Gary Lineker ‘bans’ Micah Richards from using phrase during BBC’s Euros coverage

Gary Lineker scolded Micah Richards for suggesting football could be ‘coming home’ during the BBC’s coverage of England vs Serbia before quipping the phrase is banned.

The Three Lions were in Gelsenkirchen to start their Group C campaign on Sunday against Serbia in the final match of the day, with coverage live on the BBC. And it was during the build-up to the game that the light-hearted exchange between Lineker and Richards took place.

The duo were speaking about England fans and their perception of Gareth Southgate. Richards was of the opinion that the bold calls Southgate has made recently, including the decision to omit several high-profile names who struggled for form last season, has endeared the England manager to some fans.

“I think (a warmer reception) comes with him being bold,” Richards explained. “Leaving (Jack) Grealish at home, leaving (Marcus) Rashford (out of the squad). We all would have had Grealish in our squad. Maybe fans were thinking ‘he’s a little bit safe’.

“That’s what I would say. But he has done a brilliant job, he really has. Harmony in the squad has been brilliant, just now with this emerging talent, if we could just bring it home…”

The reference to the Baddiel and Skinner anthem from Euro 96 which England fans have adopted during major tournaments prompted Lineker to interject. The Match of the Day host joked: “Here we go… that’s banned, that’s bad luck that thing… don’t say it!”

The studio were enthused prior to the match with the selection choices made by Southgate, who picked Trent Alexander-Arnold to play in midfield with Declan Rice. Jude Bellingham was handed an advanced midfield role with Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka either side of Harry Kane.

Alan Shearer, who did co-commentary on the match, praised the England manager for selecting a positive team. He said: “He’s gone very positive. That’s what a lot of people have been shouting for, the people also were saying he had to leave players out of the squad who have been his go-to guys over the years who perhaps weren’t in form. He’s done that and he’s also named a very, very positive team.”

The former England and Newcastle striker also backed the decision to play Alexander-Arnold in midfield after another ex-England star, Wayne Rooney, said he wouldn’t trust the Liverpool star to play in the middle.

Shearer added: “There’s no doubt [it’s the right call]. What has to happen is when Trent is getting on the ball, we can’t have players coming towards the ball all the time because of his passing range. One or two also have to go over the top because he can find them, there’s no doubt about that. I’m excited by that midfield.”

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