ITV viewers for the Euro 2024 opener between Scotland and Germany were far from impressed by the coverage at the start of the programme.
The first game of the major tournament was scheduled to kick off at 8pm with ITV beginning their coverage at 6.30pm.
Pundits Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Graeme Souness joined host Mark Pougatch in the ITV studio as they began to talk about the tournament.
However, some fans hoping to hear more about Scotland and Germany were unhappy with the focus on England early in the coverage.
One fan sarcastically wrote: “Yes ITV. Let’s hear about England and Gareth Southgate for the 2678th time, instead of hearing about the host nation and Scotland.”
Another complained: “Tuned into @ITV coverage of Scotland game @ScotlandNT and heard lots about England. Will that ever change?”
A third moaned: “@STVSport @ITV this is Germany v Scotland. Why are you airing England England England? F******g hell.”
One other angry message read: “25 mins in and we’ve had three mins on Germany, two on Scotland, an ad break and the rest is England and the referees. @itvfootball @ITV give it a rest.”
Another mockingly said: “@ITV remember its Scotland playing tonight not England.”
Scotland have not won a match at a major tournament since the 1996 European Championship when they defeated Switzerland courtesy of a first-half goal from Ally McCoist.
They qualified for the 2020 European Championship as one of the host nations, but finished their group with just one point.
Steve Clarke’s side will be hoping for a better result this time around, but kick off the tournament with arguably their most difficult match.
Scotland are hoping to cause an upset against Germany
REUTERS
Hosts Germany have disappointed in their last three major tournaments, failing to get out of the group stage in two consecutive World Cups.
But the national team has undergone major changes in recent years with Julian Nagelsmann leading them into the next generation.
Young stars such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are seen as the future of the German team and crucial to their hopes at this summer’s Euros.
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Steve Clarke’s side kick off their Euros against Germany
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Germany will be seen as the favourites for the game against Scotland, but Nagelsmann isn’t taking anything lightly.
“Scotland are a team that doesn’t have world-class stars but that makes them very dangerous,” he said.
“They work very hard and have a classic Scottish mentality. They’ve had an incredible development. They’re not a kick-and-rush team.
“When you watched Scotland a few years ago it was balls in the air and fighting for the seconds, now they are capable in every department.
“They can counterattack and have a good build-up game, they have effective pressing moments but can defend compactly. They are in a good way and it’s because of the brilliant job of my colleague.”