THE BBC dropped an embarrassing clanger ahead of the first Women’s World Cup semi-final.
Spain took on Sweden at Eden Park in Auckland with a place in Sunday’s final up for grabs against England or Australia.
BBCThe BBC posted this hilarious blunder with the Sweden line-up before the Women’s World Cup semi-final[/caption]
BBCThe mix-up was the same for Spain – but can you spot it?[/caption]
But the Beeb got ahead of themselves before kick-off when they displayed the two teams’ line-ups.
For both semi-finalists, the starting XI was shown with the correct player names in the right positions – for Spain a 4-3-3 and for Sweden a 4-2-3-1 formation.
But the broadcaster managed to use the photos of ENGLAND players instead in a hilarious blunder.
So that saw Lauren James’ face used for two-time Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Alexia Putellas and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd while Mary Earps took her place in goal under the names Catalina Coll Lluch and Zecira Musovic.
The likes of Lionesses Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Georgia Stanway and Chloe Kelly all smiled for the bizarre graphic gaffe.
Fans on Twitter wasted no time piling in with their frustrations and reactions.
One fumed: “BBC, please sort out your coverage of this game. The commentary in most games has been in front of the pictures and today’s game the sound in the studio is terrible. And if it couldn’t get any worse, this happened… can you spot what’s wrong?”
Another wrote: “What’s wrong with the Sweden side?”
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And a final user blasted: “What is the BBC doing with Lionesses photos in the Sweden and Spain line-ups….. did anyone else see it?”
Others saw the funny side of the confusion, though.
One commented: “Look at this lineup – little mix-up by @BBCSport but love it.”
Another joked: “According to the BBC graphics the English Lionesses starting line-up are starting for both Spain and Sweden.”
A third quipped: “According to the BBC graphic this morning, Spain have asked the Lionesses to step in and play Sweden for them!”
Viewers at home also moaned at the Beeb for the sound and picture quality once the crunch clash got underway in New Zealand.
Thankfully, the Lionesses were not on the pitch – and instead were 1,300 miles away in Sydney making their final preparations for their mammoth showdown with Australia.
European champions England are in their third World Cup semi-final in a row after scraping past Nigeria and Colombia.
However, they face a tough test against the co-hosts – who are making their debut in the final four but will have a roaring partisan home crowd and the 26million population cheering Sam Kerr and the rest of the Matildas on.
GettyEngland take on Australia in the second semi-final on Wednesday[/caption]