An Obvious Point

I am fully aware that criticism of ITV’s World Cup (and general sporting) coverage is like shooting very big fish in a very small barrel these days but Monday night gave a shining example of the difference in quality and insight between ITV and the BBC. Perhaps most worrying of all, they seemed to be watching different matches as well. The novelty of seeing Adrian Chiles on ITV briefly perked things up but one hit a week of him and his collapsing head on MOTD2 was more than enough. God knows I stopped watching the One Show quickly enough.

I had the Spain versus Honduras match on though cannot admit I was watching it intently as I have mastered the “being on the internet but kind of watching TV” skill that all girlfriends love. Peter Drury, Jim Beglin and some vuvuzelas were providing the background din. It was always going to be a vomit inducing display of Spain-praising as they created (and wasted) numerous chances against a team generously ranked 38th in the world. David Villa’s first goal was very good but the second, while a decent move, was not (paraphrasing) “the beautiful game played as it should be”. It was a counter attack against a Honduras side who were chucking men forward in an attempt at getting an unlikely equaliser. There was a lot more of this sycophantic droning that I can’t be bothered to recount.

The missing Andres Iniesta was referred to as Spain’s “pass master” when surely that title goes to Xavi or Xabi Alonso. They also nearly completely ignored the fact that Villa should have been sent off for a girly slap on a Honduran defender, said defender then acting like a tit by going down a good five seconds later.

For personal reasons (moving from one room to another since you ask) I listened to the last twenty minutes on Radio 5live where the commentary team seemed to have been watching a totally different game of football. According to Chris Waddle and Guillerme Balague, Spain were laboured and looked to be struggling with the conditions – Balague described the performance as “worrying”. Jesus Navas was wasteful in possession, something I’d also noticed as the television screen had earlier been in my peripheral vision. Comparisons to Arsenal were mentioned as Spain were willed to shoot when they got in around the penalty area, something both Arsenal and Spain seem to struggle with by often playing one pass too many. In summation, they won the match but their profligacy might well see them eliminated if they face Brazil in the second round.

The contrast was startling.

Now this is not to say that the BBC provide faultless coverage because they don’t. The BBC television panel have generally revelled in their own ignorance during this tournament while those who offer the most succinct and rational analysis find themselves marginalised on 5live. Graham Taylor and Roy Hodgson, two of three (along with Jurgen Klinsmann) who have any experience of managing at an international tournament, are rarely seen on screen. They offer some real analysis of tactical nuance rather than simply relaying what has just happened with appropriate sound bites, as per the two Alans – Hansen seems to think punditry is below him these days and Shearer regularly makes it abundantly clear how he got Newcastle relegated. I won’t even address Mark Lawrenson other than to say he has actually made me chuckle once during this World Cup, which I am sure will make his day when he reads this.

There’s no real point to what I have just written and it won’t be news to many people, but it was just fairly amusing to experience this gap so strikingly.

Matt Morrison