TV REVIEW: Gary Lineker looks like a dad at his first BBQ as Cesc Fabregas steals the show on BBC during England Euro 2024 coverage

The BBC played host to the coverage of England's opening game of Euro 2024The likes of Lineker, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Shearer were all involved on show LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! How Southgate made it enjoyable to play for England again 

You want punchy analysis, but crikey, the BBC's build-up involved more montages than a Rocky film.

We had an explanation of England's mostly miserable history. Another taking us through the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which at least included a touching tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson. Another on Gareth Southgate. Another on Serbia. Another on Harry Kane including an interview by Kelly Somers.

Once we got down to analysing, Cesc Fabregas provided the most insightful punditry, enough to make you think the coach with Italian side Como would be an excellent addition to managerial circuit in England someday. Great player. Great pundit. Great looking. Some folks have it all, don't they?

Micah Richards was interesting when talking tactics. Joe Hart was alert to the wayward balls flying his way in the centre circle during the warm-up but seemingly less aware of the line-ups, talking up the grand goalkeeping of Serbia's Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who was a substitute.

As for Rio Ferdinand, I'm simply relieved he did not display as much cringe-worthy behaviour as when he acted like a Real Madrid fan boy during the Champions League final.

The BBC's coverage for England's first Euro 2024 game against Serbia included a series of montages

Cesc Fabregas stole the show with his analysis, particularly when discussing Trent Alexander-Arnold

Their white-soled trainers aside, all of those pundits must have missed the memo that it was dress-down Sunday at the BBC, Gary Lineker presenting in a green knitted T-shirt.

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Go on Next's website and you'll find that item of clothing… being modelled by Lineker, who has his own fashion range with the British retailer. For only £16, you too can look like a dad at his first barbecue of the summer.

On commentary we had Guy Mowbray and Alan Shearer. The latter's co-commentary isn't bad enough to suggest the US military should blast it into the cells of Guantanamo Bay prisoners they want to break. But it isn't good enough to describe as enlightening. It's somewhere in between – still too wooden for my liking, stating the obvious on occasion, but bearable.

At half-time, Lineker had changed into a smarter linen shirt (another one of his Next numbers worth £55, it appears) as Fabregas again led the way, particularly when analysing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The BBC studio is directly in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. No green screen at MediaCityUK here. They've plumped for prime real estate in Germany's capital.

England got their campaign off to a win, with Jude Bellingham's goal the difference in a scrappy match

It was a relief that Rio Ferdinand managed not to display as much cringe-worthy behaviour as he did during the Champions League final

The ITV studio is in the same square but off to the side, and some have poked fun at how you can practically see the Beeb in their backdrop, which you suspect our licence fee overlords may see as an early win.

You've got to then consolidate that with classy coverage, and from my sofa, Fabregas was the star of the show.