With Euro 2020 postponed for twelve months, ITV will delve into its archives to provide football fans with a slice of sporting nostalgia as the broadcaster unearths every match from Euro 96.
Airing from May, ITV Hub takes a trip down memory lane and will air all 31 games from one of the most closely contested tournaments in the history of the European Championships.
In addition, ITV4 will also play out the five games that featured the England team in some of their most memorable head-to-heads, including crunch clashes against Scotland, Netherlands, Spain and Germany, as well as the final between Germany and the Czech Republic.
Fans will be able to relive the drama from that epic summer of 1996, during which host nation fought to bring the trophy back home, with a squad made up of England legends including Alan Shearer, David Seaman, Paul Gascoigne, Sol Campbell and Teddy Sheringham.
1996 was the last time England reached the semi-finals of the European Championships and remains fondly remembered, partly thanks to Baddiel and Skinner and The Lightning Seeds’ chart-topping anthem Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home).
ITV’s coverage of the Euro 96 tournament was led by presenter Bob Wilson, with Jim Rosenthal hosting highlights programmes. Studio pundits included John Barnes, Jack Charlton, Glenn Hoddle and Alex Ferguson.
The late great Brian Moore was the channel’s chief match commentator, with co-commentary from the likes of Kevin Keegan, Ron Atkinson and Ian St John. Other ITV commentators for the tournament were Alan Parry, Peter Brackley and John Helm, while Gary Newbon and Gabriel Clarke were the channel’s roving reporters.
Paul Mortimer, ITV’s head of digital channels and acquisitions, said:
“Nothing brings the country together like Euro fever, and with this year’s tournament postponed to 2021, we’re giving our audience a chance to relive one of the all-time great sporting events, Euro ’96. Thanks to the ITV Hub and ITV4, there’ll be no shortage of vintage football classics for fans to indulge in over the next few months.”
In addition to the ‘live’ matches, ITV will also run a series of podcasts, hosted by Mark Pougatch, featuring stellar line-up of legends who will give their own reflections on the tournament to help give fans a real insight into their mindsets, the era, and the atmosphere.
They include former England captain Tony Adams, Darren Anderton, Ramon Vega, Steve McManaman. Ally McCoist, Teddy Sheringham, Jordi Cruyff, David Seaman, Stuart Pearce, aul Ince and Christian Ziege.
Full TV/online schedule for ITV’s Euro 96 Relived can be found below, as well as details of ITV’s presenting and commentary teams for each match.
