The BBC has confirmed that former England trio Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand will join its coverage of the World Cup next month.
Germany’s 1990 World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann, Ivory Coast’s all-time leading scorer Didier Drogba and Pablo Zabaleta will add an international perspective to the broadcaster’s Match of the Day studio in Moscow’s Red Square.
The BBC will televise 33 live games, including England’s two opening Group G matches against Tunisia and Panama.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker will lead the Beeb’s coverage throughout the tournament, which starts on June 14th.
Other former internationals Phil Neville, Jermaine Jenas, Danny Murphy, Martin Keown and England women’s player Alex Scott will also be among the BBC pundits in Russia.
Gabby Logan will report from the England camp near St Petersburg, while Scott, England women’s second-most capped player, will appear on match coverage and across digital and social platforms.
And Vicki Sparks will become the first woman to commentate on a World Cup game for British TV, alongside regular commentators and pundits Kevin Kilbane, Mark Lawrenson, Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Steve Bower and Simon Brotherton.
Dan Walker will be reporting and presenting from Russia, as well as hosting a series of special editions of Football Focus on BBC World. Jason Mohammad will also be at the tournament with a brief that will take him around the country.
Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates will lead BBC Radio 5 live’s coverage from Russia, while Robbie Savage will host a daily World Cup breakfast show from 08:30 BST with a special guest each weekday of the tournament.
Former internationals Chris Waddle, Terry Butcher, Dion Dublin, Pat Nevin and Chris Sutton will also be travelling as pundits.
As expected there’s no place for Alan Green, who ruled himself out of the tournament on safety grounds.
Barbara Slater, director, BBC Sport, said: “The BBC prides itself on being the home of big sporting events and we are committed to delivering the best all-round coverage across TV, radio and digital of the World Cup 2018. This event deserves expert comment, analysis and insight and our unrivalled line-up of presenters, pundits and commentators are sure to engage viewers and listeners as excitement builds throughout the tournament.”
