BBC casts off its neutrality to pin colours to the mast

On occasions such as these, partisan pundits are the Beeb’s best asset, writes Chris Bascombe

To England fans, it was the ultimate football fantasy. To viewers in Scotland and Wales, it was a dystopian nightmare more hellish than The Handmaid’s Tale. The BBC opened England’s fixture against Tunisia with an imaginary newsreel as Gareth Southgate’s World Cup winners were greeted as heroes.

Well-pitched self-deprecation to England supporters, typical arrogance to everyone else. The reference to Jamie Vardy “still having a party”, while Alexander and Arnold had become the most popular names for new births raised a chuckle – as did Ian Broudie struggling to rewrite the lyrics to Three Lions.

“Football’s… come… home,” sang the Lightning Seed, with charm, before Danny Dyer wittered on about West Ham United winning the World Cup in 1966.

When the Beeb promised to load the big guns, we presumed they meant Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, rather than Huw Edwards and the hosts of The One Show referencing the Queen mimicking a Dele Alli celebration.

Given the comedy value during England’s major tournaments tends to be preserved for the rest of the world, it was novel to seize ownership of the laughs so soon.

Sadly, this era of realism lasted 21 minutes. “Dare I say England are playing the best football we have seen in the tournament so far,” said Martin Keown, the Spain-versusportugal game, a distant memory.

Cue the Tunisian equaliser. So began the five stages of grief for an England fan during tournaments, personified by this group of emotionally tortured pundits.

First we have caution, which is usually most noticeable during qualifying. “They have done well, but can they do it when it matters?”

Quieter confidence emerges. “There is no expectation and manager and players have been saying and doing the right things.”

Peak bravado comes on the night of the first group game. “Maybe, you never know if they click.” We expect a gradual move to stage four – the sad realisation the new emperor is as naked as the last – until England’s exit ushers the final stage of blind fury. Impressively, Keown was the manifestation of each stage in just 90 minutes, full of patriotic fervour before kick-off, overenthusiastic when England started well, and simmering with fury as they toiled for a winner.

Then Harry Kane scores and we return to stage one before Panama.

To be fair, BBC pundit bashing plays well to the gallery, but the greatest asset of their panel, plus host Gary Lineker, on these nights is how unashamedly they care.

Shearer has improved, rising to the challenge in the manner he fought for his shirt when Michael Owen emerged in 1998. Yes, they all leapt to their feet after the last-minute winner, but if you want neutrality on the BBC when England play, good luck. They might as well host wearing their Three Lions shirts.