Former Chelsea and Man United star to join the BBC’s punditry team as a special guest for the final of Euro 2024
- BBC Sport has added a new analyst to its team for Sunday’s Euro 2024 final
- He will join Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer on the BBC panel
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: What moment changed the European Championship for England?
The Euro 2024 final between England and Spain on Sunday will be broadcast live on British television by the BBC and ITV.
As rival broadcasters battle for viewers, the BBC has added a special guest to its team.
The BBC’s coverage of the European Championships this summer regularly featured Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand and Micah Richards, while Alan Shearer, Gabby Logan, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman, Wayne Rooney, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, David Moyes and Rachel Corsie were also present.
In the meantime, ITV’s core team consists of: Mark Pougatch, Laura Woods, Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville, with Eni Aluko, Graeme Souness, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel also making frequent guest appearances.
But on Sunday night, there will be a new face on BBC One.
Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Micah Richards (left to right) pictured during BBC One’s analysis of England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final win over Switzerland
Lineker, 63, will present the BBC’s live broadcast of Sunday’s final between England and Spain
The BBC announced on Friday that Juan Mata will join the team of experts this weekend.
Mata made 278 appearances for Chelsea and Manchester United during his Premier League career, scoring 52 goals and providing 54 assists.
He also scored 10 goals in 41 international matches for Spain between 2009 and 2016.
One of those goals came in the final of Euro 2012, when Spain beat Italy 4-0.
Footage of that goal was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by BBC Match of the Day on Friday, along with the message: ‘Welcome aboard, @juanmata8. The former Spain international will join the @bbcsport squad for the #Euro2024 final on Sunday, live on @BBCiPlayer.’
Juan Mata, pictured at the 2012 Euro final, will also be part of the BBC’s expert team
England qualified for Sunday’s final after beating the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday evening
Mata, 36, is currently without a club after leaving Japanese club Vissel Kobe in January.
The attacking midfielder, who previously played for Valencia and Galatasaray, has not yet officially retired from football.