known for telling things as he sees them and deserves praise for not joining in the wave of criticism of Gareth Southgate like many of his colleagues.
He’s never afraid to stir up trouble in the studio and there are few people you’d rather listen to when it comes to analysing the midfield battle than Keane.
Micah Richards (BBC) – 7
The self-proclaimed president of the Phil Foden fan club. He brings jokes to the BBC’s coverage, but Richards’ analysis of the England left-back’s situation has shown he is much more than just a man with an infectious laugh.
Gary Neville (ITV) – 7.5
He may not have the same gadgets at his disposal as in the Sky Sports studio, but Neville has been perceptive about the pressures placed on England players and managers during a major tournament.
Neville has even managed to resist the temptation to mention Manchester United in every sentence. Someone should give his stylist a raise, too.
Cesc Fabregas (BBC) – 8.5
Without a doubt, the incorporation of the tournament from the broadcasting point of view.
The Spaniard oozes class on the pitch and has been as silky smooth as the BBC’s continental offering throughout the tournament. Fabregas is the only pundit who can say they have also won the tournament – and he did it twice! He will be joined by fellow countryman Juan Mata in the final.
Cesc Fabregas has undoubtedly been the best addition to the tournament’s broadcasting scene.
Karen Carney (ITV) – 7
There’s a reason Carney gets the nod from ITV when it comes to major tournaments.
It will be hard to come away from a game in which Carney has been part of the expert team without learning something, though we haven’t heard much from her in her role as an on-field expert in this tournament.
COMMENTS
Guy Mowbray (BBC) – 8
With the BBC’s commentary team you know exactly what you’re getting – nothing too fancy, nothing too tacky – and no one exemplifies that better than Guy Mowbray. Mowbray is never superfluous with his words, but he knows exactly when to deliver his one-liner of the night.
Sam Matterface (ITV) – 8
Clive Tyldesley’s departure from ITV was so unceremonious it would have seemed more suited to Love Island, the channel’s hit dating show.
The Tyldesley love train should not derail Sam Matterface’s rise to the top. Matterface is the master of transporting energy and anticipation from inside the stadium to our living rooms and deserves his role as ITV’s man for the big occasion.
Sam Matterface deserves his role as ITV’s lead commentator for the big occasion.
CO-COMMENTS
Alan Shearer (BBC) – 7
Shearer knows what it’s like to be unable to score at the Euros for England, but that hasn’t stopped him from offering his honest opinion on Harry Kane. He’s not the man to turn to when it comes to analysing a flawed defence, but Shearer hasn’t been shy about highlighting England’s shortcomings during their run to the final.
Lee Dixon (ITV) – 5.5
Whoever at ITV decided to put the formidable Ally McCoist on air alongside Lee Dixon for England’s semi-final deserves a raise. Some will not have been comfortable with a Scottish McCoist (even a man of the people) overseeing one of England’s biggest games in recent history. But if more McCoist means less dithering from Dixon, then sign me up.
Lee Dixon scored just a 5.5 and is guilty of fumbling during his co-commentary duties.
VERDICT
The BBC is the back-to-back winner in the battle of the broadcasters: a peak of 31 million tuners for the Euro 2020 final makes it the most-watched television event in the UK since Princess Diana’s funeral, with the BBC capturing 81 per cent of the audience.
But if you don’t mind grinning and enduring the ad breaks, there’s only one channel to watch on Sunday night. I’ll be with Pougatch and co on ITV, perfect company for watching football at home.
FINAL SCORE: BBC 49, ITV 51
