ITV will cover Euro 2024. (Image: ITV)
Joe Cole has been axed by ITV after the broadcasters confirmed their punditry line-up to cover Euro 2024. As well as the former England international, who worked for the broadcaster at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and still features regularly on TNT Sports, Nigel De Jong, Nadia Nadim and Hal Robson-Kanu are also missing from the ‘stellar’ line-up.
Like Cole, the trio have all previously worked for the station. But none are among the new list of nine studio pundits that includes Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou.
In a released statement, ITV have confirmed that Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods will serve as main presenters, and also listed the remainder of their line-up for their summer coverage.
“ITV’s star-studded Euros squad will offer a wealth of insight, expertise and opinion,” they said. “From a punditry line-up of Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl and refereeing analyst Christina Unkel.
“Commentary will come from Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight, supported by co-commentators Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist, and Andros Townsend. Gabriel Clarke will report from the England camp, Connie McLaughlin with the Scotland squad and Celina Hinchcliffe will round up the news from the tournament.”
The station will share the free-to-air coverage with the BBC, and it’s the ‘Beeb’ who will show the two opening games for Gareth Southgate’s men against Serbia (June 16) and Denmark (June 20). But ITV will show the final group game against Slovenia (June 25) and will have picks one, two and three of the last-16.
Joe Cole won’t be working for ITV in Germany. (Image: Getty)
ITV have also been guaranteed the second and fourth quarter-final picks and first choice when it comes to the two semi-final games. Both stations though, will show the final on Saturday, July 20, with an 8pm kick-off.
The broadcaster has also confirmed that coverage will take place over a variety of ITV platforms, and has also promised to build anticipation with archived footage in the build-up to the tournament. “All ITV games will be shown on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player,” they added.
“In the build up, throughout the tournament and beyond, comprehensive Euros content will be available on ITVX. Exclusive mini-highlights shows of every tournament match will be available soon after the live coverage finishes.
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“And from early June, a mix of classic archive matches and documentaries focussing on previous tournaments. There will be highlights from Euro ’96 and brand new content shows building up to this year’s event will all be available on demand, and on a special Euros 24/7 Channel on ITVX.”
The tournament gets underway on Friday, June 14 when host nation Germany face Scotland. That game in Munich will be shown exclusively live on ITV.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1902194/ITV-Euro-2024-Joe-Cole