Former England forward Wayne Rooney branded the first World Cup final half-time show as "crap" during his role as a BBC pundit at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The halftime spectacle, which lasted 11 minutes, featured performances from Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, and BTS, extending the usual 15-minute break to over 27 minutes.
Rooney's Blunt Assessment
When asked by presenter Gabby Logan for his highlights of the show, Rooney, 40, replied: "I'll be honest, mine was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap. It just didn't get me going and I wanted the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat."
Reactions from Fellow Pundits
Micah Richards, who selected performances by Shakira and Burna Boy as his highlights, called Rooney "miserable" for his frank assessment. The conversation followed an advert promoting the BBC, with Logan adding: "I'll tell you what else you get on the BBC: honest reviews."
Background of the Show
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans for the show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, in March last year. The performance included Madonna being driven onto the pitch by Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, while South Korean boyband BTS also performed.
Impact on the Match
The extended halftime break, which lasted over 27 minutes, was a departure from the traditional 15-minute interval, designed to accommodate the elaborate 11-minute show. The match between Spain and Argentina was played at MetLife Stadium, with Rooney, Joe Hart, and Micah Richards providing analysis for the BBC.
