Sportscene please

Would it really have made a significant dent in the BBC budget to have let Sportscene cover the World Cup?

Throughout the year we are spoiled with the quality of this football programme, with the excellent commentary of Rob Mclean or Liam Mcleod, the presentation by the articulate Jonathan Sutherland, all enhanced by the analysis and banter of Michael Stewart and Steven Thomson.

It is arguably superior to what the big-budget Match Of The Day provides, even if the matches covered clearly are not!

While it is encouraging that 35 per cent of us are cheering a fellow home nation, the problem arises, as usual, that the Match of the Day panel and Gary Lineker act as if they are broadcasting solely to an English audience.

Debatable comments such as: “This is the best game of the World Cup so far” or “England look the best team in the tournament” and “We would not want the ending we suffered at Hampden” grate on a more discerning Scottish audience.

If/when England lose, they will think we are all sharing in their torment; and that is when we will miss the more reflective (some would say less analysis of Michael and Steven.

JOHN V LLOYD Keith Place, Inverkeithing