Photos of ESPN UEFA EURO 2016 commentators

Vincent Kompany Joins ESPN for UEFA EURO 2016 Coverage

Vincent Kompany, Belgium National Team and Manchester City FC captain, will join ESPN as a studio analyst for the UEFA European Football Championship 2016 (June 10 – July 10). Kompany is unavailable to represent Belgium due to a thigh injury sustained during Manchester City’s 2015-2016 Premier League campaign.

Kompany will contribute to ESPN’s studio team in Paris that includes other football greats: 1998 FIFA World Cup champion Frank Leboeuf, former German National Team captain Michael Ballack, former Everton manager Roberto Martinez, former England National Team and Real Madrid player Steve McManaman, former Chelsea FC and Scottish National Team midfielder Craig Burley, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Abby Wambach, former U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller, former Argentina and Real Madrid player Santiago Solari, and former U.S. Men’s National Team striker Taylor Twellman. Kompany is also working as a pundit for the BBC.

Kompany led Manchester City to its first Premier League title in 44 years during the 2011-12 season – the same year he was picked to captain the team. He is highly sought-after in the media for his football knowledge and insight. Kompany has played in 70 matches for the Belgian National Team, and is regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation.

ESPN and ESPN Deportes Commentator Assignments for UEFA EURO 2016

ESPN’s comprehensive coverage of the UEFA European Football Championship 2016 (June 10-July 10) will feature all 51 matches televised live in English on ESPN or ESPN2, as well as 46 matches live with six tape-delayed in Spanish on ESPN Deportes. Additional coverage includes ESPN3, WatchESPN and ESPN Deportes Radio, which will carry live the title match on July 10. Today, ESPN senior coordinating producer Amy Rosenfeld announced the ESPN commentator assignments for the group stage of the tournament. Highlights:

Key matchups in the group stage:

Ian Darke, Taylor Twellman and reporter Steve Bower (ESPN), and Fernando Palomo and Tato Noriega will call France vs. Romania , the tournament opening match Friday, June 10, as France seeks to win the third straight international soccer competition it has hosted (UEFA EURO 1984 and 1998 FIFA World Cup);

, the tournament opening match Friday, June 10, as France seeks to win the third straight international soccer competition it has hosted (UEFA EURO 1984 and 1998 FIFA World Cup); Rivals Germany-Poland meet Thursday, June 16 – Germany looking to revenge its first loss ever to Poland during a qualifying match for UEFA EURO 2016 in October 2014. Jon Champion and Stewart Robson (ESPN Deportes – Palomo and Noriega) will call the match;

meet Thursday, June 16 – Germany looking to revenge its first loss ever to Poland during a qualifying match for UEFA EURO 2016 in October 2014. Jon Champion and Stewart Robson (ESPN Deportes – Palomo and Noriega) will call the match; England-Wales (Thursday, June 16) – a rare matchup of familiar United Kingdom foes in international soccer – will feature the English-language trio of Darke, Steve McManaman and reporter Jeremy Schaap, with the team of Richard Mendez, Hernan Pereyra and Martin Ainstein providing Spanish-language commentary;

(Thursday, June 16) – a rare matchup of familiar United Kingdom foes in international soccer – will feature the English-language trio of Darke, Steve McManaman and reporter Jeremy Schaap, with the team of Richard Mendez, Hernan Pereyra and Martin Ainstein providing Spanish-language commentary; Spain’s La Liga midfield duo Luca Modric (Real Madrid) and Ivan Rakitic (Barca) will lead Croatia to face Spain on Tuesday, June 21. SportsCenter anchor Max Bretos and Alejandro Moreno will call the match in English. Palomo, Noriega and Manu Martin will handle Spanish commentary.

Match schedule with assignments (Subject to change):

Date Time (ET) Match/Commentators Match # Networks Fri, June 10 2:30 p.m. France vs. Romania Ian Darke, Taylor Twellman and Steve Bower Fernando Palomo and Tato Noriega 1 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Sat, June 11 8:30 a.m. Albania vs. Switzerland Derek Rae and Alejandro Moreno Emilio Fernando Alonso and Roberto G. Junco 2 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Wales vs. Slovakia Jon Champion and Stewart Robson Richard Méndez and Kempes 3 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. England vs. Russia Darke, Steve McManaman and Bower Omar Orlando Salazar, Ricardo Mayorga and Martin Ainstein 4 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Sun, June 12 8:30 a.m. Turkey vs. Croatia Adrian Healey and Kate Markgraf E.F. Alonso and Gomez Junco 5 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Poland vs. Northern Ireland Rae and Moreno O.O. Salazar and Mayorga 6 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30p.m. Germany vs. Ukraine Champion and Robson Palomo and Noriega 7 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Mon, June 13 8:30 a.m. Spain vs. Czech Republic Max Bretos and Moreno Alonso, Rafa Puenta and Ainstein 8 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Republic of Ireland vs. Sweden Healey, Tommy Smyth and Julie Foudy Salazar and Mayorga 9 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Belgium vs. Italy Darke and Twellman Palomo and Noriega 10 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Tue, June 14 11:30 a.m. Austria vs. Hungary Rae and Markgraf Ricardo Ortiz and Kempes 11 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Portugal vs. Iceland Darke and Twellman Palomo and Noriega 12 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Wed, June 15 8:30 a.m. Russia vs. Slovakia Healey and Markgraf Salazar and Mayorga 13 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Romania vs. Switzerland Bretos and Moreno Alonso and Gomez Junco 14 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. France vs. Albania Champion and Robson Mendez and Kempes 15 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Thu, June 16 8:30 a.m. England vs. Wales Darke, McManaman and Schaap Memdez, Hernan Pereyra and Ainstein 16 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Ukraine vs. Northern Ireland Mark Donaldson and Paul Mariner Alonso and Gomez Junco 17 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Germany vs. Poland Champion and Robson Palomo and Noriega 18 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Fri, June 17 8:30 a.m. Italy vs. Sweden Rae and Moreno Alonso, Gomez Junco and Ainstein 19 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Czech Republic vs. Croatia Healey and Markgraf Salazar and Mayorga 20 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Spain vs. Turkey Champion and Robson Mendez, Kempes and Manu Martin 21 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Sat, June 18 8:30 a.m. Belgium vs. Republic of Ireland Rae and Smyth Alonso and Gomez Junco 22 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Iceland vs. Hungary Bretos and Markgraf Salazar and Mayorga 23 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Portugal vs. Austria Darke, Twellman and Foudy Palomo, Noriega and Ainstein 24 ESPN / ESPN Deportes Sun, June 19 2:30 p.m. Switzerland vs. France Champion and Robson Palomo, Noriega and Ainstein 26 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Romania vs. Albania Donaldson and Moreno Salazar and Mayorga 25 ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes Mon, June 20 2:30 p.m. Slovakia vs. England Darke, McManaman and Schaap Alonso and Puente 28 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Russia vs. Wales Rae and Mariner Salazar and Mayorga 27 ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes Tue, June 21 11:30 a.m. Northern Ireland vs. Germany Donaldson and Mariner Mendez, Kempes and Ainstein 30 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Ukraine vs. Poland Darke and Twellman Alonso and Gomez Junco 29 ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Croatia vs. Spain Bretos and Moreno Palomo, Noriega and Martin 32 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Czech Republic vs. Turkey Champion and Robson Salazar and Mayorga 31 ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes Wed, June 22 11:30 a.m. Hungary vs. Portugal Rae and Moreno Salazar and Mayorga 34 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 11:30 a.m. Iceland vs. Austria Healey and Markgraf Alonso and Gomez Junco 33 ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Italy vs. Republic of Ireland Champion, Robson and Schaap Palomo and Noriega 35 ESPN / ESPN Deportes 2:30 p.m. Sweden vs. Belgium Darke and Twellman Ortiz and Pereyra 36 ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes

*** Simultaneous matches on ESPN Deportes tape delayed

*** ESPN Deportes match coverage will begin at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

*** ESPN and ESPN2 match coverage begins at 8:30, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

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