England fans are expressing alarm over a perceived 'curse' as the Three Lions prepare to face Norway in the World Cup quarter-final, which will be broadcast on ITV. The match, scheduled for 10pm at Miami Stadium in the USA, has sparked concerns based on historical statistics showing England's poorer performance on ITV compared to the BBC.
Statistics Fuel 'Curse' Claims
A social media user highlighted that England's win rate on BBC (16 wins out of 25 matches) is double that on ITV (8 wins out of 24). In knockout games, England has five wins on BBC compared to just two on ITV, with each channel having broadcast seven knockout matches. The user wrote: 'The #CurseofITV still hovers over England ahead of #NORENG tonight.' They added that England has exited the last three World Cups on ITV.
A graphic shared online indicates that from 1996 onwards, England won 21 of 29 matches on BBC, but only 9 of 31 on ITV. ITV broadcasts saw 12 draws and 10 defeats, while BBC had only two draws and six defeats.
Historical Dates Add to Anxiety
Another fan pointed out that England lost the World Cup semi-final to Croatia on July 11, 2018, and the Euro 2020 final to Italy on July 11, 2021. They questioned whether July 11 would bring a third consecutive loss on this date. A reply noted that the Euro 2020 final was simulcast on both ITV and BBC, meaning England could go 0-3 live on ITV on July 11th.
Hopeful Fans Counter the Doom
Despite the pessimism, some fans remain optimistic. One wrote: 'Praying today's date isn't going to be a curse... Come on England. Let's smash this!' Another added: 'England often has the talent, but pressure keeps ending the dream. Can this be the year it finally ends?'
The match against Norway, who have never reached a World Cup quarter-final before, presents an opportunity for England to break the perceived curse and advance to the semi-finals.
