sport news TV REVIEW: Channel 4 had rocky start to England coverage with odd questions ... trends now
England's dismal start to their Nations League campaign against Hungary was beamed to the public via Channel 4 on Saturday night.
The TV channel - currently British Sports Network of the Year - beat competitors ITV and Sky Sports for the right to show all the country's international matches, it was announced in April, in a first foray into men's football.
The deal will see England's games in the Nations League, European Championship qualifiers and international friendlies on free-to-air television until 2024, with all the Three Lions' previous Nations League games on Sky.
Channel 4 has done well with several high-profile events like Emma Raducanu's US Open win and the thrilling finale to last year's F1 season, and has been renowned for its strong Paralympics coverage since 2012.
And their coverage kicked off as Gareth Southgate's men were humbled 1-0 by the hosts at the Puskas Arena, with fans criticising a bizarre segment discussing Southgate's clothes, but the channel winning praise for its insightful analysis.
So below, Sportsmail has taken a look at the good, the bad, and the awful of C4's England coverage.
England's poor start to their Nations League campaign was beamed to the public on Channel 4
The Three Lions lost 1-0 against Group A3 minnows Hungary in Budapest on Saturday evening
And the free-to-air TV channel's coverage on Saturday night had some good and bad moments
THAT embarrassing Southgate segment
Where else to start? Channel 4's coverage of their first ever England international was barely five minutes old when the awkwardness levels peaked as Gareth Southgate was asked about his choice of attire on this warm Budapest evening.
The England manager's time is surely precious, particularly less than an hour before the team's opening Nations League fixture, so an opening gambit completely unrelated to the game was an odd choice at best.
'New campaign and I've seen you have appropriately come in new gear,' presenter Jules Breach joked with Southgate. 'You've gone for a full navy outfit today.' Southgate raised a wry smile but was a little unsure on quite how to respond.
'It's very hot so I don't think the jacket will be staying on... but we are looking forward to the game,' he replied, hoping that would be the end of the matter. 'It's a very different sort of atmosphere... it's been nice having all the school kids in.'
A bizarre, awkward section on manager Gareth Southgate's clothes went down badly with fans
But Breach was undeterred. She, and the rest of the Channel 4 team were clearly intent on seeing this segment through as a photo montage of Southgate's various England outfits appeared on screen and the host asked if he would be 'bringing back the waistcoat, pullover or the polka dot tie'.
'Well if that is the biggest consideration at the end of the night I'll be delighted,' Southgate said, bewildered as to whether this was actually happening.
The discomfort
