BBC takes early lead in World Cup coverage

The BBC has scored the opening goal over ITV in the battle for TV audiences during this summer's football World Cup.

Gary Lineker and Co won the rights to show two of England's three crucial group stage matches, including the crunch clash with Argentina.

It will be a blow for the ITV team, fronted by ex-Beeb man Des Lynam, who will now show England's opener with Sweden.

The two networks had agreed to strike a deal to split the coverage of England's quest to lift football's biggest prize in Japan and Korea.

All England's Group F matches will be played in Japan but the clash with Argentina, on June 7, is the pick of the nation's opening games and the BBC will be delighted with its exclusive rights to televise it.

It will also broadcast the clash with Nigeria on June 12.

In return ITV will show England's first match, against coach Sven Goran Eriksson's home nation of Sweden on June 2.

ITV will show two of the Republic of Ireland's group games with the BBC televising the other.

The BBC has also won the right to show peak-time highlights.