SPORT ON THE BOX

EXCUSE ME, but aren't we on the verge of something huge?

Next to the World Cup, the European Football Championships are the Holy Grail for soccer fans - solving that awful summer conundrum; cricket or tennis?

Sven's men may not be ready, but we bloody well are so the least we should expect, as we count down to next weekend, is a snowballing build-up to whet the appetite.

But you try scanning the schedules for footy-related programmes. Last weekend's C4 programme, 'England's Dream Team' should have signalled the start of seven days of must-see TV.

Instead, we hurtle towards a major sporting event with BBC's token offering of Alastair McGowan's Big Impression.

And, er, that's it.

Things are so bad that on the eve of the opening game, Portugal v Greece, peak-time viewing on the Beeb features lowlights including A Question of Sport (outtakes from a previous series), The Lenny Henry show (unfortunately, no relation to Thierry) and ... wait for it ... The French and Saunders Christmas Special.

Christmas? Talk about puddings!

At least ITV have persuaded Baddiel and Skinner to return to the sofa for the welcome return of Fantasy Football (nightly from Friday).

Skinner may be able to freeze blood at 300 yards with a sit-com script in his hand, but it's much easier to warm to his humour when sticking to the topic he loves best.

Paradoxically, the pedestrian build-up should only serve to heighten the fever pitch about to descend on the nation next weekend.

Sunday sees England pitched straight into the heat of battle against the French; Henry, Zidane, Vieira, Pires, Trezeguet and ... hopefully Steve Marlet!

ITV get first bite of the cherry in the ratings war that sees England's games alternate between the two major terrestrial channels.

Sky Sports, for once, are left on the outside looking in, despite having three teams of reporters in Portugal - one permanently focusing on England, another designated to their opponents and a third covering the rest of the tournament.

So for rolling coverage, Sky Sports News may have the advantage of live press conferences and up-to-the-minute news.

Unfortunately they have no match action.

Still, at least there's cricket and tennis to fall back on.