ITV’s decision has left Emma Hayes open to unfair criticism over her England analysis

Emma Hayes has been mocked for her tactical analysis during World Cup hydration breaks and ITV are partly to blame for giving the misogynists on social media ammunition

Emma Hayes used a chalkboard to give her analysis on ITV

Acursory search of social media provides a grim taste of the sort of misogyny Emma Hayes has to face every time she appears on TV.

England’s World Cup opener against Croatia saw Hayes beamed into the living rooms of millions who wouldn’t normally watch football. And sadly that increased exposure means increased unpleasantness.

The former Chelsea women and current United States women head coach was not part of the punditry line-up. ITV used their first-choice trio of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright in their Brooklyn studio. But during the two three-minute hydration breaks, which we’ve all become used to at the World Cup, Hayes appeared to provide some analysis.

Hydration breaks have been implemented at a tournament being played in potentially dangerous conditions. But they are clearly not needed at every game, with England’s match taking place inside the air-conditioned AT&T Stadium.

Thankfully, with the game being on ITV, viewers were treated to some actual reasoned, well-informed analysis of what we were seeing on the pitch. Rather than pump in another few minutes of adverts, as happens in America, British broadcasters have been left with a choice of what to do.

While the BBC have chosen to stick with what they know, the commentator and co-commentator talking to fill the time, ITV have bravely tried to innovate. They have brought in Hayes – widely considered to be one of the best and most influential female coaches of all time – to educate us.

She has the extremely difficult job of trying to articulate to the lay audience quite deep tactical analysis in such a short space of time. Having been given a test run in explaining how Spain’s wide players could break down Cape Verde’s stout defence on Monday, Hayes had a much, much bigger audience on Wednesday night.

The chalkboard undermines the value of the analysis(Image: ITV)

Such a segment is always going to divide the audience. Plenty of people are not interested in delving deeper into what is happening on the pitch. But for those who are open to hearing a different perspective, it is a worthwhile exercise.

Hayes enthusiastically launched into telling us why Jordan Pickford’s role in possession was so important and, later, why the angles of England’s passing down the flanks had unlocked Croatia’s defence for Jude Bellingham’s crucial goal after the break.

As a current top-level coach and experienced broadcaster, the 49-year-old is perfectly placed to do so. The problem is the tools ITV have given her. The blackboard and chalk with Xs and Os is, at very least, anachronistic and, at worst, confusing.