One of the most unexpected results so far in this World Cup has been the goalless draw between Spain and Cape Verde, on Monday. Despite being one of the favorites to win the tournament, based on their dominating performance in the 2024 Euros, Spain was held by a determined Cape Verde side, who played far better than you’d expect from a nation ranked 67 in the FIFA rankings.
While the result itself has been the attention of discussion online, British football fans have had lots to say about ITV’s coverage of the game as well. The presentation had former Chelsea and Manchester United star Juan Mata, celebrated English coach Emma Hayes, and former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou as pundits, while Lee Dixon and Sam Matterface featured as commentators.
But fans were left disappointed during the hydration break in the first half, when Emma Hayes was seen discussing tactics on a blackboard. To most fans, this was an unnecessary and unintentional throwback to the older times, when technological limitations would have pundits manually explain tactics.
ITV coverage of this Spain game…Lee Dixon dreary, momentum graphics and Emma Hayes on a blackboard playing noughts and crosses. Please take me back to the 80s when it all made sense.
— JOHN WHITE (@Ngonge69JOHN) June 15, 2026
Some were left fuming considering the fact that someone as distinguished as Hayes was given a mere blackboard and a piece of chalk to talk about tactics, by having to draw Xs and Os to differentiate between the two teams’ players. Emma Hayes has led Chelsea Women to 7 league titles and 5 FA Cup wins, making her one of the best coaches in women’s football. She has also coached the United States women’s team to win gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
You have Emma Hayes who is a world class analyst and THIS is the tool you give her to analyse 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/JzpMxa2Rcg
— Cai Jones (@ProducerCai) June 15, 2026
Yet, the master tactician had only a blackboard to manually put up a presentation. In contrast, any modern football show has screens with videos from the matches running, and a pundit putting their point forward using standard technology. A user saw a funny side to the situation, joking about how Hayes did not at least have to shout “pause right there” every time she wanted to say something, like pundits usually have to do.
Emma Hayes doing formations with a chalkboard is actually class.
— FPL Sakho (@FPLSakho) June 15, 2026
None of this “pause right there” nonsense
ITV has spent heavily this summer to present the World Cup to viewers in the best way possible, and the British TV network had also stunned fans with the stunning location of their set in the USA, with the Brooklyn skyline visible in the background. Therefore, fans were quick to jump on the joke that they must have overspent on the set. According to reports, ITV already crossed their own World Cup viewership metrics in the very first matchday itself.
They wasted all the budget on prime waterfront property!
— Richard Speight (@Pollos_Enanos) June 15, 2026
However, not everyone was as unimpressed with the matter, as some users on X also pointed out that it must have definitely been an aesthetic choice. With the hydration breaks being only a few minutes long, it was seemingly an intentional choice to use a rudimentary style of explaining tactics and gameplans.
It's an aesthetic thing I think. Also probably meant to fit in with the fact it's only a short overview during the hydration break and not an in depth insight
— 🫃 (@joe5talin) June 15, 2026
Football is a simple sport. This does just fine.
— Albufeira Celt (@Naka1888c) June 15, 2026
Emma Hayes is also being praised for her ability to explain tactics so easily, with the manager breaking down Spain’s game plan in the first half, up until the hydration break. Hayes is slated to continue appearing on ITV presentations throughout the World Cup this summer.
