I watch Gary with envy. He is the consummate presenter

Apart from some of their grammatical deficiencies, the television pundits have done a good job

FORMER BBC AND ITV PRESENTER

In the days when I was presenting the World Cup for television, I never used to suffer in the way I have over the past couple of weeks. I was close to cracking up during the penalty shoot-out against Colombia and there were moments against Sweden when a reasonably comfortable victory looked troublesome. I should have known that I could rely on the stupendous goalkeeping of Jordan Pickford.

After the tournament Gareth Southgate should be seconded to the Government to finalise Brexit – someone has to do it – and get the trains to run on time before making his way to the Palace to be dubbed appropriately a knight of the realm.

I have been watching the TV coverage in admiration and not a little envy. Gary Lineker has become a consummate football presenter. If only the BBC had hired someone who was merely adequate to follow me, I could sit back and smile contentedly and mumble that it was better in my day. I can do no such thing.

Gary has mastered the business of catching the mood of the viewer, he has handled his panel of pundits with authority and wit, the pithy phrase comes readily to him and of course he has all the authority in the world to offer his own opinion.

Tonight, the match will be on ITV, with Mark Pougatch doing his highly professional and competent job. With the occasional exception,

When I was working for the BBC, I never suffered as I have done this summer

the pundits have done a good job, notwithstanding some of their grammatical deficiencies. I find them things aggravating.

Having said that, I can forgive Ian Wright anything. His enthusiasm for the game is infectious and his love of English football clear. The shots of him celebrating the victory over Colombia with Lee Dixon were joyous. Alan Shearer has been leading the BBC line like he did when playing, his comments worth hearing as he looks to the camera with those sly eyes, as if expecting a tackle that nowadays rarely comes from his colleagues, who seem to have considerable respect for his opinions.

The standard of commentary has been consistently high. I like the commentator-plus-one style with the Jon Champion/ally Mccoist combination working particularly well. Mccoist, as Scottish as you could find, admitted during the Russia v Croatia match that he was wholeheartedly behind England. Rob Roy turns Anglophile.

The BBC and ITV will go head to head for the final and here at least I am sure of my ground when I say the BBC will win on audience share by a ratio of 4-1. They always do. It is only a side issue. What matters is that against all expectations England bring that special trophy home and give us all something to brighten our days.