Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, 10.35pm, Friday 21 May 2010, BBC One.

Gary Lineker joins Jonathan Ross for this week’s Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on BBC One.

He explains his stance over Triesman and believes England’s bid for 2018 World Cup will survive controversy, saying: “It’s quite damaging to the bid, so as an ambassador [to the bid] I thought I had to stand down [from the Mail on Sunday]… we have to focus on the strength of the bid.”

He also believes Wayne Rooney is essential to England hopes for 2010: “Our chances would diminish drastically [without him]… he loves being the main man. We really need him fit…” – and thinks England’s biggest challenge will be from Spain and Brazil.

He also rules himself out of ever being England manager: “No. It’s such a difficult task,” and misses the game but won’t ever play again, “I miss the big moment, that’s the big buzz you can’t replace, [but] I’d be useless. I can’t run any more… all I relied on was my speed.”