The BBC had the pleasure of bringing us England’s first Euro 2024 match against Serbia.
Rio Ferdinand, Cesc Fabregas, Micah Richards and Gary Lineker sat in the setting sunlight of the day. Micah, who must have been knocked down off the ceiling with a brush before the broadcast, he’s so prone to laughing hysterically and getting carried away. Indeed, no-one has based a punditry career on laughing so successfully. Lineker is at ease and relaxed in his role of presenter, chatting in a relaxed manner, always in control and with time on the ball. You wouldn’t think he’s a socialist firebrand.
There’s a moving piece about the terminally ill Sven, in charge last time England were in Gelsenkirchen in 2006. Rio says he was a nice man to play for. It was a sad moment, sensitively handled. An interview package with Southgate reveals him to have always been a decent, emotionally intelligent bloke. Rio says a lot of obvious things, and that seems to be what has been asked for. Fabregas, presumably brought in for some continental sophistication, follows with more obvious comments, albeit in a Spanish accent. There’s nothing anyone didn’t know before or any special insight, despite them saying everything like it’s the wisdom of Solomon.
