Punditwatch 2018

[NorthernLights]

Always a subject that causes a lot of discussion.  The BBC have announced their team for Russia 2018.

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Former England trio Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand will join the BBC's Fifa World Cup 2018 coverage from Russia next month.

Germany's 1990 World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann, Ivory Coast's all-time leading scorer Didier Drogba and Pablo Zabaleta, who played for beaten finalists Argentina in 2014, will add an international perspective to the Match of the Day studio in Moscow.

The BBC will televise 33 live games, including England's two opening Group G matches against Tunisia and Panama.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker leads the BBC coverage throughout the tournament, which starts on 14 June.

Five other former England internationals - Phil Neville, Jermaine Jenas, Danny Murphy, Martin Keown and England women's Alex Scott - will also be among the BBC pundits in Russia.

Shearer, Lampard and Ferdinand join Lineker in the Red Square studio for England's first two matches.

Gareth Southgate's side face Tunisia in their opening Group G game on 18 June, before fixtures against Panama on 24 June and Belgium on 28 June.

Gabby Logan will report from the England camp near St Petersburg, while Scott, England women's second-most capped player, will appear on match coverage and across digital and social platforms.

The first glimpse of the BBC's World Cup 2018 marketing campaign will air during half-time of Saturday's FA Cup final on BBC One.

Television

Match of the Day favourites Kevin Kilbane and Mark Lawrenson can be heard on TV co-commentary duties alongside the experienced Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Steve Bower, Simon Brotherton and Vicki Sparks, who becomes the first woman to commentate on a World Cup game for British TV.

The BBC will broadcast the first matches to involve star names Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta and Paul Pogba across the opening days of the tournament.

All BBC games are broadcast on BBC One, BBC Two or BBC Four, as well as the BBC Sport website and app and iPlayer.

Opening weekend highlights include current European champions Portugal meeting 2010 world champions Spain on 15 June, before holders Germany start the defence of their title against Mexico on 17 June.

Radio

Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates will lead BBC Radio 5 live's coverage from Russia, while Robbie Savage will host a daily World Cup breakfast show from 08:30 BST with a special guest each weekday of the tournament.

Former internationals Chris Waddle, Terry Butcher, Dion Dublin, Pat Nevin and Chris Sutton will be adding their expert opinions.

Fans can listen to all of 5 live's coverage of the World Cup at bbc.co.uk/5live or via the BBC iPlayer Radio app.

Online

The UK's biggest sports service, BBC Sport online, will stream all of the BBC's World Cup matches on desktops, tablets, mobiles and Connected TVs. On-demand video clips, live text commentary and tactical analysis will also feature online.

Other online highlights include:

• World Cup 2018 Player Rater: The new Player Rater lets you rate all players out of 10. You can share your ratings with friends and see what the rest of the world thinks. Do you agree with the BBC pundits?

• World-class live coverage: BBC matches streamed live in HD with alternative commentary and camera options; live text coverage with instant in-game video highlights; and audio commentary from Radio 5 live.

• Watch every goal: Video highlights for every game and goal scored at World Cup 2018 available at the final whistle.

• Personalise your World Cup 2018: Tailor your World Cup 2018 digital experience to receive all the latest news results and video highlights from your favourite teams through the My Sport service bbc.co.uk/mysport - available online and mobile devices.

• World Cup Rewind: BBC Sport get viewers into the World Cup spirit by going back 'live' (full match video and text coverage) to 1990 when England beat Belgium in the knockout stages thanks to a famous volley; England's opening game of 1998 against Tunisia - a fixture current England manager Gareth Southgate started in defence; and Germany's demolition of hosts Brazil in the 2014 semi-final.

Social media

BBC Sport's social media channels will keep more than 30 million fans in touch with breaking news, action and funnier moments from Russia.

Throughout the tournament, in-match updates and breaking news will be available on Twitter, highlights from every game on YouTube, daily World Cup stories available on Snapchat, a mixture of news and video action on Facebook, plus former England star and Arsenal player Alex Scott will host a series of Instagram stories ensuring audiences never miss a moment of what's happening both on and off the pitch.

Barbara Slater, director, BBC Sport, said: "The BBC prides itself on being the home of big sporting events and we are committed to delivering the best all-round coverage across TV, radio and digital of the World Cup 2018. This event deserves expert comment, analysis and insight and our unrivalled line-up of presenters, pundits and commentators are sure to engage viewers and listeners as excitement builds throughout the tournament.

"The opening set of fixtures on the BBC brings an impressive cast of world talent as we head towards England's first game. History will be made at this summer's World Cup and the BBC is there every step of the way to make sure audiences don't miss a thing."

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44103384

[NorthernLights]

And the ITV lot..

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ITV have unveiled its World Cup 2018 punditry team - featuring Gary Neville.

The Sky Sports pundit will link up with former Manchester United teammates Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra in Russia this summer.

Neville had been in demand for the competition but ITV have struck a real blow to the BBC.

Keane and Giggs will be joined by fellow regular pundits Ian Wright and Lee Dixon as well as some new faces.

Former United and France defender Evra will be part of the team, as will Eniola Aluko, Henrik Larsson, Martin O'Neill and Slaven Biliic.

Euro 2016 final and former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg will also be part of the ITV set-up.

ITV will show 23 matches with a further nine knockout games also set to be broadcast live.

Presenter Mark Pougatch will front the coverage alongside Jacqui Oatley with commentary from the likes of Clive Tyldesely, Jon Champion and Glenn Hoddle.

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/itv-unveil-world-cup-2018-12535082

[King Kebab]

Think ITV's lot looks a lot more bearable regarding any England games and the resultant buildup to them!!!

The BBC bunch, although I really don't mind them on MOTD, looks like they would be insufferable, though perhaps good value to turn too when the eventual elimination fairy hits their favourites!!![emoji23]

 

[ICTChris]

I quite like Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport, although I think England games on the BBC won't have the same sort of analysis that there's been on BT Sport.

[Scotty Tunbridge]

G Nev is decent IMO (In my opinion) will be good to see him on ITV. Member Adrian Chiles *shudders*

BBC is just the usual shite, Drogba could be decent.

[RiG]

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Match of the Day favourites Kevin Kilbane and Mark Lawrenson can be heard on TV co-commentary duties 

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Match of the Day favourites Kevin Kilbane and Mark Lawrenson can be heard on TV co-commentary duties 

[Melanius Mullarkey]

Get Leonard* on, he was actually good at the last World Cup.

*(c) bennett, 2018

[Blue_e'hm_A_Dee]

ITV coverage has been improved with Neville in there..

Pearce and lawrenson combination on bbc can get in the fucking sea though.. pearce makes everything all about him and the latter constantly sounding depressed to be doing a job We’d all love to be doing.. nae thank you.

keown as well can get tae falkirk

[Dullard Bluteau]

I know Scotland isn't at the WC so its right that no Scottish pundits should be on, however its now become standard practice that whenever theres a tournament its the English team that does all the broadcasting as a matter of course. Looks like a few foreign pundits as well, all of whom, naturally, have a connection to English football. I wonder if any of the MOTD or ITV pundits ever guest on foreign tv ? Have my doubts of course as it would require the ability to speak a foreign language. A bridge too far for  even the most (in)articulate pundit here.

[The Moonster]

14 minutes ago, Dullard Bluteau said:

I know Scotland isn't at the WC so its right that no Scottish pundits should be on, however its now become standard practice that whenever theres a tournament its the English team that does all the broadcasting as a matter of course. Looks like a few foreign pundits as well, all of whom, naturally, have a connection to English football. I wonder if any of the MOTD or ITV pundits ever guest on foreign tv ? Have my doubts of course as it would require the ability to speak a foreign language. A bridge too far for  even the most (in)articulate pundit here.

Those bloody English, eh!

[LondonHMFC]

Patrice Evra is going to be insufferable. "I LOVE THIS GAME" f**k off. 

[Dullard Bluteau]

59 minutes ago, The Moonster said:

Those bloody English, eh!

Xenophobe !

[accies1874]

BBC 

Ferdinand, Lampard and Lineker:

Everyone else, especially their entire commentary team:

ITV

Gary Neville and Slaven Bilic:

Their British contingent:

Drogba and Evra could surprise us like Bilic did at Euro 2016.

 

[Blue_e'hm_A_Dee]

32 minutes ago, accies1874 said:

BBC 

Ferdinand, Lampard and Lineker:

Everyone else, especially their entire commentary team:

ITV

Gary Neville and Slaven Bilic:

Their British contingent:

Drogba and Evra could surprise us like Bilic did at Euro 2016.

 

Yeah forgot about Bilic, he’s class. Breathe of fresh air compared to some..

Giggs is dull as dishwater May I add.

[The Moonster]

I can't stand Ferdinand either.  Talks a massive amount of pish and seems about as smart as a plank of wood.

[velo army]

The co-commentator gig seems to be more and more pointless. Merely a voice to fill in silence and to repeat what we've just seen. Andy Townsend, the Rev. I.M. Lawrenson and Robbie Savage have been particularly infuriating exponents of this, ehm, art. It still beggars belief that Lawrenson continues to have a job in football broadcasting. 

I'm hoping, but absolutely not expecting, the pundits to actually earn their money and do some research on the teams they're watching. In this age of social media and internet there is absolutely no way we should be hearing from anybody that "we don't really know much about....(insert team name)".

 

[NotThePars]

Respect Mark Lawrenson’s commitment to fucking hating the sport he’s paid millions, and given the same in expenses, to commentate on.

[JamesM82]

For BBC games I'll be using the red button options (radio commentary or stadium sound only), if they're available.

[Salvo Montalbano]

Is there a reason (other than the obvious) that both channels have women footballers on their panel? And do we think they'll be doing anything other than the games nobody will be watching or late night highlight shows?

[ICTChris]

Just saw this beauty of a vid, summing up the Mark Lawrenson experience at the 2010 world cup, where he spent every game moaning and complaining.

https://twitter.com/darrenrichman/status/996824497486548993