This World Cup keeps getting better!
Just as 28 teams have packed up and headed home from Russia, after their World Cup stints, so have many pundits.
It has a been a fun summer interacting with you guys. Another season starting so I will see you guys again next summer! 😉 Let’s pray for a great season ahead of us. Love you all ❤️🙏🏻 #peace & #health
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) July 6, 2018
Back from a brilliant 4 weeks with the @talkSPORT team in Russia. Proud to have played a small part in the coverage of the World Cup and want to with the rest of the team all the very best for the last week.
— Matt Holland (@mattholland8) July 9, 2018
Jermain Jenas has headed back home but says he will return to Russia IF England get past Croatia to reach the final.
Former Manchester United and Uruguay forward Diego Forlan is setting off too, but got to meet another football legend before he boarded his flight.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk79rjFAlby/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=uyf4drqv8rhy
The appearance of former USA Women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo on RTE’s World Cup coverage definitely drew interest and many viewers praised her analysis and openness of opinions.
Solo was only booked in for a brief visit so Irish TV viewers will have to settle for the more than apt offerings from the likes of Eamon Dunphy, Damien Duff, Richie Sadlier & Co.
Roy Keane has been one of the stars of the World Cup, from a punditry perspective, and most of us were hopefully looking forward to seeing his take on England’s #ItsComingHome pandemonium.
The former Manchester United and Ireland captain certainly delivered for ITV during the tournament. His tense relationship with Slaven Bilic, ribbing of Gary Neville and Ian Wright, the two words he has exchanged with Lee Dixon and his brutal deconstruction of Germany’s Jerome Boateng have all been TV gold.
Keane’s appearance on ITV’s World Cup podcast – and added insight to the Saipan fiasco of 2002 – made it their most-listened to show of the tournament, to date.
Alas, it was unclear if Keane will not be on the station for the World Cup semis, the 3rd/4th place play-off or Sunday’s final in Moscow. ITV had booked the Ireland assistant boss in for the first couple of weeks but he was not about for the last few games and folks were starting to panic.
If England reach the final, just imagine Gaz Neville, Wrighty and Lee Dixon partying it up without someone to give them a dose of reality.
Good news, however!
An ITV spokesperson has confirmed that Keane will join the lads, and host Mark Pougatch, for the last four encounter between England and Croatia on Wednesday evening.
The BBC, meanwhile, will have the company of Jurgen Klinsmann in studio for the finalé. He will join host Gary Lineker and former England stars Rio Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.
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