Punditry can be a tough gig. Who among us would like to go on live TV and talk about football to be eviscerated by an entire nation on social media?
Still, there are some whose insight and personalities we have enjoyed more than others.
So here we go: all the pundits from this year's World Cup, ranked from worst to best. Fine if you disagree, it's all a matter of taste.
29. Olivier Giroud (BBC)
We couldn't help but put him bottom of the pile, but we actually feel a little bit sorry for France's former all-time leading goalscorer.
A French-speaking friend tells us that Olivier Giroud is much more eloquent in his native tongue, so there is a degree of benefit of the doubt to be given.
But throughout his time in the BBC studio this summer, Giroud has often struggled to find the right words to express his point - and just as you think he's about to find it, he gets wound up by the presenters or interrupted by another pundit. It's very frustrating to watch even with our sympathetic goggles on.
28. Scott Brown (BBC)
Often insightful and straightforwardly honest when covering Scotland in the group stage, as you might expect, but has been of limited utility to the BBC beyond that.
The main revelation really is that he has a fine head of hair and that his decision to go full skinhead during his Celtic days was an active choice - which, to be fair, is in keeping with how he played.
Still looks like he might own an illegal dog, though. We're not saying he does though, lawyers.
27. Ashley Williams (BBC)
He's broadly fine, and if you get him into his lane talking about defending, Ashley Williams can be genuinely insightful.
The main knock against him is going to become pretty familiar over the next few entries, particularly when it comes to the BBC's form of presentation: we just don't see very much of his personality on show.
He glitched early in the tournament when he said of Messi, after Argentina's opening game, "Are we looking at the greatest player, ever? It's possible. It's definitely worth the debate." We've been having the debate for about 15 years, Ash.
26. Darren Cann (BBC)
Bless him, he is trying, but former linesman Darren Cann is exactly the BBC version of an refereeing analyst.
That is to say: he is safe, he gives his views, but he seems always to feel the need to couch even the criticisms he strongly disagrees with by giving the officials a bit of a 'but I can see why they've given it that way'.
It's tough to judge Cann too harshly given how little airtime he gets, but we'd be interested in getting a little bit more of his own view on certain rules and interpretations, and where he sees problems in them.
25. Cesar Azpilicueta (BBC)
Cesar Azpilicueta approaches punditry exactly how he used to approach playing the game: very solid, fairly unspectacular, easy to overlook at first glance, and a safe pair of hands.
He is particularly good on Spain and explaining defensive shape, as you might expect.
But he's also quite quiet and passive in the studio. You don't want pundits talking over each other all the time, but there is such a thing as patiently waiting your turn to the point you never actually say anything unless prompted.
24. Lucas Leiva (BBC)
You know what we're going to say, don't you?
The former Brazil international has been a useful selection for the BBC thanks to his globetrotting playing career and ability to talk about what it's like to play for one of the big boys.
On the downside... he's kind of just... been there, sitting and smiling politely and offering 'say what you see' as his main mode. The man was born to wear a quarter-zip fleece, though, we'll give him that.
23. Benni McCarthy (BBC)
An exception to the 'bland BBC pundits' rule, at long last.
Benni McCarthy has been refreshingly willing to speak his mind and was particularly critical of the tournament format, feeling that Ecuador and Germany had settled for a result that suited them both.
You do sometimes get the impression that he has an idea in his mind that he is so keen to get out that he doesn't quite think through how to express it - but we'll take that over filling airtime saying nothing particular.
22. Theo Walcott (BBC)
We know what we're going to get from Theo Walcott at this point in his career: a lot of 'nice, intelligent, polite boy' energy.
The England winger hasn't featured too often on the BBC's coverage, and indeed was not even announced as part of their lineup on their initial promotional materials for the tournament.
Again, though, there is a tendency towards safe and sterile, particularly when he's partnered by pundits of a similar temperament... and the Beeb just have too many of those. Put him with someone more dynamic or tactical, and he comes into his own a lot more.
21. Duncan Ferguson (ITV)
Our first ITV entry. We were looking forward to seeing what Big Dunc had to offer. The results have been mixed.
The problem, we think, is that the Everton icon seems to have been cast by the producers in a bit of a 'banter merchant' role, which is nice - you need a bit of levity at a summer tournament, and it would be a bit rich for us to criticise it having been harping on about the BBC being too boring so far.
But there have been times when we would have liked to have heard a bit more of his trademark bluntness. He's been better used on the behind-the-scenes stuff on ITV's Instagram account than on TV, we think. Other tastes might have him higher, which is absolutely fair enough.
20. Bradley Wright-Phillips (ITV)
Bradley Wright-Phillips would feel like a bit of a rogue choice in almost any other context - but in the early days of the tournament, in particular, he proved to be a canny pick-up for ITV.
His on-screen reunion with his father, Ian Wright, (apparently they hadn't seen each other in person for a year), was a genuinely lovely moment, for starters.
More importantly, though: after his long and successful career in MLS, Wright-Phillips has been uniquely placed to act as a bridge between UK viewers and US soccer culture.
19. Juan Mata (ITV)
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Spain playmaker has played all over the globe and won virtually everything there is to win.
As with Lucas for the BBC, that makes Mata very valuable to ITV as a solid all-rounder, particularly covering some of the less glamorous sides in the group stage.
He does feel a bit like an ITV pundit in BBC clothing at times, though, and is a bit prone to sitting back in the cut when he's alongside some of their more forceful personalities.
18. Gael Clichy (BBC)
We wonder if, in hindsight, the BBC might have left the incredibly handsome Giroud at home and just stuck with Clichy for their Francophone perspective.
The former Arsenal and Manchester City left-back has been a thoughtful presence, and when he has had things to say, they have generally added to the conversation.
But he suffers a little bit from the same problem as Williams, Walcott and Azpilicueta: he often needs to be invited in rather than volunteering himself. Again, we must stress this may be a production issue more than a problem with the pundits themselves - but it would just be nice to see them loosen things up a bit from time to time.
17. Micah Richards (BBC)
Now look. We know Micah Richards is a very Marmite taste. But some people bloody love Marmite. Besides, given the rest of the BBC line-up, he at least makes for a change of pace.
We really like Richards when he's in serious tactical mode, and his rather distinctive career trajectory means he is better than some of his colleagues at telling the viewer what it's like both when you're in a team that's flying and when you're struggling as an individual.
There's always been more than a touch of Ian Wright's early broadcasting career about Richards, though: he's good at playing the clown, and so he gets asked to do it far too often. We'd love someone to [Gary Lineker face] have a word with him and tell him he can be even more valuable as a serious voice; his charisma and charm will still come through, and may be less grating for his detractors.
16. Karen Carney (ITV)
We're very much moving now into the 'very solid pro' lane of pundits.
Karen Carney has been on our screen for years at this point, and it shows: she comes across as comfortable in her role, and is more than happy to take the hospital pass of talking about a fairly dull game and trying to make it interesting.
The only real downside is that Carney can get a bit lost in the shuffle at times, particularly when ITV have a more extended panel. She's better in a two than a three or four.
15. Steph Houghton (BBC)
Very much a BBC counterpart to Carney, in that Steph Houghton has plenty of experience doing this now and knows what the gig is about.
Predictably, the former Lionesses captain particularly shines when it comes to discussing defensive organisation, which is curiously a bit under-represented at this tournament.
She does not jump off the screen, but with her experience of international tournament football, we expect Houghton to come into her own even more as the knockout stages wear on
14. Thomas Frank (BBC)
A bit more like what we actually want our BBC pundits to be like: a bit professorial, worldly wise, and capable of explaining tactical concepts to the uninitiated.
As in life, Thomas Frank suffers a little bit from comparisons to Ange Postecoglou, who is doing the same thing with a lot more personality over on ITV.
But like with Houghton, we're keen to see what Frank can do when he's given a clash between two heavyweights to pick apart in the later rounds.
13. Thomas Hitszlsperger (BBC)
A very amenable presence indeed, Thomas Hitzlsperger might be rated in the beige category were he not just so bloody charming.
The former Germany international was particularly good value during Germany's round of 32 defeat to Paraguay, going on a roller-coaster ride from optimistic before kick-off, to putting on a brave face at half time, to the horrible realisation he had just seen his country go out on penalties for the first time ever.
He knows his onions when it comes to midfield play, too, which certainly doesn't hurt.
12. Wayne Rooney (BBC)
The BBC's big cause celebre of the last year.
Inconsistency goes against Wayne Rooney a little bit, because there are times when he can lose his thread slightly and the words seem to be coming out as he thinks of them.
But few hit as hard or accurately as Rooney when you get him on a topic he feels strongly about - particularly as it pertains to England. His 'been there, done it' credentials carry weight.
11. Jobi McAnuff (ITV)
Here begins the "actively good" section. As staunch EFL viewers, we are long-term admirers of Jobi McAnuff, who very clearly never turns up to the studio without having done a tonne of research on the game he's about to watch. You'd hope that would be the minimum you might expect, but sadly it isn't always.
Chances are you won't have seen much of McAnuff unless you've been living on West Coast time and staying up to watch the very, very late kick-offs on ITV.
But actually, we don't mind that at all. ITV have cannily realised nobody who is keen enough on football to stay up until 3am to watch a game is going to be interested in empty soundbites, and McAnuff is the perfect pick for a bit of a deeper dive into two sides you may not be that familiar with.
10. Ellen White (BBC)
Always eloquent and confident in putting forward her views, Ellen White knows what it's like to be a star striker in the biggest stage, and puts that experience to good use.
The former England centre-forward is particularly excellent when it comes to discussing movement in the number 9 role.
Unlike some of her BBC colleagues, she isn't afraid to drop the odd joke or wry observation here or there, either. More than just a good, safe pair of hands
9. Christina Unkel (ITV)
We can't rate Christina Unkel any higher purely because of just how limited her role is, but we think she's great.
The former referee is unbelievably authoritative both on the letter of the law and its interpretation, and has a real knack for communicating it all within the few seconds of airtime she is given for each game she covers. Even when we don't like a decision, she is always able to explain the rationale in a way that makes you go 'hmm, yeah, fair enough'.
It's genuinely refreshing for a broadcaster to have that as part of their coverage... particularly ITV, who at previous tournaments have been particularly eye-rollingly tedious in the length and volume of talking about 'controversial' moments in games.
8. Rachel Corsie (BBC)
The closest thing the BBC have to Jobi McAnuff, and we mean that as a compliment.
You can stick former Scotland star Rachel Corsie on a relatively unglamorous fixture, and she will have done her homework immaculately. She has been excellent on tactics, the role of analytics, and fitness considerations.
Corsie's assuredness makes us wonder if somebody might have her in mind to make the Gary Lineker/Alex Scott switch over to the other side of the studio at some point, even if it would be a bit of a shame to lose her insight.
7. Gary Neville (ITV)
Full disclosure: we think Gary Neville is much better covering the Premier League on Sky than he is covering major internationals on ITV, where he often ends up defaulting to being the grumpiest man in the room for some reason, particularly around England and refereeing decisions.
Still, there's no doubting the quality he can bring, and he particularly came into his own at the beginning of the tournament as he excoriated FIFA for their extortionate ticket prices.
Cheer up a bit, though, eh, Gary.
6. Joe Hart (BBC)
Now, a few years into the punditry gig, Joe Hart is only getting better as he loosens up and builds his confidence in the role.
His natural tendency towards 'goalkeepers' union' thinking has been made fun of on a few occasions, but that only makes it hit harder when he does criticise one of his fellow glovesmen. He was also quicker than most to identify how this tournament's ball was affecting goalkeepers when it comes to powerful long shots.
His earnestness is not to everyone's tastes, but he is a very good, detailed all-rounder, and for our own money, the best of the BBC's high-profile pundits at this World Cup.
5. Patrick Vieira (ITV)
There are no other pundits at this tournament who have had both a high-profile playing career and a high-profile managerial career, putting Patrick Vieira in a unique niche.
A World Cup winner with France in 1998, Vieira is not outstanding at any one part of the punditry game, but we've got him this high simply because he is good at all of it.
He can do banter with Roy Keane, he can think like a manager on tactical changes, and he puts his former standing as an absolute elite-tier midfielder on show just enough.
4. Roy Keane (ITV)
The anti-Ian Wright, in that Roy Keane has become far more enjoyable to watch over the years, now he has realised he does not have to just be sneering and biting at all times. Having watched him for years, we all now know that there is a mischievous side to him that can be very funny when it surfaces.
There is nobody better for a wry one-line putdown that sums things up perfectly - but Keane has added different gears to his game now, and is genuinely entertaining without straying into tedious blokey nonsense nearly as often as he did a decade ago.
When he's on, you turn the volume up, and we really look forward to seeing him in the studio now – we wouldn't always have said that.
3. Ange Postecoglou (ITV)
It's a cliche at this point to say you'd love to go for a pint with Ange Postecoglou... but for good reason.
The former Tottenham boss has been given a real mix of big boys and minnows to analyse so far this summer, and has had plenty of interesting things to say about all of them. His CV lent to a lot of the interesting nations at the tournament like Japan, England, Scotland, and of course Australia.
His level of detail is brilliant, but never overwhelming thanks to his easy, laid-back style. Knowledgeable and likeable.
2. Ian Wright (ITV)
Get you a man who can do it all. Ian Wright can, and we went back and forth multiple times about whether or not to upgrade him to top spot.
Wright's passion still shines through, and that can cut in both directions, from infectious enthusiasm to making proper, serious, well-considered points articulated to perfection. His monologues are so good you wonder if he brings a scriptwriter with him.
Wrighty is genuinely superb at talking about the actual football, too. The undisputed king of pundits... but there is a queen too...
1. Emma Hayes (ITV)
We want to be Emma Hayes when we grow up.
The USA and former Chelsea manager has made the hydration breaks must-watch TV for every game ITV have put her on, which is an unbelievably high compliment. In less than a minute, she can tell you why the game is unfolding the way it is in ways you hadn't considered before using little more than a bit of chalk, some magnets, and her vast football brain.
But as with Big Ange, she's also a big personality. Pointing directly into the camera before embarking on one bit of analysis and declaring "I know you're up late, so try to pay attention" during one 2am kick-off was an absolute baller move.
