THE BBC have made a last-ditch signing to try and help them win the ratings war with ITV.
Both UK broadcasters will show the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain live.
BBC’s Euro coverage has featured Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand and Micah Richards and Alan Shearer so far at the tournament.
That is in addition to the likes of Gabby Logan, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman, Wayne Rooney, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, David Moyes and Rachel Corsie.
ITV have also had a star-studded line-up themselves to bring us all of the action from Germany.
Hosts Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods have been joined by big-names such as Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville.
And they have also enjoyed appearances from fan favourites such as Eni Aluko, Graeme Souness, Ange Postecoglou and Danny Rohl.
However, BBC have moved to bring in a major new addition for their head-to-head with ITV tomorrow at the final in Berlin.
And it just happens to be a man who lifted the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship with Spain and who starred in the Premier League for both Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Beeb’s new face is none other than the 36-year-old Spanish playmaker Juan Mata.
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The ace scored ten times in 41 appearances for his country – with one of those coming in the final of Euro 2012 when Spain thrashed Italy 4-0.
BBC announced the news by posting a clip of that strike on X alongside a message that read: “Welcome on board, @juanmata8. The former Spain international will join the @bbcsport squad for Sunday’s #Euro2024 final live on @BBCiPlayer’.”
Mata played 278 times for Chelsea and Manchester United during his Premier League career.
He produced 52 goals and provided 54 assists during that period.
Mata, who joined Chelsea in 2011 from Valencia, won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup at Stamford Bridge before departing after three years.
He signed for Man United and went on to spend eight years at Old Trafford.
Mata played under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick for the Red Devils.
He lifted the FA Cup and League Cup at United as well as the Europa League and then he enjoyed Turkish title success at Galatasaray in his one-year spell there from 2022.
Mata then moved to Japan, signing for Vissel Kobe, but he only made one appearance for them as they won the J-League.
He left them earlier this year and has been training in London as the attacker recently revealed that he has not yet decided on his next destination in football.
Here's how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend
AFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.
We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.
Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.
People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.
But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.
You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.
Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.
But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.
There was no panic coming out of the camp.
Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’
And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.
They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.
We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.
You want to peak in the final.
If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.
Read Jack Wilshere’s England vs Holland verdict in full.
Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euros 2024 opinions…
