Answer to some of your questions
- 13 Jun 06, 10:51 AM
BERLIN - Today is a bonkers day as all three games are live on 成人快手 One.
But I wanted to answer some of your questions about our coverage, including some feedback on the camera positions, so here goes:
Greg Scutt
Q: The coverage of England's opening world cup match was spoilt by bad camera work.
The game lacked atmosphere as the picture was too far away. You couldn't see any detail, as the camera used for most of the game was from a camera that seemed to be positioned at the highest point of the stadium.
I appreciate the 成人快手 aren't doing the camara work but can you PLEASE have a chat with the German TV company and get them to rectify the situation before the next England match on Thursday. Thanks
A: What constitutes optimal football coverage does vary around the world, and as Greg says, the 成人快手 are not in charge of the match cameras at the World Cup. However, we also felt that the coverage of England's opening game was too wide for our tastes, and have said so to the host broadcasters. Many of the gantries in what are magnificent stadia here in Germany are in high positions, and this sometimes exacerbates the problem
Chris Bergin, Hastings
Q: Why does the information bar (time and score) at the top left of my screen look so small? Is it my telly (26")?
A: Fifa stipulates a maximum pixel height for the clocks used by broadcasters during match coverage, and we are contractually obliged to adhere to their regulations.
Debbie Browne
Q: Could you please tell me if you will be re-broadcasting the opening titles of World Cup Match of the Day which was shown on Saturday 10 June at 12.40. I am an English teacher and I would like to be able to use this piece of footage to inspire my reluctant boys to engage with poetry. It was a fabulous piece of TV - made me stop in my tracks!
We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our Shakespearean opening. I'm afraid we won't be repeating the item, but we are considering using John of Gaunt's "This sceptred isle, this England" speech from Richard II as the opening for a later England game.
Dave Nelson, Blackpool
Q: How are you getting the shot from your Berlin Studio, of the Brandenburg Gate, are you doing the broadcasts from the roof of a hotel or have you built an outside studio.
It's a nice and clever backdrop.
A: We're very pleased that you like our studio location. We've hired the top floor of the Art Academy which overlooks the Brandenburg Gate and built a studio on their top-floor balcony. Our colleagues from 成人快手 News are on the floor below. During the course of the tournament, we will try to explain more about the building we're in, and the backdrop, which also features the Reichstag amongst other landmarks beyond the Gate.
Dave, Leamington Spa
Q: Why isn't Barry Davies commentating on the World Cup?
A: Barry left Match of the Day in the autumn of 2004 after a long and distinguished career with Match of the Day. He commentated on the figure skating for the 成人快手 at the Winter Olympics earlier this year, and will, we hope make occasional future appearances with us. You may have heard his wonderful description of Dennis Bergkamp's goal against Argentina during our Dutch opening sequence yesterday. A perfect example of how a commentary can enhance a great sporting moment.
Dave J, Durham
Can you please tell me what the closing music is at the end of each program and is it available.
A: The theme is "Sports Prepare", based on an extract of Handel's Judas Macabaeus, arranged by Carl Davis and recorded by the 成人快手 Orchestra and Singers. We get a lot of questions about music used in our coverage and my fellow blogger Paul Atherton, who runs the Match of the Day website year-round, oversees a page where you can
Neil Clarke, Worcester
Q: Why are the highlights shown on the late show so short. Surely with only 2-3 games a day it would be possible to show more than what feels like 5-10mins of highlights of each game.
A: This is a tricky one in that given that the shows are on late, many people will have seen most, or all, of the action earlier. We've tried to create a show which reflects the action, provides fresh analysis and features and some lighter moments. A little like the MOTD2 show we put together on a Sunday night during the Premiership season. Sorry if you're not entirely happy with the balance we've struck.
UPDATE: Comments on this post are now closed. Thanks for all your observations and we'll try and get some answers to some of the outstanding questions. Thanks, Claire S, blog editor.
Comments Post your comment
Nothing to do with 2006, but does anyone remember why England v Uruguay in 1966 had a delayed kick off. There is money riding on this answer.
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Just wanted to say great coverage of the World cup by 成人快手, keep it up !!!
Pity you couldnt show all the matches.
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I like the quick highlights show, much better than a certain advertising channel.
成人快手 have the best commentators and pundits, and have at least 7 minutes extra at half time than a certain advertising channel.
That is a stupid rule about the score being a certain height. I myself do not like wearing my glasses when watching football, and unless watching from the start I am finding myself needing to find out the score. But that is not in your control.
I like the new graphics. Will this be the same for the new Premiership & FA Cup's next season?
Cannot wait till the 19th, when I can watch 成人快手 HD! :)
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Alistair,
England v. Uruguay was delayed because some of the England players forgot to bring there ID passes to the match and a policeman had to be sent back to the hotel to get them. I hope this doesn't make you any poorer!
Also I am very much enjoying the bbc coverage too!
Owen
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Why do there seem to be so few replays in the coverage? Time and time again I find myself questioning a decision and wanting to see it again and then all I get is a close up of an obscure player's face. Do the Germans not bother with that kind of coverage?
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The 1966 opening match between England and Uruguay was delayed as seven English players had left their identity cards at the hotel. A police motor cyclist was dispatched to collect the identity cards from the hotel.
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The 成人快手 have come up trumps once again with every aspect of production on World Cup match of the day. Anyway, my question is a strange one. The fonts for the scores that pop up at half and full time or whenever a goal is scored or at occassional intervals during the game are really quite huge! The font style is very tall but I think it really does work brilliantly, and is something I certainly haven't seen anywhere before in football coverage. Any insight on the decision process of these on screen graphics?
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As much as I love the professional coverage of the games and analysis, I think it such a shame that commentators like John Motson only seem to get excited once the shot has come in or the ball's actually in the back of the net; rather than when the ball's around the pentalty area which is when I get excited! It's always been the same and I'm pleased that your interactive service includes the radio commentary as well which is so much better,despite some dodgy pundits!!
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I have a freeview box and have been disappointed to find that audio options have been limited to just the 成人快手 TV commentary in the earlier matches. Only yesterday did we see the audio options included so viewers could listen to Radio 5's excellent commnetators.
On another point, the use of Your Shout and game highlights on the interactive channel is a waste of that channel. I enjoyed Steve Claridge's ramblings in Euro 2004
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Can you tell me if the 成人快手 are advertising by stealth. Every time the score board pops up we see an advert for "Philips" or "Toshiba". Surely this is a form of advertising?
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A further query to Greg Scutt's camera query. Surely German TV must have cameras with a zoom function, or is the picture determined solely by the distance from the pitch ?
Hopefully it will be better for the Trindad game.
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Whay do the pop up score board advertise "Philips" and "Toshiba". Are they 成人快手 graphics? If so is this advertising by stealth?
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Given all the choice available with digital tv such as player cam etc why do we have to have the time and the score on the picture. If you are watching it you know the score and the time. Why can't there be an option to delete this but also to show it as required. I like a clean screen to watch the games and so do many of my friends. At least you can get rid of the audio choice.
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In that case, why are the score and time added on captions at the bottom of the screen so big? They obscure too much of the screen.
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Is there any 成人快手 coverage shown else where round the world? I live in New Zealand and desperately miss the pre and post match comments and debate as well as the actual match commentary.
I was forced to watch the England game with the commentator mistaking Paraguay for Columbia throughout the second half. A red card offence!
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You say on Freeview that, come Wimbledon, Freeview will not be showing all the 成人快手's World Cup digital offer. This seems wrong. The 成人快手 are showing the World Cup because of the agreement to keep certain events exclusive to terrestrial television. To then restrict availability of the complete offer to satellite viewers would seem to be going entirely against the agreement. Either the 成人快手 are in breach of contract or are being derelict in their duty, or in breach of the Charter, or all three.
More generously, perhaps, 成人快手 Sport has bitten off more than it can chew.
Before talking to media and political acquaintances about this subject, I'd welcome your explanation.
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If the height of the clock is stipulated by FIFA, then why can i read the clock on the coverage on ITV and on the 成人快手 its tiny?
Maybe you should use a different font? The numbers just seem so fat, its difficult to tell some apart (6,8,3 all look exceptionally similar from more than 10feet away from the screen).
Otherwise the coverage has been excellent. The best as ever!
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Great coverage, except for the far away camera, (not your fault I know), slick and classy presentation. I love the way Motty still sounds like and excited 10 year old when a moment of skill or drama occurs! The tabloid style commentary from ITV is frankly embarrising. Honestly, sniggering over a Japanese player's name several times, going on about footballers wives and advertising programmes to follow? Pathetic!...and Andy Gray?...don't get me started!
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I was shocked to see how biased the panel of pundits were on last night's game Italy vs Ghana.
They had nothing positive to say about Italy and throughout the game John Motson had in my opinion a very blinkered and prejudiced view of it.
The worst though was Marcel Desailly's pre-match comments about corruption in the Italian game/stereotyping latin cultures. It showed me what an ungrateful man he actually is, Italy is a country where he perfected his skills, well-respected and handsomely rewarded.
Living in the UK (and TV licence payer) having to watch football on UK TV, I hope for more well-balanced opinions next time and would like to 成人快手 to also include pro-italian pundits as well as the usual cynical anti-italian pundits.
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I would also like to add that I am not happy with the current tv broadcast from Germany 2006. The replays are badly timed and the real action in the game is not followed.
Hopefully we will do better in 2010.
South Africa
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Just a quicky to say I very much enjoyed your coverage of Italy versus Ghana last night. I am not a football fan who usually watches the mid and post match discussions from your 'team'; often finding the comments weak, lacking the true critical bite that every fan shouts at his tv around the world. I am emailing to say how refreshing it was to hear Martin O'Neill's frank and honest reaction to the matches highlights. He is truly the leading light in British football whether it be in management or punditery. Excellent. I watched your coverage right through to the credits just to see what he would say next.
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成人快手 has so far won hands down against ITV for the coverage so far - notwithstanding the appalling camera positioning of the German TV company.
My only complaint is the input from Ian Wright - nothing constructive from the man whatsoever.
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Reg. Angles in the Frankfurt stadium:
As a Frankfurt local I quite often go to watch Eintracht Frankfurt play at CommerzbankArena. And unless it's as sunny as it is at the moment, there are no problems with that giant spider shadow.
However, watching the matches I've seen at the stadium back home on TV I realize that the angle is unusually wide and the lawn seems to be unusually far away. Since this doesn't happen in other stadiums I suppose it must have something to do with the way they reconstructed the arena...
So the angle thing shouldn't happen at your matches in Nuremberg and Cologne.
But for those of you who had been to Frankfurt last weekend: Beer mugs in Cologne aren't even half that size! ;-)
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Just like to say superb coverage from the 成人快手 again - by far the best on tv, shame you cant show all the matches cos ITV dont have a clue!! it really feels like the world cup has arrived when i see martin o neill and hansen arguing - love it. also great theme music this year, gets the hairs standing up on back of my neck - the world cup deserves a dramatic classical theme tune like in france 98 (not 2002 with that tiresome basement jaxx track). looking forward to more cracking punditry from the beeb boys
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In reply as to why England had their kick off delayed against Uraguay:
Seven of the England team had left their identity cards behind at the hotel,(this was to stop teams fielding illeigible players) Harold Stephenson (trainer) had forgot to check the players had brought them. The Hungarian refeeree, Zsolt would not let them on to the field of play. The team had to send a motorcyclist with police escort to get the id cards, thats why the game was delayed
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just to say this blog is great, enlightening and providing depth to the whole thing. Knowing why the 成人快手 makes certain decisions in regards to segments, and settings, really helps the atmosphere of the whole thing for me. And like 9/10 people I much prefer the 成人快手's coverage.
One question though, why do you devote more air time to pre-match preview and predictions, rather than post game analysis? I understand you put in extra features, but these could just as easily be shown after, or put aside to allow more indepth discussion of the game if, as I generally feel is, needed.
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CAMERAS
I actually prefer and applaud the use of the wider shot. The TV camera work in Germany is not perfect, but the startegy of the wide shot is FANTASTIC for those who appreciate the tactical and positional side of the game.
I implore the 成人快手 to reconsider their use of close up shots, saving them only for replays.
The wide shot allows me to see the movements of players off the ball, not see their nose hairs!
It gives a far better appreciation of the game, and tactics and of how good or badly a team is playing.
I want to be able to try and predict where a player should pass the ball to, I want to see the attacker running into space in support of the player on the ball, and then scream pass the ball.
I want to see where a player may pass the ball. It really irritates me when a producer has a close up of a player, who passes the ball out of the screen, if you know what I mean, and we then have to wait for the next camera shot to see where the ball has gone. I hate that.
In Britian, the TV producers seem to think we want to see just a picture of the player on the ball. I don't!
When I go to watch a match, I don't take a pair of binoculars with me.
When I watch a TV game, I want it to be shown as if I was sitting in the stadium with a global viewpoint of the pitch.
The picture was poor for the first England game due to the awful architecture of the satdium with all those wires supporting the video screens suspended above the pitch. A horrendous idea.
It baffles me why there is a need for TV screens at a football match.
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To Alistair:
The match referee, the Hungarian Istvan Zsolt, asked to check the FIFA identity cards of all the England players; unfortunately seven had left them in the hotel! Read the whole story in the URL above (https://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3341-2104786,00.html)
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I am a disgruntled viewer, who lives in scotland and pays the same fee for a tv licence as every other subscriber in England, Wales and N. Ireland.
would it be possible for the panel of so called experts manage to comment on a game that doesn't involve En-ger-Land, and stick to the game their watching,their will be plenty of chance to talk about england without resorting to every spare moment. If these so called experts did a bit of research about the teams they were watching, maybe we wouldn't have to listen to this endless drizzle!!
These people and the endless media coverage of useless information of i.e. rooney going for a walk, or rooney buying a coke, we want to see rooney & co 2, but the persistant coverage during every single game is a major turn off for non-english brits, sort it out!!!
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Always a pleasure to hear the likes of Hanson and O'Neil doing the match analysis.
Why does Strachan have to talk with a hand covering his face most of the time though? Give him a bit of coaching please.
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The England v Uruguay kick-off was delayed because around half-a-dozen English players didn't have their identification papers. A police official was able to retrieve them from the team's hotel and the game could proceed.
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Readers might be interested to know that the camera positions and in some cases extremely wide angle shots have been criticised on German television too. This is not in fact typical of German football coverage in general and probably has something to do with the fact that, whilst the German broadcasters are ultimately responsible for the video transmission, FIFA also has a certain amount of control over the video production. As has already correctly been pointed out several times, foreign broadcasters can of course only transmit what they are given and this isn't going to suit all tastes.
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Where is Graeme Le Saux?
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the bbc coverage has been excellent, i am ver impressed. could somebody on the bbc team please ensure Lee Dixon doesnt forget to wear his "the crown inn, goostrey" tee shirt for one of the games as promised, he'll understand. keep up the good work, itv dont stand a chance!
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Regarding the "far away picture": The whole event is produced in high-definition TV, and that's why the cameras frame the action that wide - with a HD screen the pictures do look marvellous (though I think the kit is still far too expensive).
And another thing: The organisation responsible for the production is called Host Broadcast Services (www.hostbroadcastservices.com) and they have a pool of 6 directors (2 german, 2 french, 2 british) - so it's not exactly "german tv" blundering here...
just my 2c. great games so far!
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In response to comments about advertising for Philips and Toshiba below the score on screen - the 成人快手 doesn't have any control over sponsorship advertising on screen as this is part of the video delivered to them. It's the same with all major sporting events.
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Why employ Leonardo as a pundit? His command of English is fairly basic. He was a good player and is obviously a bright man, but there's no point having an intelligent former Brazil player on the show if he can't say much more that "Uh... they play good because they are compact". Also, am I the only person who has a sneaking suspicion that he can't actually understand anything that Alan Shearer and Gordon Strachan are saying?
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Not sure if ive got this 100% correct - but it would SEEM that both channels dont report, refer to or show clips from the games they are not showing?
Seems a little churlish that they cant take the impartial view and just report on ALL the days news rather than just the matches being shown on their own channel?!
Im not suggesting they plug the other channels broadcasts but just simply state the facts ie that another result was X, or later today is Y, or that X versus Y is underway and the current score is blah"
PS
Apart from this, Definately the 成人快手 are out doing ITV...the Beebs production, reports, analysis, guests etc make the other lot look paper thin in comparison IMO.
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I agree with the earlier comment about Ian Wright.
He is bitter, cynical and inarticulate. He consistently knocks Sven, but has absolutely nothing constructive to offer.
I assume the thinking behind including Wrighty as pundit is that he is supposed to be enthusiastic and optimistic about England's chances (as he has been at previous tournaments).
Unfortunately, it has not turned out this way. We can guess that Wrighty's change of heart has something to do with Sven leaving SWP out the World Cup squad, but - either way - he is doing a very poor job as a pundit and I could really do without him.
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Slightly unrelated, but I wanted to echo the comment above me.
The coverage of this years World Cup has been excellent; especially the match highlights and live matches broadcast on the internet for those of us unable to watch the later MOTD program.
Regarding the wide angle of the cameras during the opening England match, i was a little disappointed during the opening few minutes. However it was nice to watch the off-the-ball movement which is usually hidden.
Keep up the good work!
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Why employ Leonardo as a pundit? His command of English is fairly basic. He was a good player and is obviously a bright man, but there's no point having an intelligent former Brazil player on the show if he can't say much more that "Uh... they play good because they are compact". Also, am I the only person who has a sneaking suspicion that he can't actually understand anything that Alan Shearer and Gordon Strachan are saying?
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Just to say that i have Sky Hd and the 成人快手 coverage is nothing short of outstounding.
Do you have any plans for DD 5.1 surround on any of the matches.
Alan Hanson looks like a robot in Hd due to the extra detail you can see the make up on his face.
Regards
Dean
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Have to agree with Kevin that the 成人快手 coverage has been excellent and is a shame we have to watch the next few England games on ITV!
Is it just me, or are the microphones on the faces of the presenters on ITV just ridiculous?
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The 1966 World Cup final was delayed as there were no corner flags out before the game started....believe it or not!
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Message for Paul Armstrong: re Debbie Browne's question above and using Shakespeare - be very wary of that 'sceptred isle' speech. Gaunt is predicting national disaster brought on by impetuous youth! The speech ends:
'That England, that was wont to conquer others,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.
Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life,
How happy then were my ensuing death!'
Perhaps you should save it for when/if the team crashes out?...
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Thank God for 成人快手 interactive. You can listen to 5 Live commentary instead of the babbling of Motty. Its time to go Motty.
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Hi The coverage of the world cup has been very good and i think that the 成人快手 and other uk channels can learn from this experience.
The wide aspect of the camera has its values ie greater depth in positional play ,but the commentary
dB level is often insufficient relative to the crowd noise levels
this has been a continuing issue with UK presentations (ps 成人快手 have not responded to my critism in the past) and seriously affects the quality of a most essential element of verbally communicating with the audiance ---Possible solution Control this balance of noise levels primarily to provide a clear commentary and maintain the atmosphere of the background noise.
ps If currently not feasiable Put the commentator in a air condition booth and then maintain a suitble balance for the veiwing public.
Regards Doug
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I'm loving the 成人快手 world cup coverage! The fact that I can access snippets, highlights, facts, gossip from the website, blogs, interactive TV adds to the occasion. Great stuff! The pundits are all great to watch, I enjoyed watching Marcel Desailly talk about Italian footballs problems, his opening summary of Italy was indeed first class.
My only complaint so far, which has already been aired is re the broadcast graphics.
The new design is fresh, ambitious and brave as I can see you have tried to break away from the standard football info graphic mould which I appreciate. However I have four issues, which I am sure you are aware of by now:
1) The info bar text is too small
2) The triangles representing the team colours does not serve is purpose strongly, it is rather confusing, when a team is blue, the triangle is almost invisible. I preferred what was done for the premiership/FA Cup coverage. Triangles can be mistaken as arrows, communicating direction
3) On the team line up graphic, the green goalkeeping icon is almost invisible, clashing with the colour of the pitch graphic.
4) The pitch graphic when static with the team line up on top, is unnecessary, as there is already a real pitch behind, and the goal posts appear to be too thick in proportion.
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In your response to the answer to Neil Clarke's question about short highlights, you say "many people will have seen most, or all, of the action earlier".
Well I'm sure though that many more people will not have seen 2 out of 3 matches as we have to go to work.
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Can you please tell me why you have chosen Mark Lawerenson to commentate on the football? What are the credentials of a top 成人快手 commentator like Mottie??
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When watching interactive is it possible to remove the 'highlights and audio'from the screen there is already the score,clock and menu buttons options shown.
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成人快手 coverage of the World Cup is, as ever, excellent. Better than other well-known UK channels.
I enjoy the banter between the pundits and listening to the different styles of commentating from the various commentators. It is particularly good to see pundits of non UK nationalitity.
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When watching interactive is it possible to remove the 'highlights and audio'from the screen there is already the score,clock and menu buttons options shown.
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Im a scotland fan and I would just like to wish England all the best in the world cup. i feel that alot of the animosity towards the England squads chances are provoked by the bias of the commentators and the pundits. I have watched coverage on both channels providing world cup coverage and i must say that i have turned the volume down less on 成人快手 than i did on the alternative channel.
Peice of advice for the commentators and pundits, if you want the Scots to get behind the English, stop mentioning 1966 and look at neutral games as they are NEUTRAL.
Again tho best of luck to the England boys
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The '66 opening game between England and Uruguay was delayed because 7 England players left their ID cards back at the hotel and were refused admission to the ground.
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Has anyone else noticed that us viewers seem to know information about bookings/extra time (from graphics popping up on screen) a fair amount of time before the commentators know and comment on it?
Great coverage 成人快手 by the way.
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Why are the England matches not hosted in one of the biggest stadiums? Also why are the bbc complaining about the black market when there wasnt enough tickets made available ?
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A bit disapointed at half time when watching the action of australia v japan, you showed the goals but no replays of the goals..you blinked and missed it! I understand that time is short and a balance must be kept but one reply per goal is not alot.
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I'm sure there are far less random shots of beautiful women in the crowd.
Is this a fifa ruling to stop being sexist?!
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@ Alistair
7 English players left their identity cards at the hotel. Policeman on bike was despatched to collect them!
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After watching Englands opening match, i coulnt help but wonder why at time, i couldnt see the ball on the pitch. It may have been due to the massive screen in the middle of the pitch. I remember at one point the bazll hitting it, can you advise
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Just to say good overall coverage, and as usual, hands down winner over ITV. Although some of the punditry is a bit dire, especially from Ian Wright. It's a wonder why he's on the panel in the first place, his views aren't constructive, but bordering on jingoism. And he said he only cares about England, fair enough but why have him on other games not featuring England games. My only other complaint is the snide comments and disrespect of the other nations, such as the comments about the Mexico v Iran game.
Other than that, it's been a good tournament so far.
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In response to Craig's question above regarding the whereabouts of Grahame LeSaux.
In an interview with The Mail On Sunday - it was stated that due to a contractural dispute, LeSaux had left the 成人快手. This is a shame, as his comments were always insightful, unbiased, relevant and constructive, all of which completely pass Ian Wright by.
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Great coverage from the 成人快手 (and dare I say, your rivals too, British TV is the best). The 成人快手 pundit team are excellent in the way that they both analysis the game, and actually discuss, and at times disagree :-), amongst themselves. Gary Linekar is the king.
Its a shame that the German host broadcasters use such wide shots, but this is common - watch Bundesliga and German home Champions League games for prove.
Also, I am only a little disappointed that I haven't been able to listen to commentary from the countries competing in a game on the audio option as promised - I have satellite, so this is a shame. Not that the 成人快手 commentary isn't excellent, its great as ever!
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In 1938 there's a famous picture where England and the opposing team (russia!!) are doing a Nazi salute. Why was that so?
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The MOTD highlights are doing my head in. NOT enough time is dedicated to the games, there is too much over-reliance on punditry & fluff.
I ONLY tune it too watch football and see what action I have missed during the day, I dont really care about what Gordon Strachan or the gang think. I can figure out the basics myself.
Please.....more football action, less chit-chat.
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I can't say I'm enjoying the highlights shows. The location just doesn't work for me. MOTD2 was always a quirky look at the weekend's matches that teetered on the edge, but it's gone over the edge with Celia Hinchcliffe's location profiles. So they eat sausages and drink beer - so what?! Ian Dowie doesn't have the insight and Strachan tries to hard to be "funny".
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Marcel Desailly was very good and hopefully he will be on the panel for the France game. He came across as a natural and made some interesting points.
Leonardo was okay, but the language barrier appeared to be a problem. I wonder if he could understand anything Gordon Strachan was saying?
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Hi just like to say what a great world cup its been so far and I can't wait to see Brazil play Croatia tonight! Note for Mr. Erikkson and the England lads - This may be your last chance to prove to the world how how good you really are - C'Mon England!!
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What is the triangle and square graphic for on the top left scoreline? It seems to be the main colour of the team, but why a big triangle for one team?
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Simon Brotherton and Guy Mowbray are the beebs best football commentators, i do hope they get more live matches rather then the inane ramblings of Jonathan Pearce.
The standard of bbc commentators is getting worse. Mark Lawrenson please someone tell him his not funny.
Gary Lineker a hero of mine was most patronising on sunday about Mexico Iran. Gary its the world cup Mexico v Iran Togo v South Korea make it the competition it is.
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Ian Wright
He should be taken off the panel immediately. His comments, or the lack of them during the Mexican v Iran game were disgraceful!
He was basicially uninterested in these teams, and stated quote "I'm only here for England".
How can the 成人快手, a professional organisation employ someone who is obviously so bias? I don't mind a 'pundit' showing an allegience to their country, but to the detriment of others is not right.
Also his immature references to Serbia and Montenegro as 'S & M' whilst giggling like a 5 year old schoolboy were pathetic!
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I agree with everyone -- the 成人快手's coverage has been brilliant and far better than ITV's, which has been weird and uneven.
I actually like Ian Wright's commentary. Yep, he's pretty critical of Sven, but then so are many people and it is refreshing to hear someone speak bluntly.
As for M Hammond's post, I'll be pretty impressed with this message board and the 成人快手 if I see any evidence Thursday that his suggestions were actually passed on to the team's management! I'd certainly prefer to see Carragher in the starting XI.
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i never thought I'd live to see the day where I recommended a Murdoch product, but Sky+ is a world cup godsend. While I'm stuck at work its busy taping all the matchs for me, and of course it lets me "replay" whenever I like. My advice is, if you love your footie get Sky+ or a similar tv recorder
And NO, I dont work for sky ;-)
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Is there any chance that the big screen in Canary Wharf will show games again. It is difficult to see the 2pm and 5pm games. Please reconsider, if only to show games during the week as the population of canary wharf is some what different during the week then at the weekend
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I think that the bbc are doing a great job of coverage for the world cup this year. Its a shame that u cant do live games during the premiership season. Does any one know who has got coverage for the final? Cheers
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The high definition pictures on 成人快手 HD have been nothing short of stunning, thanks for the excellent coverage so far.
As someone else said, would it be possible to have the games in 5.1 sound as I believe this is available from the host broadcaster?
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Match of the Day needs some appropriate music to capture the occasion, a Nessun Dorma for Germany. I suggest Siegfried's Funeral Music from Gotterdammerung by Wagner. It has a germanic feeling of great powers meeting for a date with destiny, the clash of heroes and gods, the moment which decides victory or tragedy.
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As an Ireland supporter, I'm still coming to terms with not being at this event. As regards coverage of the World Cup, IMO the best, UNBIASED, and most informative commentary and analysis goes to RTE, The Irish National television company. They examine the game they are watching at that time and don't waffle on needlessly about Eng-er-Land and their chances of winning/losing.
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I am sorry to say this but John Motson has had his day. He is making a fool of himself in every game and it's a shame.
Take yesterday's game, Italy against Ghana. He spent a few seconds not speaking because he didn't know who any of the Ghana players were. At one point he thought Ghana should of had a penalty and Mark Lawrenson just laughed at him.
He is so always biased to one side when he commentates and ends up saying stupid things.
I have done a little of my own market research and everyone unfortunately agrees with me.
Sorry John, but please make Jonathan Pearce the flagship commentator.
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Can't agree enough about the criticism of Ian Wright - and as an Arsenal fan, it pains me to say it. It's as if he's only there so the 成人快手 can cut to him when (and if) England score a goal and we can watch him prancing around the studio. Please don't employ him as a pundit again.
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I've managed to watch all of the Highlights packages on match of the Day so far, lucky me. In each case I've wondered why the games are cut to less than 10 minutes each, surely there's time for longer.
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Just adding another voice to comment that whilst FIFA might stipulate a maximum height for the scores, if the 成人快手 must follow it then surely ITV must too. Yet I can read ITV's time and score without any difficulty, whilst the 成人快手 is a real struggle. I know that it's probably too late to change it for this tournament, but if you could keep it in mind for the future it would be great.
Fortunately this is the only aspect where ITV are surpassing the 成人快手.
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I have to disagree with a lot of the comments on this board.
I think the coverage has been poor. John Motson has to be the worst commentator ever with his useless facts that he contrives to get in. The only thing worse that John Motson is the absolutely awful Mark Lawrenson who adds nothing to the are of punditry apart from how not to do it
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Is it really necessary for the 成人快手 to have quite so many pundits on their books at this World Cup?
Most of them seem to be unable to make any really insightful comments about the matches they are watching.
Instead it seems as though they are smugly enjoying what is little more than a glorified junket at the 成人快手 licence-payer's expense!
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To remove the 'audio' interactive prompt from your TV screen, simply press 'back up' on your remote control (or its equivalent button).
This will remove the prompt everytime it appears - on any channel.
Unfortunately, you have to do this each time it reappears.
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Thank God for the Beeb! If we were forced to watch certain advertising channels for all the coverage I would have gone insane by now.
Top coverage, top presenters...total quality! Great job.
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I would also request that more replays be shown by our German hosts. It seems to me that British broadcasters are way ahead of their foreign counterparts. And the shadows on the pitch? Do they not have the knowledge to reduce the contrast much like we can over here.
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I entirely agree with the comments in relation to Ian Wright.
As a fervent Arsenal fan, one cannot but admire his on-field achievements, however it beggars belief that 成人快手 choose to employ him as a so-called pundit when he doesn't even have the sense to understand that S & M refers to a certain nation as opposed to something quite different.
Moreover, it is surely very telling that Gary Lineker anticipated this would be the case when deliberately and mischievously directing a question about S & M to Ian Wright as opposed to another of the Panel.
Lee Dixon, Graeme Le Saux or a huge number of others would surely constitute a far better choice than Ian Wright.
It is a pity that this detracts from an otherwise consistently excellent production.
I would add, finally, that (as someone else has observed) Martin O'Neill is simply excellent, as insightful and instructive as any "pundit" I have ever heard.
If only he were England manager.......!!
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Marcel Desailly was good before and after the Italy - Ghana game last night but O'Niell's put-down was an outrage... 'I don't care what you think, I don't care if you've won the world cup, ...' The rest of the team were visibly uncomfortable. Faced with only two possible options; go quiet or punch O'Niell's lights out, Desailly thankfully took the gentleman's approach (I would have gone for punching his lights out personally). I hope that Lineker or Hansen had the grace to apologise on O'Niell's behalf - I'm sure he wouldn't apologise himself.
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My main complaint about the 成人快手's coverage so far is Ian Wright. I was amazed at his comment at full time after the Holland game when he said that he was only interested in England and refused to add his thoughts on any other team at the World Cup. So how can the 成人快手 justify having him as a pundit for other matches not involving England?
The 成人快手 appear to believe that Ian Wright symbolises the 'average England fan' thus that is why he is employed as a pundit for England matches. But if he refuses to add constructive comments to other games like he did in the Holland v Serbia & Montenegro match then why employ him? Can we have a proper reason from the 成人快手, not just that Ian Wright is 'an important part of the 成人快手 Sport mix'
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As always 成人快手 are head and shoulders above other broadcasters with their World Cup coverage.
Particularly like the banter between Hanson and O'Neill - although O'Neill always seems like he has a huge chip on his shoulder.
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Why does John Motson use the term 'overtime' for what is actually 'injury time' or 'stoppage time'. I have heard him say this in recent matches and I find it quite annoying. Is this a word that Fifa have introduced? Or just a Motson invention?
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I notice that on my widescreen tv the clock and score during matches is off the top of my screen, wheras on the 'other' channel they are perfectly aligned.
I know I can change the aspect of my screen so that I can see this information, but then I get black bars at the sides.
Just wondered how come the other side seem to have dealt with this but the Beeb hasn't?
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just a wee note to disagree with some comments about the bbc's superiority over itv in their transmission of the world cup, the exploits of messers linaker, hansen, shearer and worse of all ian wright is a total disgrace and a waste of public money, gabby logan (good welsh girl) beats you hands down. bring back jimmy hill
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I find it amazing that commentators who are paid to comment on play, are sat in the stadium and have a TV monitor in front of them giving a close up of the action still manage to get players mixed up! It is not just the 成人快手's employees responsible, but do commentators get a telling off for this? I know I do if I don't do my job correctly.
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Was I watching a different Martin Oneil on TV last night? I'm afraid I don't find the briefest of answers, sweeping comments and, at one stage, a point blank refusal to provide any explanation as to why that was "never a penalty" particularly useful. Furthermore he comes across as being extremely self righteous and often rude. Martin Oneill may have a great footballing brain but he has poor interpersonal skills. I may be alone but I find him particularly frustrating to listen to and an extremely poor pundit. All that said he has a fantastic management portfolio but should stay off tv.
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While I could not listen to the 成人快手 Coverage, these blogs have been great for the World Cup Coverage.
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The World Cup has shown that the golden age of 成人快手 commentators is sadly well and truly over.
Motty will always be a legend of commentating but he had no idea who the players were in the Italy game. It was embarrassing.
And Jonathan Pearce is plain awful.
One bright spot though. The rarely heard Simon Brotherton on the USA Czech game. How refreshing to hear someone who doesn't prattle on non stop, mostly about themselves, as many commentators tend to do.
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re comment no 73 david boddice
the other team giving a "nazi" salute was not russia it was actually germany.
the game i believe was in berlin in front of hitler and the england team were ordered under protest to give the salute, they were so incensed they won 6-3
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I think having a go at John Motson is really unfair. Well, sort of. I've never noticed him being confused by players or not knowing what he's talking about. However, I do get really annoyed that he never gets excited unless the ball's practically in the back of the net - I get excited when their's a good break or the ball's around the penalty area and I wish he would too! It would make everything so much more interesting and exciting and stop me from swearing at him all the time! Get a bit more into it Motson!! Oh well. As for Lawrenson and Graham Taylor's TV and radio analysis - doesn't any producer listen to what they say?!! ps... bbc, why don't you show replays at half & full time in real time as well as slow mo - if I miss some of the match it's good to see the action as it actually happened!!
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Hi, can you please explain to me the time/score thing. For example, Aussies win 3 -1 over Japan, but what is the (0-1)?
eg: Australia 3 - 1 (0 - 1) Japan
thanks, chris
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O'Neill had a lot on his plate with his wife. Get off his back.
If your TV has black lines, it is your TV not the broadcasting, GET A BETTER TV THEN!
I find the coverage fine, 成人快手's silver stuff is amateur.
成人快手 is much better.
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Why does the 成人快手 not balance its coverage of the World cup equally when covering "neutral" games. I watched the Italy - Ghana game and was disgusted at the coverage. The pre match build up was obviously a hatchet job against Italian football and its current betting scandal whilst loving up the under-dog.
The choice of Pundits was ludicrous. There was a "representative" from Ghana but none from Italy. Where was Roberto di Matteo, Gianfranco Zola, Paolo di Canio, Gianluca Vialli or even Ray Wilkins? As for Desailly, what a bad choice of commentator.The way he held that trophy in the Stade de France, '98, I thought that he was French? Italian football was the best in the world whilst he was he was taking billions of Lire from Berlusconi's Milan, and now, for last night's pundit spot, he's Ghanaian? I noticed today he's French again!
Why didn't the beeb go for the real McCoy and get Abedi Pele? A true Ghanaian hero who is putting his wealth back into his roots.
The worst thing about last night's coverage was John Motson's commentary. It was so biased and derogatory against Italy, I was wondering whether he had something against Italians? Has a waiter spat in his Minestrone some time in the past? Why was he so negative, despite the action unfolding before his very eyes? So what if the Italians did refer to "type" (not so PC for the 成人快手), didn't "type" get them to the finals in 94' quater finals in 98 and a great final in Euro 2000?
I can understand the partisan support when England are playing, it is after all the 成人快手 and England's God-given right not only to win the world cup but to give it away to Brazil; but please Mr Motson, try and be objective... there are a lot of us Anglo Italians paying for your sheepskin coat.
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Hi do you have pictures of the ibc and your berlin studio. Thanks.
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I can echo the praise about the quality of the HD pictures, they are absolutely superb but I would add that you don't need to get you receiver from Sky.
Advantages to getting a non-Sky box include no subscription at all saving you around 拢30 a month and no annoying interactive prompt to get rid of.
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Re: Comment 115, the time/score thing.
Chris, The score in brackets refers to the score at half time.
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Re: 120
Is 成人快手 HD available via Sky's Free-sat service
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Do the 成人快手 think maybe that the descision to have the MOTD studio out in the open air was a bit of a mistake?
the constant shouts and chanting from the fans below detracts somewhat from the experience!
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Could the World cup editor PLEASE tell his commentators that when one team is wearing a strip of one colour, it's (for example) "in all-white" rather than "all in white".
The commentator yesterday at the USA v Czech republic game started wiith "USA all in blue, Czech republic all in white".
Well of course they're ALL in blue, or all in white, it would be rather difficult for the ref, and fans, if they all wore different colours....
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To the Italians complaining about the commentary last night, I would say that as an Italian resident and Italian TV licence payer I get incensed by the unbelievably biased commentary on RAI, which surpasses anything that English broadcasters can muster when commentating on England. I switched back to the 成人快手 when I heard outraged protests about the yellow card De Rossi received for his violent first half challenge...until the replay was shown, when it was sulkily admitted that it wasn't in fact a nice tackle.
As for ranting about Desailly's comments, please keep it in perspective and don't fall into the usual Italian trap of thinking the whole world is involved in a massive conspiracy against you.
The 成人快手 coverage is so unbelievably superior to what RAI has to offer, both in terms of pre- and post-match analysis as well as the commentary itself.
Having said that, someone tell Motty that Pirlo is pronounced "peer-low", not "purr-low".
"A pearler from Pirlo" just does not work,. John!
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Why do pundits all have to be ex-players? The majority of them including the banal Shearer and the inarticulate Wright detract from my viewing pleasure. Room should be found for an educated and eloquent journalist or supporter.
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Can anyone tell me why I was able to listen to match commentaries on the internet yesterday but today I get the message that the program cannot be broadcast for contractual reasons?
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Well maybe the complaints about the distance of the camera fit the British style of playing. Focus on individual stars and not the tactics and buildup. I guess the germans would complain about a closer angle. Different countries want different things it seems. But if the number of the player is so important for you: I guess you can see it just fine on a HDTV.
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Can you tell me what the music was for the introduction of the Italy game again Ghana (Match of the Day 12/06/06 8pm kick off) when you introduced the Italy team ?
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