Every World Cup expert ranked and a look at how the ITV and BBC stars did
The World Cup TV showdown between BBC and ITV was really fun to watch as the two big channels went head-to-head. The BBC kept things cozy in their Salford studio, with just their commentators and reporters on site until the semi-finals when pundits and presenters joined in person. ITV shook things up by broadcasting from a studio with amazing views of Brooklyn, though their top pundits didn’t attend any matches.
There was plenty of great and not-so-great punditry. With that in mind, SPORTbible decided to rank all the regular faces we saw over the past month.
24. Darren Cann (BBC)
Acting as a refereeing analyst, Cann tried hard but didn’t add much to the coverage.
23. Martin Keown (BBC)
A familiar face over the years, Keown fits better debating on talkSPORT than as a TV pundit.
22. Olivier Giroud (BBC)
Handsome but still learning the art of punditry—he didn’t say much that stood out.
21. Theo Walcott (BBC)
A safe and pleasant presence but didn’t offer much fresh insight.
20. Cezar Azpilicueta (BBC)
Just like on the pitch, solid but sometimes faded into the background.
19. Thomas Frank (BBC)
Shined at Euro 2024 but didn’t bring much new to this tournament.
18. Christina Unkel (ITV)
Refereeing experts often have a tough job, but Unkel gave some helpful insights on tricky calls.
17. Juan Mata (ITV)
A nice addition for smaller games, even if he wasn’t very sharp.
16. Duncan Ferguson (ITV)
A big personality who fit in well and shared some great stories.
15. Thomas Hitzlsperger (BBC)
One of the underrated stars, especially after Germany’s surprise exit.
14. Ashley Williams (BBC)
A steady pundit who’ll likely keep being a reliable voice on BBC.
13. Bradley Wright-Phillips (ITV)
His sweet reunion with his dad Ian was heartwarming, and he did a solid job.
12. Karen Carney (ITV)
With loads of England caps, Carney is experienced and deserves more praise.
11. Patrick Vieira (ITV)
Never shy to speak his mind and was spot on, especially about France’s run.
10. Roy Keane (ITV)
You always know what you’ll get with Keane, and he was as entertaining as ever.
9. Jobi McAnuff (ITV)
Usually on Sky Sports, McAnuff did a tidy job during early morning coverage.
8. Gary Neville (ITV)
You might not agree with him all the time, but Neville is one of the top pundits and didn’t hold back on hot topics.
7. Gael Clichy (BBC)
A fantastic pundit with great tactical insights—we’d love to see him more often.
6. Micah Richards (BBC)
Super busy but brilliant throughout, Richards impressed especially during the England vs Argentina coverage after losing his father.
5. Ian Wright (ITV)
‘Wrighty’ remains one of the best, bringing passion and energy to every England chat.
4. Ange Postecoglou (ITV)
A brilliant talker and football brain, now back in management working with Cristiano Ronaldo.
3. Wayne Rooney (BBC)
Once doubted for his talking, Rooney has proven he’s a top pundit with honesty and deep knowledge.
2. Emma Hayes (ITV)
The setting for her tactical talks was odd, but Hayes nailed every point as a master of her craft.
1. Joe Hart (BBC)
The star of the tournament! Hart’s analysis was almost as impressive as his famous 2010 match. From breaking down tricky goalkeeping conditions to speaking out after England’s exit—he really shone.