AN INCREDIBLE backstage clip has shown just how close rival BBC and ITV studios were for tonight’s Euro 2024 final.
Our 58 years of hurt will go on after the Three Lions were beaten 2-1 late on by Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Fans were quick to spot a tactical change from Gareth Southgate just moments into the clash – but they were fuming about Dani Carvajal’s trolling of Bukayo Saka.
Supporters were raging more when they felt that Spain star Dani Olmo should have been sent off for ‘GBH attack’ on Declan Rice.
England received a huge boost at the break as Spanish talisman Rodri was forced off, but they found themselves trailing within moments of the second half starting courtesy of Nico Williams.
That led to Southgate turning to supersubs Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer – and they combined again after their exploits against Netherlands in the semi.
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This time it was Watkins who teed it up for Palmer to guide it home from the edge of the area. only for Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal to restore their lead late on to seal it.
Just prior to the match starting, supporters back in the UK were all switching to ITV for all of the big match build-up,.
But while BBC and ITV are in a ratings war tonight – their pundits are seated just yards apart at the Olympiastadion.
Journalist Rodrigo Nunes Lois shared a clip from behind the scenes in the stadium that began with BBC’s.
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Legendary England striker Gary Lineker was on presenting duties for the Beeb, as he was joined by ex-Three Lions defenders Micah Richards and Rio Ferdinand.
And they also had former Spanish attacker Juan Mata alongside them after the Euro 2012 winner was added to the line-up late this week.
Maybe Kane really is cursed as trophy drought goes on… he may never get a better chance with England
IT now seems as though he really is cursed. Along with the rest of us, writes Charlie Wyett.
Tragically, unbelievably, Harry Kane’s agonising search for a trophy still continues and you know have to wonder whether he will ever actually manage it.
Certainly for England, in any case.
Kane has now suffered defeat in three major club finals and two finals of the European Championships.
Last night, the Three Lions captain was so ineffective that he was replaced by Ollie Watkins just after the hour.
Like much of this tournament, he really struggled to make the impact when England needed him, not that he had much service.
He had one shot in the first half and that was Rodri, who subsequently injured himself and went off at the break.
When Cole Palmer struck that brilliant equaliser, Kane was off on his feet from the bench, only for the national team to get another kick in the bo**ocks at the end.
Kane was substituted in both the games against Switzerland and Holland which England went on to win but on this occasion, he could only witness a gut-wrenching twist just when it looked as though Gareth Southgate’s team had dug their way out of trouble.
The Bayern Munich striker suffered the World Cup 2018 semi-final loss against Croatia, endured heartbreak against Italy in the Euro2020 final and then missed from the spot in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final against France.
He really thought that this was his time, even though England did not play well in Germany.
Kane will know that he will have more opportunities with England. But not many more.
The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico seems a long way away and it will surely be under a new manager. Will England be better than they are now? Probably not.
And we are all left to wonder how much better England would have been with a fit and firing Kane at his very best.
Read all of Charlie Wyett’s Euro 2024 stories…
All four of them were spotted on their mobile phones as they prepared to go on air.
The camera then panned to the left and showed another TV studio – which ended up being revealing that one was sandwiched between BBC and ITV.
The cameras were on in that one as host Mark Pougatch was spotted along with Roy Keane.
We revealed earlier how the Beeb had made a last-minute change to their coverage of the Euro 2024 final.
The match was free to air and shown on both ITV and BBC, only for the latter to make a late change to their coverage’s start time.
The programming was expected to start at 7pm but will now begin at 6.30pm.
That brought it in line with the ITV start time, one and a half hours before the match kicked off at 8pm.
BBC and ITV’s Euro 2024 line up in full
Here’s how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
