BBC Sport has announced its TV coverage plans for this summer’s UEFA Euro 2020 which is being staged across Europe.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the corporation will be basing the majority of its studio coverage from a state-of-the-art virtual set in Salford, as well as at the UK-based stadiums, with Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan, Eilidh Barbour and Mark Chapman leading the BBC’s presenting team.
Representing the competing home nations in the studio are former England internationals Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand, Alex Scott and Micah Richards.
Ashley Williams, who captained Wales to the semi-finals in 2016, joins former Wales player and manager Mark Hughes, while Charlie Adam and Shelley Kerr will represent Scotland across the BBC’s coverage.
Also part of the studio punditry team are three European Championship winners – former France striker Thierry Henry, Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas and prolific German goal-scorer Jurgen Klinsmann.
Late additions to the BBC’s punditry line-up include former England player Frank Lampard, Scotland’s Darren Fletcher and Kenny McLean, plus Neil Taylor and Hal Robson-Kanu of Wales, while adding more European experience to the line-up are Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech, ex-France defender Eric Abidal and former Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The BBC’s TV commentary team will be led by Guy Mowbray, alongside Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Steve Bower, Vicki Sparks, Robyn Cowen, Rob MacLean and Mark Scott.
Joining them on co-commentary duties are Jermaine Jenas, Martin Keown and Danny Murphy, who will be covering England games, Robbie Savage will offer insight on Wales and Scotland are covered by James McFadden. Dion Dublin and Karen Carney complete the line-up.
Reporting on the England camp throughout the tournament will be Kelly Somers, while Eilidh Barbour will be with the Scotland team and Carl Roberts with Wales.
The BBC will be showing 25 live games throughout the tournament, sharing coverage with ITV, with England, Scotland and Wales’s opening games exclusively live on the BBC.
TV coverage begins with a special primetime preview show on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday, 9 June, kicking off a month-long schedule of European football action, closely followed by exclusive coverage of the opening game of the tournament between Turkey and Italy in Rome on Friday, 11 June.
A massive opening weekend on BBC One starts with the first game of the championship between Turkey and Italy on Friday, June 11, followed by Wales v Switzerland on the Saturday, England v Croatia on Sunday and ending with Scotland v Czech Republic and Spain v Sweden on the Monday.
In the knockout stages, the BBC will have first and second pick of the games at the Round of 16 and quarter-final stages, meaning if home nations progress, the BBC will be the only place to watch them.
Highlights programmes and selected match replays will be available most evenings on BBC One for those that missed the action or want to relive it all over again.
All BBC games will be broadcast across BBC One and BBC Two, as well as online via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website – bbc.co.uk/sport.
In addition, viewers can experience the Euros in Ultra HD quality live on BBC iPlayer as part of a trial from the BBC.
Viewers with compatible TVs and a high-speed internet connection will be able to watch 22 of the BBC’s games in Ultra-High Definition and High Dynamic Range, including the first games in the competition for Wales, England and Scotland.
In addition to the BBC’s network TV coverage, BBC Wales and BBC Scotland will also be producing a variety of support programmes and content throughout the championships.
Commenting on the corporation’s plans, Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said:
“The past year has been very challenging for everyone, having to change the way we work and go about our daily lives. After patiently waiting, the first of this summer’s major sporting events is now on the horizon and the BBC is ready to deliver another memorable football tournament, making sure audiences are entertained from start to finish.
“Three of our home nations are all in action on the BBC during the opening weekend, along with an array of the finest European talent on display throughout the Championship. All coverage will be brought to viewers and listeners by an unrivalled line up of the best presenters and experts who can offer that unique insight, analysis and entertainment.”
BBC Sport’s digital services will provide comprehensive coverage of Euro 2020 with match highlights, extensive analysis and breaking news via bbc.co.uk/euro2020.
Before the tournament kicks off, fans can get in the mood by revisiting classic moments with ‘Rewinds’ of Euro ’96 in England on Monday, 7 June and Euro 2016 in France on Tuesday, 8 June.
Also, ahead of the championships, a special film on one of the guaranteed stars of the Euros will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer on Sunday, 29 May – Cristiano Ronaldo: Impossible To Ignore – which documents a footballing hero who has overcome adversity to triumph on biggest stage.
As well as the BBC website, BBC Sport’s social media channels will keep fans in touch with new content, news and action. Throughout the tournament, in-match updates and breaking news will be available on Twitter – via @bbcsport and @bbcmotd – plus highlights from every game on YouTube.
Full details of the BBC Sport’s live matches can be found below, or visit SOTB’s dedicated UEFA EURO 2020 listings page for the full BBC and ITV match schedule.
LIVE MATCHES on BBC ITV coverage plans
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FRIDAY 11th JUNE
Turkey v Italy
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20:00 |
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SATURDAY 12th JUNE
Wales v Switzerland
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14:00 |
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Denmark v Finland
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17:00 |
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SUNDAY 13th JUNE
England v Croatia
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14:00 |
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MONDAY 14th JUNE
Scotland v Czech Republic
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14:00 |
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Spain v Sweden
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20:00 |
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WEDNESDAY 16th JUNE
Finland v Russia
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14:00 |
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Turkey v Wales
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17:00 |
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THURSDAY 17th JUNE
Netherlands v Austria
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20:00 |
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FRIDAY 18th JUNE
Sweden v Slovakia
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14:00 |
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Croatia v Czech Republic
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17:00 |
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SATURDAY 19th JUNE
Hungary v France
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14:00 |
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Spain v Poland
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20:00 |
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MONDAY 21st JUNE
Finland v Belgium
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20:00 |
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Russia v Denmark
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20:00 |
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WEDNESDAY 23rd JUNE
Portugal v France
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20:00 |
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Germany v Hungary
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20:00 |
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ROUND OF 16 – 26-29 JUNE
First 2 picks
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QUARTER-FINALS – 2-4 JULY
First 2 picks
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SEMI-FINALS – 6-7 JULY
Second pick
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SUNDAY 11th JULY
UEFA EURO 2020 FINAL
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20:00 |
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