Pundits phone in a terrible performance

After a gripping season finale and Euro 2008 to keep the public entertained, you’d assume that MOTD would be home to enthusiastic and thoughtful BBC pundits, and yet, on last night’s evidence, the honchos in charge should be on the phone begging Wright to rethink. Not to mention pleading with Gavin Peacock to renounce his faith and possibly replace the increasingly irksome Lineker, whose big joke last night was that Trinidad and Tobago are two countries. Hilarious Gary, just brilliant.

Worse by miles, however, were Shearer and Hansen. Particularly Alan Shearer. Probably the most unappealing dinner party guest of all time. Shearer’s first crime was a total lack of enthusiasm, claiming that the England players didn’t even want to play the game - they’d rather be on holiday. Great insight, Alan, and what a way to whet the appetite. Evidently Shearer felt somehow put out by being asked to grace the nation with his revolting anodyne personality and gift for stating the obvious. He may as well have sat there staring down at his watch, silently.

Hansen, usually so crisp and lovable, turned up in identikit to his fellow pundit - both hideously dressed in black shirts - and thought it fine to allow a small chunk of belly fat to protrude through his badly buttoned top. He could barely be bothered to get dressed, for Christ’s sake!

No one was under any illusions about the irrelevance of last night’s game - which was largely held as a PR exercise to help England win the right to stage the 2018 World Cup. But as only the most hardcore and knowledgable fans would have stayed up to watch it, surely the pundits should have seized the opportunity to speak to a more informed audience.

Serious sock pulling up time, MOTD. And perhaps a little less Shearer?

For the best guide to Euro 2008, click here