Euro 2016: An armchair fan's guide to the opening weekend

10 June 2016 09:49

Euro 2016 gets under way on Friday as hosts France face Romania before England play Russia on Saturday.

Here, Football.co.uk gives you the armchair fan's guide to the weekend's matches.

FRIDAY:

Hosts France kick off the tournament in Group A against Romania at the Stade de France, Paris, at 8pm with the game broadcast on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live. France won Euro 2000 and head coach Didier Deschamps will be hoping for a repeat on home soil, where, as a player, he helped the country win the 1998 World Cup. Presenter Mark Pougatch is due to be joined by Lee Dixon, Emmanuel Petit, Slaven Bilic, Christian Karembeu and Louis Saha, with ITV's coverage starting at 7.15pm.

SATURDAY:

After all the build-up England begin their Group B campaign against Russia in Marseilles at 8pm. ITV have bagged the chance to show their opening game, with 5 Live also covering the match from the Stade Velodrome - which is where the Three Lions started their World Cup '98 campaign with a 2-0 win over Tunisia.

Earlier in the day, at 5pm, Wales open Group B against Slovakia at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux with the game on BBC1 and 5 Live. The BBC, with presenter Dan Walker, will also show Albania v Switzerland from Lens in the Stade Felix Bollaert-Delelis at 2pm, also on 5 Live, to complete the first games of Group A.

SUNDAY:

Northern Ireland end their long wait for a major tournament appearance when they face Poland at the Allianz Riviera in Nice in Group C's opener. Their last came at the 1986 World Cup and Michael O'Neill's side are aiming to protect their 12-game unbeaten run when they kick off in front of the BBC1 cameras and on 5 Live at 5pm.

Elsewhere in Group C, Germany face Ukraine on BBC1 and 5 Live at 8pm in the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille. Group D also opens with Turkey v Croatia at the Parc des Princes, Paris, at 2pm on ITV and 5 Live. Republic of Ireland fans must wait until Monday for their first game when they play Sweden in Group E at the Stade de France at 5pm on BBC1 and 5 Live.

Source: PA-WIRE