Two England World Cup games on TF1

TWO of England’s World Cup group games will be broadcast free to air in France.

TF1 will show England’s games against Italy and Uruguay next month.

Those France-based England fans who want to see Roy Hodgson’s side take on Costa Rica have the option of subscribing to beIN Sports, or finding another outlet to see the game.

As reported in March, the national broadcaster sold on partial TV rights to beIN Sports for a reported €50m.

The decision to sell on some matches has sparked controversy. MP Jean-Luc Laurent called on secretary of state for sport Thierry Bawler to intevene and accused TF1 of depriving the public of free access to essential first-round matches for an “accounting decision”.

He said: “For the first time, the World Cup will only be partially visible to the French because of the decision of TF1 to sell most of the first-round matches to pay-channel beIN Sports.”

TF1 will show 28 matches live - 16 from the first round and 12 from the knockout phase - including all matches involving the French national team, the first pick of games from first knockout round and the quarter-finals, the two semi-finals and the final.

The pay-TV broadcaster, which has 1.7million subscribers in France, will show all 64 games, and has exclusive rights to 36 matches, including England’s match against Costa Rica on June 24, and all three of the USA’s group fixtures.

Subscriptions to see every World Cup match on beIN Sports cost €12 per month, or €11 per month when taking out a full year’s subscription.

It is also reportedly planning a special online service for football fans who cannot access the channel via their TV set.

TF1 has so far confirmed it will broadcast the following 16 first-round matches live from Brazil:

June 12
Brazil v Croatia (kick off 10pm)
June 13
Spain v Netherlands (kick off 9pm)
June 14
England v Italy (kick off 12am)
June 15
Switzerland v Ecuador (kick off 6pm)
France v Honduras (kick off 9pm)
June 16
Germany v Portugal (kick off 6pm)
June 17
Belgium v Algeria (kick off 6pm)
Brazil v Mexico (kick off 9pm)
June 18
Spain v Chile (kick off 9pm)
June 19
Uruguay v England (kick off 9pm)
June 20
Switzerland v France (kick off 9pm)
June 21
Germany v Ghana (kick off 9pm)
June 23
Cameroon v Brazil (kick off 10pm)
June 24
Italy v Uruguay (kick off 6pm)
June 25
Ecuador v France (kick off 10pm)
June 26
Portugal v Ghana (kick off 6pm)

TF1 will also show both semi finals and the final. A decision on which matches to show from the first knockout round and the quarter finals has yet to be made.