Euro 2016 TV Watch - Shearer’s audition, Waddle’s radio rant and that magical McClaren U-turn

We’re down to the final eight teams at Euro 2016, and Yahoo Sport’s Nick Metcalfe remains busy with his remote, as he catches up on television coverage of the tournament.

Shearer treats highlights show as a job audition

I wrote earlier in the tournament about how improved Alan Shearer is as a pundit. That could hardly have been better illustrated by the BBC’s highlights show following Iceland’s stunning win over England.

First, he savaged Roy Hodgson’s team - “That was the worst performance I have ever seen from an England team. We were out fought, we were out thought, we were out battled and we were totally hopeless for 90 minutes.”

Later, he treated the programme as an audition to follow Hodgson and become the next manager of the national team.

“I went to see the FA four or five years ago and I said I want it, I’ll have that job. They looked at me and they said ‘no, it’s a lack of experience’ and I said, you’ve had experienced guys, you’ve paid them an absolute fortune, I could not have done any worse.

“I’d definitely speak to them (now), I would offer them my tournament experience, even if Gareth Southgate got it, for him to take players in with experience that have been there and done it, that has to be a benefit also.”

One man in the studio was quick to distance himself from what remains one of the toughest jobs in sport.

Rio Ferdinand: “There’s not a person out there that would say no.”

Gary Lineker: “There’s one here.”

Ferdinand: “Only because you’re looking forward to wearing a pair of pants next season.”

Waddle’s radio rant a joy to behold

Monday was a good night for the BBC all round. While Glenn Hoddle tended to talk round the obvious disappointments of the England performance on ITV, Chris Waddle was in wonderfully scathing form on Radio 5 Live.

First he was shell shocked - “I just can’t work it out, I think this is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” Then he was bemused - “I would never pay to watch Iceland. I don’t rate them as a football team. But they’ve got camaraderie.” Then he was exasperated - “We’ll be building a team for Russia. Then we’ll be building a team for Qatar. Then we’ll be building a team for Timbuktu.”

But mostly he was angry - “We haven’t got leaders, they’re all pampered, they’re all just headphones. They don’t communicate on the pitch or off the pitch, that’s why we’re no good.”

You could hear the strangled laughter in the background. Truly, Waddle in full flow is something to behold. I’m surprised he’s not used on TV more.

I know this is strictly speaking a TV column, but a quick foray into the grandest medium won’t do any harm. Radio coverage on both 5 Live and talkSPORT has been commendable at this tournament.

While most seemed to focus on England’s shortcomings in Nice on Monday night, I was impressed that 5 Live presenter Mark Chapman immediately reflected the scenes of joy at the Icelandic end of the stadium. Two sides to every story and all that.

Commentators can’t resist referendum reference

There’s no doubt it has been an extraordinary week in the country. Events in politics have been turbulent to say the least.

Naturally, many sporting pundits haven’t been able to resist linking those seismic events to the dramas of Euro 2016.

Guy Mowbray made a nod to the referendum last Saturday, ahead of the second round match between Northern Ireland and Wales.

‘It’s a little bit of Britain in Europe… now, there’s a thing.’

Meanwhile, ITV man Clive Tyldesley was given the task of reflecting the sheer drama and shock of Iceland’s win over England.

“At least Marcus Rashford has brought something to the party… or a wake as it’s turning out to be,” he said with a few minutes remaining.

And as the final whistle blew, he tried to reflect the disappointment of a watching nation: “It’s another wretched night for England at a major tournament. It’s difficult to think of anything as humbling as this, certainly in living memory. This is the most abject failure I can recall.

“And the inquests might just overshadow everything else happening in the UK at the moment.”

England embarrassment a horrible result for BBC

It wasn’t only Hodgson and England fans that found Monday’s clash with Iceland such an agonising watch. Plenty at the BBC will have been distraught at the result.

It meant ITV had three of England’s four matches at the tournament, all of them in prime time. A peak audience of nearly 17 million watched on Monday night. It was the independent channel’s first exclusive England knockout game since that incredible clash with Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

The BBC would have been desperately hoping for England to book a clash with hosts France in Paris - that would undoubtedly have been a ratings humdinger this weekend.

They do have the consolation of the big match between Wales and Belgium on Friday. And they’re bound to thrash rivals ITV when the pair go head-to-head for the final.

Masterful McClaren clip delivers every time

Final word, or words this week, go to Steve McClaren.

First things first - leaving aside the simple joy of this for a minute, what sort of football fan would watch the former England manager delivering his verdict on such a big match instead of actually watching it? Lads, ladies, it’s on ITV.

However, let’s just be grateful for the service Sky Sports provides on this occasion, because it produced an absolute gem for us on Monday.

I’m sure most of you will have seen this already. But you’ll want to watch again. And again. Frankly, it’s brilliant. Take it away, Steve…