BBC presenter Gary Lineker aims a cheeky jab at ITV with England to defy the ‘curse’ in the World Cup round of 16 against Ecuador

GARY LINEKER couldn’t help but secretly attack ITV after announcing they will be showing England’s World Cup round of 16 match against Senegal.

England secured their place in the knockout stages of the tournament with a 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday night.

5

5

5

And BBC presenter Lineker stunned fans by publicly interrupting ITV’s coverage of Sunday’s game against Senegal.

The former Everton and Three Lions killer said: “England took first place and will play Senegal at 7pm on Sunday.

“And that’s playing live on, well – er – ITV. Well, yeah.”

Footy fans were quick to comment, saying: “Gary Lineker mentions ITV, the forbidden door opens again.”

Another said: “Gary Lineker accidentally hooked up ITV showing England vs Senegal next Sunday.”

And another said: “I can’t believe Gary Lineker said Senegal is against England on… ITV.”

One remarked: “I enjoyed that Gary Lineker just mentioned ITV.

“I think this is maybe the first time I’ve heard that both channels acknowledge the fact that there is another channel showing the games that they don’t have.”

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS – THE BEST OFFERS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS

Another chimed in: “Lol @ Gary Lineker mugs ITV.”

England will hope to avoid what fans have dubbed the “ITV curse” clash with the Senegalese.

Since 1998, 28 of England’s matches in major tournaments have been broadcast on the nation’s second largest broadcaster.

But they’ve won just SIX of those games – a record Gareth Southgate is hoping to improve on this weekend.

Impressed by his side’s destruction of the Welsh side, Southgate said: “I thought we controlled the game in the first half but didn’t create enough chances.

5

“We wanted more boost and threat to play faster up front.

“Once we scored those two goals we knew their courage was gone, it was a tough tournament for them.”

Southgate was full of praise for Manchester United killer Marcus Rashford, who scored a spectacular brace.

The 52-year-old said of Rashford’s double: “It’s great for him, he’s been training really well.

“He’s been impressive since he came back to us, he could have scored a hat-trick. That free-kick is what he’s capable of, it’s an incredible goal.”

5

“In a few moments I thought of both [Rashford and Foden] were quiet in the first half so we switched wings.

“They reacted well because scoring both goals was great.”