Euro 2008 began yesterday with two unspectacular games which saw victories for the Czech Republic over the co-hosts Switzerland and Portugal over Turkey. Three weeks of football beckons but I'm already getting weary of the comments of comentators and pundits of our cousins south of the border. Apparently, England didn't qualify...
BBC Radio Five Live, usually a station par excellence, bemoaned the fact England wasn't there (no mention of the fact that neither are Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) Saturday morning had Eammon Holmes interviewing former England manager Steve McClaren and included the probing 'Aren't you sick England aren't there?'
During the commentary on the opening game, Alan Green asked summariser Chris Waddle a key question midway through the second half as the game entered its crucial stage. 'How many of these players do you think would get into the England team?' It was quite rude of the Czechs, I thought, to deny Waddle the chance of an immediate answer the whole nation was waiting to hear with bated breath, by scoring the only goal of the game. Normally, Alan Green is the master of commentators but this was, to lapse into cliche mode, 'quite disappointing'
ITV's approach to the Championships appears nonchalent. The commercial channel have decided, even before the tournament began, not to cover the final which beggars the question why bother with the group games? But bother they did with the Portugal-Turkey game and, keeping with a theme that will last for the next three weeks, host Matt Smith asked why England couldn't play the same way as Portugal did. Possibly because England aren't as good I would imagine.
I'm sure someone somewhere is conducting an England reference count which may well hit double figures after todays games, both of which are being covered by the BBC. Particularly as this afternoon's offering involves Croatia - who knocked England out at the qualifying stage. How long into today's coverage until we see the film of Steve McClaren under his umbrella at a sodden Wembley?
Humility. A sense of proportion. Realism. Intelligent and insightful. The gift of balanced self-awareness. Quick to show due deference to others' greater achievements. Traits which, like the England football team, won't be with the English commentators at Euro 2008...
3 comments:
If only Clive Tyldsley kept his mouth shut we could have watched the game happily last night.
After a fine performance from Holland tonight against Italy, no sooner had the final whistle went than Steve Ryder said 'And after the break, we've got an interview with absent friends - the views of Fabio Capello coming right up'
The more things change...
Ha Ha Ha England. I am happy that I don't have to hear this here in Australia.
I have to admit that I have absolutely no interest in the tournament other than Italy and France getting stuffed. Small revenge for denying Scotland their right to crash gloriously out of the tournament in the first stage.
Post a Comment