Why the missing pundit for Wales?

One justification for the naked bias shown by panellists during Wales games is that it is no different when england play, and Welsh supporters have endured it for years. When, exactly?

Across the 22 years when Alan Hansen (26 appearances for Scotland) was the lead pundit for the BBC, he was often beside his former Liverpool team- mate Mark Lawrenson (39 appearances, Republic of Ireland). At the 2012 european Championship for ITV, co-commentating beside Clive Tyldesley was Andy Townsend (70 appearances, Republic of Ireland) and pitchside when england played Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, flanking Glenn Hoddle, were Ryan Giggs (64 appearances, Wales) and Slaven Bilic ( 44 appearances, Croatia). no doubt in the interest of balance.

And nothing wrong with that. All are fine analysts and broadcasters and who better to discuss Croatia’s gameplan and the context of the match from the opposition’s point of view than Bilic?

So what happens to these insights when Wales play? Really, there were no Italians available for ITV last Sunday? nobody had Gianfranco Zola’s number? Will the BBC allot a place to, say, Peter Schmeichel on Saturday, when Wales play Denmark, or even a chair to a voice that is not affiliated to either team? Roy Keane’s 67 appearances for Ireland do not bar him from the studio when england play. Why is this any different?

HUNGARY’S footballers won many friends at this European Championship, but even so, two draws and a defeat meant that, like every qualifier through the play-offs, they failed to make the round of 16, finishing bottom of Group F. Also falling short were North Macedonia (bottom, Group C), Scotland (bottom, Group D) and Slovakia (third but eliminated, Group E). Hungary and Scotland played two of three games at home, too. Despite the extra year, little has changed in terms of form. Nine out of 10 qualifying group winners are in the last 16 — Poland the exception — plus seven out of 10 runners-up. Had the old 16-team format remained and qualification been conducted just through league tables — the 10 winners plus the six best in second place — we would have been additionally deprived of Czech Republic, Wales, Sweden and Finland. The 16 best teams in qualifying and the last 16 here show three differences, but the competition takes longer to get going and is undoubtedly weaker. The previous format was better.

WHAT a fabulous punishment for Tom Youngs, captain of Leicester, who was banned for two weeks for confronting referee Ian Tempest during a match with Bristol. One week of the penalty is suspended on the condition Youngs undertakes a refereeing course and officiates two junior grass roots games. Would football ever try that? It seems far too sensible.

Japan’s post-war constitution prevents the head of the Chrysanthemum Throne making public pronouncements on contentious issues. so for Emperor naruhito to convey that he is worried the Olympics will cause infections to spread may be the final blow to the local popularity of the Games. as Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, appears to believe he is the Emperor of Japan, however, do not expect consideration. This is already more occupation than celebration.

GIVEN how england’s winter itinerary is scheduled, players will be away from their families for four months. Short tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan precede the T20 World Cup in the united Arab emirates, and then it is straight to Australia for the Ashes.

Departing mid-September, the Australian leg ends on January 18 and, due to Covid, there is no dispensation for families to join the tour. The ECB are hopeful a compromise can be reached and have enlisted the help of Cricket Australia.

Don’t bet on a happy resolution. The last time england toured, winter 2017-18, there was a complication with media-working visas. They last three months, but the tour overran by a couple of days. It only affected three journalists there for the duration and, again, it was presumed a solution could be found. not so.

Cricket Australia got involved, the ECB, the Government. no deal. What if the writers flew to another country for one night, then returned on a new visa? no way. What if they just ignored it and claimed an oversight? no return, ever. In the end, the three left before the final T20 international. Computer said no.