Pick your worst World Cup TV pundit as ‘disastrous’ BBC pick slammed | Football | Sport
Many of the world’s top football brains are working for the BBC and ITV at this summer’s World Cup. The two rival broadcasters are going head-to-head for the biggest audience share during football’s biggest tournament, which is being held in North America. While the BBC pundits are working from a studio in Salford, those on ITV have been flown out to a swanky set on location in New York City.
The BBC boast an 18-strong line-up that includes former England stars Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Joe Hart, Paul Robinson, Steph Houghton, Ellen White and Danny Murphy. Scott Brown, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden are representing Scotland while international stars Olivier Giroud, Gael Clichy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Benni McCarthy, Ashley Williams, Thomas Frank and Lucas Leiva are providing analysis on other nations.
They are joined by Emma Hayes, Karen Carney, Christina Unkel, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Jobi McAnuff.
Eni Aluko is a notable absentee, while Graeme Souness, Joe Cole, Nigel De Jong and Hal Robson-Kanu were also overlooked.
With so many names involved in the coverage across both channels, some will inevitably be criticised more than others.
The likes of Neville, Keane and Richards are regularly singled out by disgruntled viewers when appearing on Sky Sports and it’s been no different at the World Cup.
Who do you think is the worst World Cup pundit on TV right now? Have your say in our poll below…
The former Arsenal striker is still warming into the role as he provides analysis in his second language, but the early verdict has not been good.
He faced a raft of criticism on X (formerly Twitter) following Belgium’s draw with Egypt, with one viewer writing: “We’ve got to get rid of Giroud as a pundit, I can’t keep doing this.”
Another said: “Whoever it was at the BBC that thought that Olivier Giroud could be a pundit has made a disastrous decision. He’s absolutely abysmal.”
“Giroud doing his best to put everyone to sleep with his incisive analysis,” said a third viewer, while a fourth wrote: “I guarantee that I will never learn anything from Olivier Giroud’s analysis. Punditry just isn’t for you mate.”
