It's ALMOST here. World Cups mean an almost-unprecedented level of live coverage for some broadcasters, which naturally leads to myriad gaffes and memorable moments. Here, we remember some of the finest TV studio moments of World Cups gone by...
Jack Charlton Wins A Fight
Before RTE struck gold with Bill and the three amigos, ITV assembled one of the great football punditry ensembles of all time. The broadcaster revolutionised the genre after England's 1966 World Cup victory made the rights for the '70 edition hot property. Brian Moore introduced proceedings as Pat Crerand, Bob McNab, Malcolm Allison and Derek Dougan squabbled and bantered, often while Allison smoked a cigar. Four years later, it got even better, with Brian Clough and Jack Charlton replacing Crerand and McNab.
Jack made an instant impact, fighting with Dougan over a supposed foul during the tournament, with a very smug Charlton backed by the majority of the viewers.
Brian Clough Answers a Caller
That same programme invited requests from viewers via postcards along with throwing open the phone lines, with Brian Clough treating one Italian caller with his unique, dismissive charm.
Martin O'Neill's Comedy Corner
MON will be back on ITV this summer, and he has carved out an odd niche for himself at previous World Cups in which he languidly insults fellow guests. Beginning with the famous chiding of Robbie Williams in 1998...
...which was followed in 2010 by this one-upmanship against Patrick Vieira and Fabio Cannavaro.
Spitting Mad
While Sky Sports are usually credited with the technological revolution in TV broadcast studios, RTE were ahead of the curve with the Microsoft Word-style, er, stylus Dunphy and Giles used to scribble on the screen. Dunphy used it to memorably superfluous effect in analysing Rudi Voller's spit at Frank Rijkaard during Italia '90, using the stylus to track the spit's trajectory, exclaiming "There it is, Bill, it’s hitting his head there. And that’s bad news for Rudi Voller and even worse news for his hairdresser!"
Pen Throwing
We couldn't not include it.
Eamon Nails His Colours
Dunphy was Roy Keane's staunchest defender during Saipan, to such an extent that he rocked up to Montrose wearing Cameroon colours ahead of Ireland's opening game against...Cameroon.
The Dunphy 'Fuck'
Iconic.
....and we just couldn't ignore Steve
Okay, it was the Euros, but the greatest TV moment of the decade starred Steve McClaren and we just couldn't resist the urge to post it again.
