Euro 2016 - Nations coverage
For the first time in 58 years, there will be unprecedented Home Nations representation at a major football tournament. We’ll follow the journeys of England, Wales and Northern Ireland across all of our platforms.
Published: 9 May 2016
A nation awaits - and our unrivalled team here at BBC Wales can’t wait to bring all the colour of France to millions of supporters waiting to cheer on Chris Coleman and the squad.
BBC Northern Ireland will bring fans comprehensive coverage and the very best of the action from this summer’s Championship, as Michael O’Neill’s side head to France for their first major tournament in 30 years. The Republic of Ireland will also be hoping to reach the knockout stage of the Championship when their campaign kicks off against Sweden on 13 June.
BBC Sport NI and BBC News NI will bring audiences in Northern Ireland extensive coverage across television, radio and online. Sports presenters Stephen Watson and Michael McNamee will follow the Northern Ireland team every step of the way with Joel Taggart providing radio commentary, team news and the very best of the match action. Reporter Thomas Kane will bring all the latest news and reports from the Republic of Ireland camp as they aim to reach the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time since 2002.
For Northern Ireland, the action kicks off on Sunday 12 June as they take on Poland in Nice at 17:00. There will be live simulcast commentary from Radio 5 live with BBC Radio Ulster presentation from Michael McNamee and commentary from Joel Taggart plus analysis from former NI International John O’Neill. Live streaming of BBC Radio Ulster commentary will also be available on the Red Button. In addition to all the action, BBC Radio Ulster will have a live post-match phone-in after all three group games giving fans get a chance to have their say. Joel Taggart will also provide Radio 5 live with reports from the Northern Ireland camp.
Northern Ireland’s campaign continues, with live coverage (as above) of their second group game against Ukraine on Thursday 16 June at 17:00 and final group match against current world champions Germany at 17:00 on Tuesday 21 June.
BBC News NI will broadcast live from various locations in France on match days, bringing audiences all the latest news, atmosphere and behind-the-scenes access with fans. BBC Newsline and BBC Radio Ulster programmes will broadcast live from Nice, Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux and Lille with reporters on the ground to capture all the colour and excitement of the tournament.
As well as being part of the pitch-side presenting team for the live Northern Ireland games on BBC One, Stephen Watson will also provide daily updates from the Northern Ireland team camp and stadium on BBC Newsline at 18:30. There will also be live updates from both camps for Good Morning Ulster from 06:30 to 09:00 and Evening Extra from 17:00 to 18:30 each week day.
BBC Sport NI will also provide comprehensive and up-to-date news from both camps throughout the day on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle, on the BBC Sport NI website and on dedicated Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Also, on BBC One Northern Ireland, comedians Jake O’Kane and Colin Murphy will provide their own take on the Euros in Murphy And O’Kane Do… Le Football, which is due to be broadcast in early June.
The BBC will showcase 26 live matches on TV and streamed online within their 140 hours of programming, including highlights on BBC One, BBC Two and the Red Button.
All live matches will be broadcast on BBC One, with highlights:
Sunday 12 June – Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland kick off their campaign against Poland at 16:15 (KO 17:00).
Monday 13 June – The Republic of Ireland take on Sweden in their opening game at 16:30 (KO 17:00).
BBC Wales
BBC Wales will capture and celebrate the excitement of the nation as the Wales team lines up at Euro 2016 - the first time the country has appeared in the finals of a major tournament for a generation.
On TV, radio and on digital platforms - in English and in Welsh - BBC Wales will bring audiences a wealth of expertise and analysis - and plenty of the excitement that comes with qualifying at last after a 58-year wait.
“I’m delighted the BBC will be there every step of the way as Wales embarks on this fantastic and historic Euro adventure,” said Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of BBC Cymru Wales. “A nation awaits - and our unrivalled team here at BBC Wales can’t wait to bring all the colour of France to millions of supporters waiting to cheer on Chris Coleman and the squad.”
The build-up to Euro 2016 on BBC Wales will feature a special TV profile of Wales’ star performer, Gareth Bale, and the story of his rise from the playing fields of Whitchurch High School to becoming the world’s most expensive footballer and scoring seven of Wales’ 11 goals in their breakthrough qualification campaign.
The highs and lows of Welsh football will be the focus of a TV programme about the history of the national team. Revisiting memories such as the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, where Wales lost in the quarter-finals to Brazil, and the pain and controversy of subsequent attempts to qualify for tournaments in the intervening 58 years, the programme will underline the huge achievement of Chris Coleman’s current squad in making it to Euro 2016.
Wales’ first two matches - against Slovakia (kick off 17:00) in Bordeaux on 11 June and against England (kick off 14:00) in Lens on 16 June - will be broadcast live on BBC TV. In addition, all the group matches, including the final group match against Russia in Toulouse on 20 June, will feature in TV highlights programmes.
BBC Wales will also produce live broadcasts of all of Wales’ matches for S4C - presented by Dylan Ebenezer, Nic Parri, Catrin Heledd and Iwan Roberts.
BBC Wales Today and Newyddion 9 will be live in France on key dates with the latest news from the tournament and reports from inside the team camp in Dinard, Brittany.
There will also be extensive coverage of Euro 2016 on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru, including full live commentary from all of Wales’ matches.
On Radio Wales, the team for the live matches will be Rob Phillips, Ian Hunt, Kevin Ratcliffe and John Hartson. The station will have live coverage of the build-up to Wales’ matches in France on Good Morning Wales and Good Evening Wales, as well as live updates throughout the day. Eleri Sion and Owen Money will also be in France for Radio Wales on match days. Radio Wales Sport will be broadcast from France every weekday evening during the tournament.
Stand-up comedian, radio presenter and huge Wales football fan Elis James will give a fan’s eye view of Euro 2016 in a special digital comedy series Elis In Euroland via social media. Elis will follow the team’s journey and this landmark moment for the whole country through the eyes of a real fan, and this will be complemented by a weekly programme on BBC Radio Wales.
A daily football podcast will have all the latest team news, press conferences and relevant tournament news, and on the BBC Sport Wales website there will be a live text page during every match and a highlights package available on the final whistle of every game.
BBC Radio Cymru’s team at the live matches will be Owain Llyr, Dylan Griffiths and Owain Tudur Jones. Dylan Jones will have all the latest updates from France for Post Cyntaf listeners each morning, and Ar y Marc, Carl ac Alun and Dewi Llwyd ar Fore Sul will also be broadcast from France.
Capturing the excitement and spirit of Wales at Euro 2016 is Radio Cymru’s soundtrack for the tournament - a special recording by top Welsh-language rock group Candelas of Rhedeg i Paris ('Running to Paris') - a song originally recorded by groundbreaking Welsh punk group Yr Anhrefn. Alongside the official video for the new track, a special version will be produced with clips submitted by listeners showing their support for the national team.
It will also be possible to follow the whole of Euro 2016 in Welsh, including all the latest news on and off the field, on the BBC Cymru Fyw website and apps.
