World Cup 2014: ITV showing England games against Uruguay and Costa Rica, with BBC to air opener between versus Italy

ITV will show the opening game of the tournament between Brazil and Croatia

A view of the World Cup trophy (GETTY IMAGES)

BBC and ITV have announced how the games at the World Cup will be split, with England's first game of the tournament against Italy being shown by the BBC.

The next two group games involving Roy Hodgson's side, against Uruguay and then Costa Rica, will be on ITV.

It would appear the BBC are ready to gamble on the Three Lions progressing from Group D, as they will have the first pick of the games from the round of 16, in which they have already said they will pick England.

The BBC will also have first pick of the semi-finals, while ITV will have their choice of the quarter-finals. Both channels will show the final.

Check out our guide to the 10 best games of the group stage

Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport said: "We're very pleased with our selection of matches which includes England's highly anticipated opening match with Italy along with their crucial first knock out match, if they proceed, and the first pick of the semi-finals. We also have some extremely appetising peak time group games including Spain v Holland, Spain v Chile, Brazil v Mexico and Germany v Ghana."

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: "The World Cup begins on ITV for UK viewers next year and we're looking forward to showing live two of England's three group matches as well as two of Brazil's, including the tournament's opening game between the hosts and Croatia in Sao Paulo. We will also broadcast the key match between two of Europe's most fancied sides, Germany and Portugal, as well as a chance to gauge the form of the other South American heavyweights, Argentina, in two of their group matches."

Which channel the games will be shown...

12 June

9pm ITV Brazil v Croatia

13 June

5pm ITV Mexico v Cameroon

8pm BBC Spain v Netherlands

11pm ITV Chile v Australia

14 June

5pm BBC Columbia v Greece

8pm ITV Uruguay v Costa Rica

11pm BBC England v Italy

2am ITV Ivory Coast v Japan

15 June

5pm ITV Switzerland v Ecuador

8pm BBC France v Honduras

11pm BBC Argentina v Bosnia

16 June

5pm ITV Germany v Portugal

8pm BBC Iran v Nigeria

11pm BBC Ghana v USA

17 June

8pm BBC Brazil v Mexico

5pm ITV Belgium v Algeria

11pm BBC Russia v South Korea

18 June

11pm ITV Cameroon v Croatia

5pm ITV Australia v Holland

8pm BBC Spain v Chile

19 June

5pm BBC Columbia v Ivory Coast

11pm BBC Japan v Greece

8pm ITV England v Uruguay

20 June

8pm ITV France v Switzerland

5pm BBC Italy v Costa Rica

11pm ITV Honduras v Ecuador

21 June

8pm BBC Germany v Ghana

5pm ITV Argentina v Iran

11pm BBC Nigeria v Bosnia

22 June

5pm BBC Belgium v Russia

11pm BBC USA v Portugal

8pm ITV South Korea v Algeria

23 June

9pm ITV Cameroon v Brazil

9pm ITV Croatia v Mexico

5pm ITV Australia v Spain

5pm ITV Holland v Chile

24 June

9pm BBC Japan v Columbia

9pm BBC Greece v Ivory Coast

5pm ITV England v Costa Rica

25 June

9pm BBC Ecuador v France

9pm BBC Honduras v Switzerland

5pm ITV Nigeria v Argentina

5pm ITV Bosnia v Iran

26 June

9pm ITV South Korea v Belgium

9pm ITV Algeria v Russia

5pm BBC USA V Germany

5pm BBC Portugal v Ghana