ESPN announces host and studio talent for Euro 2016 TV coverage

ESPN’s talent that will be bringing Euro 2016 into homes across the United States this summer will have a very familiar look. In fact, the talent is almost identical to the team that received rave reviews for its coverage of World Cup 2014.

Based in a studio in France, Bob Ley leads a team of English-language studio hosts that includes Mike Tirico — his last assignment for ESPN before joining NBC Sports, as well as UK-based sports presenters Steve Bower and Alison Bender.

English-language studio analysts include former German National Team captain Michael Ballack, former Scottish National Team defender Craig Burley, former U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper and Soccer Hall of Famer Kasey Keller, 1998 FIFA World Cup champion and former French National Team defender Frank Leboeuf, former Everton FC manager and FA Cup-winning coach Roberto Martinez, former Argentina National Team player Santiago Solari, and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and former U.S. Women’s National Team striker Abby Wambach.

ESPN’s lead soccer analyst Taylor Twellman and former England National Team player Steve McManaman, who will call matches with Ian Darke, will also appear in-studio.

SEE MORE: ESPN match commentators for EURO 2016.

What’s the biggest difference between ESPN’s talent for Euro 2016 and World Cup 2014? There’s no Alexi Lalas, who joined FOX Sports last year and will be covering Copa America this summer.

ESPN’s Euro 2016 highlights:

· ESPN’s English-language studio programming – 30-minute pre-game show, halftime, post-game and SportsCenter segments – will originate from France;

· Recently retired Wambach, one of America’s most-successful soccer players, will make her television debut as a soccer pundit;

SEE MORE: Schedule of Euro 2016 games on TV and streaming

ESPN3 Surround will deliver exclusive content throughout EURO 2016, offering a companion experience to complement the matches on television with four different streams for each match – a Spider Cam feed, a Spider Cam triple-box feed, Tactical Cam, and Tactical Cam triple-box feed – offering fans alternate camera angles, experiences and stories around the game.

For cord cutters, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial to Sling TV to watch all of the games from ESPN on your computer, smart phone, tablet, smart TV or Roku.