It’s the big question for Sunday’s European Championship final – even more important than whether Harry Kane starts. And that question is: which channel should you watch the big game on?
The BBC and ITV share the honour of broadcasting the match and have done everything they can to convince viewers that they are the ones they can trust on such an occasion.
Now you have the remote in your hand. Still undecided?
Post Sport‘s guide to the battle of the broadcasters will point you in the right direction…
The BBC will compete with ITV for the most viewers during their coverage of Euro 2024
Ian Wright (left), Gary Neville (centre) and Roy Keane (right) are back on the ITV line-up
The Three Lions beat the Netherlands to book their place against Spain in Berlin on Sunday
PRESENTERS
Gary Lineker (BBC) – 5/10
No, that beeping noise you hear isn’t because you didn’t close your fridge properly. It’s Gary Lineker, in reverse, trying to avoid calling England “s***” on his podcast.
Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan did well in the early rounds, but since then all eyes have been on the Beeb’s highest-paid employee and his £16 Next T-shirts. Whether he’s blaming journalists for his own words or promoting his stuff, Gary never misses an opportunity.
Mark Pougatch (ITV) – 8/10
A presenter who focuses on the task at hand and concentrates on the action, rather than the clothes.
Pougatch may not have 80 caps and 48 goals for the Three Lions, but that is no fault of his. Pougatch knows exactly what the average Joe at home is asking and gets the answer.
Lineker was criticised for calling England ‘s***’ but presented the majority of the BBC’s live shows
Mark Pougatch has stuck to the task at home and kept the focus on the action on the field
EXPERTS
Rio Ferdinand (BBC) – 6.5
Ferdinand cannot be faulted for his passion for his country, but for one of the greatest defenders in English football history, you can’t help but feel a little lacking when it comes to tactical analysis.
Ian Wright (ITV) – 7.5
It’s impossible not to be enchanted by Wright’s passion for the game, although his constant use of players’ first names occasionally leaves me hovering with my finger over the remote.
However, Wright’s analysis has improved considerably in recent years and it is a shame that he has hung up his Match of the Day microphone just when he was at the height of his analyst profession.
Ian Wright’s analysis has improved over the years and his sheer passion is mesmerizing
Frank Lampard (BBC) – 7
There is no doubting Lampard’s knowledge of the modern game, but his and Ferdinand’s effusive praise for England’s lacklustre first half against the Swiss was bizarre.
Maybe they are the type that the glass is half full. In that case, I will take what they drink for the finale, please bartender.
Roy Keane (ITV) – 7.5
Keane is known for saying things as he sees them and he deserves credit for not joining in the criticism of Gareth Southgate like many of his colleagues.
He’s never afraid to stir things up in the studio and there are few people you’d rather listen to when it comes to breaking up the midfield battle than Keane.
Micha Richards (BBC) – 7
The self-appointed chairman of the Phil Foden fan club. He brings the jokes to the BBC’s coverage, but Richards’ analysis of England’s left-back situation has proven he’s 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 a keen insight into the pressures placed on England players and coaches during a major tournament.
Neville has even managed to suppress the urge to mention Manchester United in every other sentence. Someone should give their stylist a pay rise.
Cesc Fabregas (BBC) – 8.5
The tournament is undoubtedly an addition from the broadcasting side.
The Spaniard exuded class on the pitch and was as silky smooth as the BBC’s continental offerings during the tournament. Fabregas is the only pundit who can say they also won the tournament – and did so twice! He will be joined by compatriot Juan Mata for the final.
Cesc Fabregas is without a doubt the best addition in terms of broadcasting at the tournament
Karen Carney (ITV) – 7
There’s a reason ITV has such a strong endorsement of Carney for major tournament play.
It would be difficult to leave a match in which Carney was part of the expert team without having learned something, although we haven’t heard much from her in her courtside expert role this tournament.
COMMENTS
Guy Mowbray (BBC) – 8
You know exactly what you’re getting with the BBC commentary crew – nothing too fancy, nothing too shabby – and no one embodies that better than Guy Mowbray. Mowbray is never redundant with his words, but knows exactly when to deliver the zinger of the evening.
Sam Matterface (ITV) – 8
Clive Tyldesley’s departure from ITV was so unceremonious that he would have been better suited to Love Island, the channel’s popular dating show.
Tyldesley’s love train must not be allowed to derail Sam Matterface’s rise to the top. Matterface is the master of transferring the 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 earns his role as ITV’s lead commentator for the big occasion
CO-COMMENTATORS
Alan Shearer (BBC) – 7
Shearer knows what it’s like to fire blanks at the Euros for England, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving his candid opinion on Harry Kane. Not the man to pick apart a flawed defence, Shearer has held back in 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 with Lee Dixon for the England semi-final deserves a pay rise. Some will be uneasy about a Scot – even the man of the people McCoist – overseeing one of England’s greatest matches in recent history. But if more McCoist means less hesitation from Dixon, sign me up.
Lee Dixon only scored a 5.5 and is guilty of hesitating during his co-commentary duties
PRONUNCIATION
The BBC is the serial winner when it comes to the battle of the broadcasters, with a peak of 31 million people watching the Euro 2020 final, making it the most-watched TV event in the UK since Princess Diana’s funeral. The BBC captured 81 per cent of the audience.
But if you’re happy to grin and bear the adverts, there’s only one channel to watch on a Sunday night for my money. I’ll be watching Pougatch and Co on ITV, the perfect company to watch football with at home.
FINAL RESULT: BBC 49, ITV-51