TV Review - Sunday 20th June - Spain v Portugal

(Just to note that in the comments boxes Adam Keyte is supplying back-up reviews of other sources - 5 Live's coverage of England-Switzerland, the Claridgeonia of BBC Analysis on Holland-Czech and Eurosport's commentary on France-Croatia)

A game that, as Gary says, "was supposed to be about who would top the group, not who was going out", and there's a lot of pre-match tension in the air, Peter Schmeichel reckoning "the game will be decided on which personality player will beat people", such as starter Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the subject of a question to Gordon Strachan where he goes on about Beckham instead. "On a normal day Spain against Portugal is a big game. This is not a normal day" is Gary's excellent summation before handing to Barry and Lawro. There's a classic Davies expulsion when the Portuguese defence let an early cross they should have dealt with through, met by "goodness me!" Otherwise it's "a really staccato start" marked by uneven refereeing, one decision called by Lawro "good refereeing from Mr Frisk, just after you'd savaged him", to which Baz splutters "savaged is a bit strong - I said it was unusual!" Still, he's giving himself a "good opportunity to warm up both whistles", something he'd spotted at the kick-off, and deploring "another one looking for a free kick. And he's got it." Lawro's on language mangling form, reckoning Raul Bravo was "playing more like Juliet Bravo at the moment" against Ronaldo, who was "having a birthday down that side" meaning "they'll have to check Raul Bravo out at half time for twisted blood". Mmm. There's a classically confusing set of qualification permutations, which "will be explained if necessary. By Gary Lineker." "It's nervy, edgy, cautious - a bit like Alan Hansen on the dancefloor" quips Gary, who runs with the idea when he comments Ronaldo "would quite impress Brucie on Strictly Come Dancing". The corporation man there. "Stick with us, as it's going to get better" is his declaration, and it technically does. "Nuno Gomeshhhhh... it's all changed now!" "What a substitution!" is Lawro's one-liner, having spent the previous few minutes criticising it. Spain try and try - "it's on the roof, on the crossbar and away" - while Lawro's still ploughing an authority furrow - "if you make contact against a player now, Barry, you get a foul given against you". Raul Bravo is required to make a last ditch injury time clearance, notable mostly for Barry calling him "Real Bravo". "They need a goal from somewhere... and they're not going to get it!" Greece may have lost to Russia, whose first goal, according to Mark Bright, was fortunate as Kirichenko "has to stretch as he hasn't got any more legs to get there", but not by enough goals or whatever it was, and "it could be a noisy night in Lisbon - I'm not sure we'll get any sleep". "Portugal reign over Spain - they're on the plane" are the final words, although surely a coach would do.