Laura Woods vs Gary Lineker and how the pundits have rated as we help you decide ITV vs BBC dilemma for England vs Spain
ALL EYES will be on Sunday’s Euro 2024 final when England take on Spain – but on which channel will you watch?
BBC and ITV have shared the rights throughout the tournament in Germany as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions made it to successive Euros finals.
But for the first time this summer, the broadcasters will go head-to-head, with viewers having the choice of which channel they tune into for the final.
So here, SunSport helps fans decide ahead of the big game…
Hosts
Gary Lineker has long been the face of BBC’s football coverage, having hosted the iconic Match of the Day since 1999, making him a sage pair of hands.
Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Mark Chapman have shared the hotseat in the absence of Lineker.
Former England striker Lineker has had an eventful Euros, notably being censored by the BBC for dropping an F-bomb while celebrating England’s win over Switzerland.
He was also accused of breaking rules when he wore his own Next clothing range on air – as BBC ban talent from wearing attire they’re either promoting or being paid to wear.
Lineker and BBC pundit Alan Shearer were also caught in a spiky back and forth with England captain Harry Kane after criticism of England’s early performances.
Those tuning into ITV have been guided through proceedings by fans’ favourite Laura Woods and veteran broadcaster Mark Pougatch.
Woods has stunned in a variety of bold outfits throughput the tournament and even brought along boyfriend Adam Collard to Berlin.
Pundits
The BBC have had Micah Richards, Shearer, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Jermaine Jenas, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Ellen White, Ashley Williams, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie, Thomas Frank and Cesc Fabregas in the studio in Germany.
Fabregas in particular received praise for his expert analysis and the Spaniard would be the perfect pundit for the final.
He won the Euros in 2008 and 2012 while spending 13 years playing in England at Arsenal and Chelsea.
Ferdinand meanwhile was on the end of some funny stick from Jenas after making it known he spoke with former team-mate Critstiano Ronaldo in private.
BBC and ITV's Euro 2024 line up in full
Here's how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
ITV have had Ian Wright, Karen Carney, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Eni Aluko, Graeme Souness, Ange Postecoglou and Danny Rohl in their studio.
Behind-the-scenes footage has shown Irishman Keane’s hilarious reaction to England’s goals – and his brutal take on the action will be a draw for many fans.
In contrast, Wright and Neville haven’t disguised their jubilation at England’s progress, with the pair’s celebrations at Ollie Watkins’ late winner against Switzerland going viral.
Former referee Christina Unkel was been a very welcome addition to ITV’s coverage – and definitely an upgrade on Peter Walton – as she analyses the on-pitch decisions.
Unkel claimed England should NOT have been awarded a penalty against the Dutch before ITV later had to censor manager Ronald Koeman’s furious post-match interview.
Commentators
Guy Mowbray is BBC’s lead commentator and he could be partnered with Jenas, Shearer, Danny Murphy or Martin Keown.
Shearer brilliantly came up with the “pressure is for tyres” line as England went 5/5 in their quarter-final shootout win over Switzerland.
Fans will likely be hoping the Newcastle pundit is back on co-comms for the final.
Sam Matterface is ITV’s head commentator and will likely be partnered with Lee Dixon or Ally McCoist.
But fans are pushing for former England international Andros Townsend to pair with McCoist in a dream co-commentary duo.
The Euros also brought an end to Clive Tyldesley’s near-three decades with ITV.
Still undecided?
A stunning 21.6 million tuned in on ITV at its peak to watch England beat Holland 2-1 thanks Watkins’ winner.
BBC had 16.8m for the dramatic quarter-final against the Swiss which went to the dreaded shootout.
Those numbers will likely be blown out the water on Sunday as the nation comes to a halt for the final.
Coverage is set to start at 7pm on BBC – an hour before kick off – while ITV are going live at 6.30pm to give themselves an extra 30 minutes.
Of course, BBC have the advantage of offering their coverage ad-free and three years ago only 5.8m of the total 31.1m viewers of the Euro final at Wembley watched it on ITV.
But, if fans really can’t decide then there is always the option of flicking between the two.
Euro 2024 final stadium is home to English football’s most shameful episode
GARETH SOUTHGATE and his players will walk in the footsteps of sporting infamy on Sunday.
And they also have the chance to wipe out the memories of English football’s most shameful episode by replacing it with glorious triumph.
For many, the Olympiastadion will always be the place where Jesse Owens humiliated Adolf Hitler in his own backyard.
But the 1936 Olympics WERE used by the Nazis as pure propaganda, as a statement about the supposed supremacy of the “Aryan race”.
The ghosts of those Games still flit between the towers and the colosseum-style architecture.
Fans walking in on Sunday will see the plinth where the Olympic cauldron was lit by Fritz Schilgen – handpicked by propagandist film-maker Leni Riefenstahl – still there, high in the stands above one goal.
And two years later, when the FA disgracefully ordered England’s players to raise their arm in the Nazi salute before beating Germany in a friendly, it seemed that the British state was implicitly accepting Hitler’s authority and power.
The Three Lions have the opportunity to right that ancient wrong yet nothing can detract from the stadium’s place in the pantheon of sport’s darkest hours.
Read the full story HERE.