GAME ON AS ITV BATTLE THE BEEB; THE CONTESTS WILL NOT ONLY BE ON THE

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Jun 6, 2004 | by Natasha Woods

JUST as we've all got over Henrik Larsson's departure, Euro 2004 arrives with the prospect of another tear-drenched farewell. Surely football will never be the same again. Not now Des Lynam, old twinkling eyes himself, is hanging up his microphone. But will he be bowing out on top?

Forget France v England - which gets ITV's coverage under way next Sunday - there is another contest dripping with superstars on big wage packets which will be just as fascinating to watch this summer. ITV versus BBC is always an intriguing tussle, particularly this year when the Beeb have already given their rivals a bloody nose by grabbing back the rights to English Premiership highlights next season. Match Of The Day is coming home and Lynam is going away. Euro 2004 will be his valedictory performance, then, just like Gordon Strachan - one of BBC Five Live's pundits - he's going to take some time away from the game to consider his options.

"I'm not one of those weepers or wailers who'll say that it is the end of an era," Lynam said stoically when he announced Portugal would be his swansong.

Of course, whether you prefer the BBC or ITV at such moments of sporting significance is a matter of taste. For everyone who thinks Alan Hansen is the king of cutting analysis, there is another who'll champion the merits of Ally McCoist for the other side.

Key to it all is the host; the ringmaster keeping it all ticking along as smoothly as live television allows. ITV have Lynam - a national institution - while the BBC have Gary Lineker, who has grown into the role since taking up the hot-seat vacated by Des five years ago.

"He is very good, a bit too bloody good actually," quipped the old smoothie of the boy Lineker. ITV don't have a bad replacement for Lynam at the ready either. Gaby Logan will front their Champions League coverage next season and she'll play a significant role during Euro 2004 too.

"She knows her subject matter and she looks beautiful on screen," observed Lynam, summing up a couple of Logan's attributes nicely.

The regular collection of pundits will line up either side, Mark "Lawro" Lawrenson impersonating Alistair McGowan for the BBC - or is it the other way around? Andy Townsend trying to outdo Coisty for infectious enthusiasm over on ITV, with Terry Venables chipping in a few more pertinent points.

The BBC have taken a gamble on their scheduling of Euro 2004, because they're banking on England doing well, which may be a patriotic leap of faith too far. In splitting up the broadcasting rights ITV landed the plum opening game between holders France and Sven's boys and also England's second group game against Switzerland. That exclusivity is good for ITV since when it shared England games with the BBC during the last World Cup, Auntie Beeb beat it hands down when it came to viewing figures.

This time the BBC have settled for England's last group match against Croatia, but they do have the pick of the quarter-final ties, which should ensure live coverage of England's first knock-out game. Of course, that is assuming the nation's favourites don't stumble to an early exit, leaving the BBC with egg on their faces.

The two rival stations have signed up a string of star pundits, although ITV seem to have resisted the temptation to repeat their experiment of the last World Cup and have Paul "no-one can understand what he is saying" Gascoigne as a studio guest. Instead Sir Bobby Robson will step into Ron Atkinson's shoes as ITV's father figure, dispensing his words of experience as a former England manager.

The BBC have gone for youth, not only giving Strachan something to do over the summer, but also signing up Alan Curbishley for Five Live and enlisting the services of Steve Bruce for more studio-based work. There he'll be joined by Peter Schmeichel, who may mangle a few vowels in that Manchester-influenced Danish accent of his, but who still provides some decent input from a former player's perspective.

Away from the studio, the battle of the mics will commence; John Motson and Barry Davies the two trojans for the BBC, while ITV counter with Clive Tyldesley, John Champion and Peter Drury.

Of course the wonders of modern technology give those with satellite and digital television additional benefits. For a start you can chose Eurosport and opt out of the Gary and Des show entirely.

My personal favourite is to press the red button and switch to Five Live's radio commentary with Alan Green giving it full throttle and making you feel like you are sitting right beside him in the stadium. Game on.