And Chapman, one of his replacements on MOTD alongside Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan, joked that he’s forgotten all about the former World Cup Golden Boot winner after Lineker was brought up by Micah Richards. The panel were talking about Jude Bellingham before the semi-final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. After a graphic was shown on screen about Bellingham’s six goals so far in North America, Chapman said: “You [Wayne Rooney] talk about the goals he is scoring are striker-esque. This is how close to goal he is scoring those goals. Less than 10 metres.
“You look at some of those goalscorers on that list, they were out-and-out goalscorers, some of them are out-and-out poachers and he’s in their company.”
But Richards, who still works with Lineker on The Rest Is Football which is being shown on Netflix during the World Cup, said: “One thing I don’t like on that list, another graphic that’s got Gary Lineker on there! (Laughs). He’s just text me now but he’s dropping down the table, thank God for that!”
Chapman caused laughter from Richards, Rooney and Joe Hart when he replied: “Gary who? Joke! Joke! Before everybody piles on. Joke, goodness me!”
Lineker caused more controversy before England’s semi-final after referring to the Falkland Islands as ‘Las Malvinas’ pre-match. That is the Spanish name used by Argentines to refer to the British overseas territory.
The 65-year-old refused to back down and said: “I’ve said it 100 times over the years. I don’t see why that is an issue really. Well, that’s what they call it. That’s what I said.
“That’s what they call it in Argentina, Islas Malvinas. So, it’s just a factually correct term. We call it the Falklands, but it’s okay, isn’t it? We can be diplomatic enough to do that, I’m sure.”
The Falklands were at the centre of a 74-day conflict between Great Britain and Argentina in 1982 which resulted in 907 deaths. Lineker implored England fans not to bring up the war ahead of the match in Atlanta.
He continued: “I cannot get my head around any wars and there’s so many going on in the world at the moment that we should probably focus on a little bit more than the Falklands 40 odd years ago.
“I honestly think they want to beat us because they want to win the World Cup, and I think we want to beat them because we want to win the World Cup, not to prove some point 40 odd years on.”