BREAKING NEWS: ITV viewers threaten to ‘switch off’ World Cup coverage after ‘ridiculous’ detail
World Cup viewers weren’t impressed (Image: ITV)
ITV host Mark Pougatch returned to lead the broadcaster’s live coverage of the first FIFA World Cup semi-final on Tuesday (July 14). The 58-year-old presenter was joined in the Brooklyn studio by regular pundits Gary Neville, Ian Wright, Roy Keane, and Patrick Vieira, as well as an unexpected guest. Sucession actor Brian Cox temporarily appeared alongside the footballing legends to preview the upcoming game between France and Spain.
The stars were delighted to be joined by Brian for the segment, but some viewers took a different view, as they were left confused by the actor’s appearance. One X (formerly Twitter) user claimed that ITV’s attitude to football “really sucks”, while someone else wrote: “Why have ITV got Brian Cox on the build up to the France v Spain World Cup semi-final?” A third frustrated fan said: “Brian Cox doing pre-game punditry for a World Cup semi final? Absolutely not,” reports the Mirror.
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Brian Cox made an unexpected appearance (Image: ITV)
Throughout the broadcast, one exasperated watcher questioned: “Is there anywhere else I can watch this game?” Another penned: “Why have ITV taken Brian Cox hostage and forced him to talk about football? Ridiculous,” while a further comment read: “Utterly pointless interview with Brian Cox.”
Despite the wave of criticism, numerous other watchers were thrilled to see the acting “legend” featuring in the studio. One fan called his appearance “fun and random”, while another said: “Brian Cox punditry is something I didn’t know I needed.”
During his interview, Ian asked Brian if he played football when he was younger, with the actor bluntly replying: “I was hopeless!”
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He added: “I’ll tell you, I was, ‘I suppose we’ll have to have Cox.’ The idea of me being with you extraordinary, celebrated players, particularly you Man [United] guys, because I was a big Man [United] fan.”
Patrick Vieira shared his expertise (Image: ITV)
Elsewhere in the build-up to France’s game against Spain, Patrick Vieira compared French striker Kylian Mbappé to the best players of past and present.
Referencing Thierry Henry, Patrick said: “It’s a really good comparison because we’re talking about the two, I believe, best ever French number nine. But Mbappé, to me, is a little bit more quicker with his feet. Look at the goal he scored against Morocco, there [was] no space, there’s eight players around him, but he [found] the way to make the shot and to score that goal.”
He added: “But I think today Mbappé is the best player in the world. I would put him in front [of] even Messi,” with his co-stars audibly saying “wow” in response.
