Gary Lineker kicks off ITV’s World Cup coverage, and it’s going viral!
Gary Lineker made a special guest appearance on ITV’s coverage of the Germany vs Ivory Coast match, kicking things off with a memorable segment from the studio in Brooklyn, New York.
The 65-year-old was expected to lead the BBC’s World Cup coverage this summer, but after his last episode of Match of the Day on May 26, he confirmed he was leaving the BBC. This came after he faced criticism for sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an image of a rat, which has been used as an antisemitic symbol.
Lineker said he didn’t notice the image and “would never knowingly share anything antisemitic.” He apologized and said stepping back was the right thing to do.
Since then, he’s found success with his Rest is Football podcast, which airs daily on Netflix thanks to a £14 million deal with his company, Goalhanger.
This summer, he’s been joined on the podcast by regulars Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, as well as guests like Harry Maguire and Frank Lampard.
On Saturday night, Lineker made his first terrestrial TV appearance since leaving the BBC, guesting on ITV’s World Cup coverage. To celebrate, he opened the show with his classic style, even though Laura Woods was the main presenter.
Lineker joked, “Thanks for joining us on ITV for this one. Another day, another game, another channel.” Woods laughed and said, “Whoa, whoa, Gary, that’s my job.” He replied, “Sorry, old habits!”
Woods then welcomed him warmly, calling him England’s joint top goalscorer with Harry Kane and saying, “Great to have you here. We’ll be talking about your new show in a minute.”
Fans on social media had fun reacting to Lineker’s ITV cameo. One said, “Gary Lineker on ITV? It’s like seeing a former Eastenders actor on Coronation Street.” Another compared it to football rivals switching teams, and others joked that his appearance was hilarious or quite strange.
What do you think about Gary Lineker’s special guest spot on ITV? Share your thoughts in the comments!