Gary Lineker doesn't agree he can't be biased in his broadcasting (Image: Getty)
Former England striker Gary Lineker has defended his right to show support for his country at Euro 2024. The Match of the Day host has been accused of showing favouritism towards the national team he represented on 80 occasions - and he isn't ashamed in the slightest.
Lineker, 63, led the BBC's coverage of England's 1-0 win over Serbia in their opening fixture of Euro 2024. And it was in Gelsenkirchen that Gareth Southgate's side endured a game of two halves, starting with a spring in their step before producing a much flatter finish
Leicester City legend Lineker was only too happy to admit he and his fellow pundits perhaps got overly enthusiastic before the Three Lions' dip in that fixture. But he and co-host Micah Richards both agreed it would be asking too much to mute their emotions altogether.
"The one thing you try and get right is the tone," said Lineker on The Rest Is Football. "And when it's a performance like [the Serbia game], you wonder whether we got carried away by England's performance in the first half - I don't think we did. I think we were right [and] they played really well in the first half.
"And then you wonder whether we got the tone right at the end of the game, because we were quite critical of a lot of facets of the England game. Particularly the way they sat back in the second half - but they won. So you want to try and gauge the mood of the nation, and it's not always easy."
Richards, 35, responded by reminding listeners the pundits and retired pros are fans in their own right who inevitably want England to do well. Lineker concurred with that notion, dismissing the notion that it's unacceptable for the broadcasters to hide their allegiances altogether.
England were far from their most convincing against Serbia (Image: Getty)
"People sometimes say, 'You shouldn't be biased on the BBC,'" he continued. "But I never bought that with sport. I don't get that thing. What you've got to do as presenters and pundits, if it's your team - whether it's a club or national side - it's fine to cheer them on."
Lineker scored 48 goals for his country and is widely regarded as one of the best forwards England has produced. He's also held in high esteem at Leicester and makes little effort to hide his love for the Foxes.
Co-hosts Richards and Alan Shearer also represented England during their careers, accumulating 13 and 63 caps, respectively. One can understand why the trio would find it difficult to disguise their emotions rooting for Southgate's side at Euro 2024.
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Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer have become BBC staples (Image: Getty)
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In any case, the group may be more wary of keeping themselves in check following Sunday's underwhelming opener. England likely face a more difficult task against Denmark on Thursday, where a win would guarantee a top-two finish in Group C.
The Danes are already two points off the pace in their pool after dropping points in a 1-1 draw against Slovenia in their opening game. However, Lineker & Co. won't be ashamed to celebrate in the event their old team does make it two wins from two in Germany.
