ITV in World Cup sexism storm as female pundit Emma Hayes does her tactical analysis in a 'kitchen' with blackboard during England's win against Croatia

ITV  has been accused of sexism after Emma Hayes was forced to do her tactical analysis of England's win over Croatia in what looked like a small kitchen.

Viewers also questioned why the USA women's boss, who won a record 15 trophies with Chelsea, was given a 'lame' small chalkboard instead of a digital touchscreen.

One TV insider called the setup 'hugely embarrassing' and questioned whether male pundits such as  Gary Neville  would be put in the same situation.

The ill-judged set led to a series of mean memes where Emma's noughts and crosses were replaced with a shopping list.

Others used AI  to add a sink, tap, piles of washing up, tea towels and even an ironing board, dressing her in a pinny.

Another showed Emma making tea for her ITV colleagues with Manhattan in the background.

One critic said: 'How lame are ITV that they put Emma Hayes in a kitchen setting to give her tactical analysis. Sexism rules.'

Emma has been praised as the World Cup's top pundit with fans saying the BBC 's coverage has been put to shame by some of her on-the-spot analysis.

But last night as the Three Lions put Croatia to the sword, she talked tactics with a blackboard and chalk in a part of the set overlooking Brooklyn Bridge that appeared to be made up of kitchen units.

One TV source said that the set was 'hugely embarrassing' for ITV and demeaning for Ms Hayes, arguably the top female coach in world football.

'Can you imagine ITV putting Gary Neville on a set like that? No chance that would happen. It is hugely embarrassing'.

ITV viewers have questioned why pundit Emma Hayes was forced to do her analysis in an area that looked like a kitchen

Some asked whether male pundits would have had a digital screen - not a chalkboard

It has sparked shocking AI memes where Emma was put in a pinny and writing her shopping list rather than her expertly analysing England's high press and counter-attacking

Even worse, another meme showed her doing the washing up

The chalk and blackboard was compared to the classic TV test card

Former BBC football presenter Dan Walker said today: 'I really like Emma Hayes and I think she’s an insightful pundit. I’m not sure why they have decided to make it look like she’s writing the specials on a bistro chalkboard.'

Sports journalist Michael Hincks wrote in the i newspaper : 'ITV positioned Hayes in a corner of their New York studio, which admittedly resembled a kitchen, and that only fed the trolls for an easy pile-on.

'It felt naive from ITV, hung Hayes out to dry, and surely is changed going forward at this World Cup.'

One viewer said: 'I’m not sure ITV are massively advancing the idea of women’s equality in football by having Emma Hayes give her analysis from a set which looks like she’s stuck in a kitchen?'

Another critic said: 'This is woeful from ITV. Emma Hayes is brilliant, articulate and insightful, yet she's made to provide micro analysis from some weird kitchen setup with a chalkboard that isn't even rectangular. It makes her look amateurish when she's anything but. Imagine Neville doing that!!'

Thomas Tuchel ’s side proved too strong for Croatia, with talismanic striker Harry Kane scoring a brace before Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added further goals.

Those cheering England to a 4–2 win at Dallas Stadium were later joined by several WAGs, who flew in from Miami where the players’ families are based.

Among them were John Stones ’ wife Olivia, Ollie Watkins ’ partner Ellie, and Bellingham’s girlfriend Ashlyn Castro, all of whom took to social media to share their experiences.

Megan Pickford embraced Dallas style, donning a denim cowboy hat featuring her husband’s shirt number.

The set sparked a series of unkind memes, including Emma making tea for her colleague

Another mean meme showed Emma drawing an ironing board instead of England's attacking formation

At the final whistle, fans erupted into a rousing rendition of Football’s Coming Home and serenaded the team with Oasis’s Wonderwall.

Once the match ended, many players went into the stands to spend time with their wives and girlfriends.

Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Pickford were all pictured celebrating the victory with kisses for their partners.

However, it emerged that before the game there had been one worst-case scenario for the WAGs — they were forced to downsize their handbags to gain entry.

Strict regulations meant the team’s glamorous partners faced limits on the size of their purses.

Ellie Watkins, 30, was spotted carrying a black Chanel vanity case cross-body bag costing upwards of £5,000, while Mrs Pickford adhered to the rules with a white Lady Dior bag worth more than £2,500.

Among a sell-out crowd of 70,398 fans was John Irvin, 67, from Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire, who is biking across America and has tickets to all the group games. He said: ‘We won, good game, but we do make it hard for ourselves.

‘But second half we were unstoppable. Now it’s back on the bike and on to the next one.’

Mr Irvin, who has…