Photo by ISIphotos.com
Club soccer takes a break around the world (save for the USA and Mexico) which means international fixtures take center stage this weekend.There are crucial World Cup qualifiers and high-profile friendlies headlining this weekend's action.
The European World Cup playoffs are the most important matches internationally, while American fans will be focused on the MLS Conference finals as well as the USA-Slovakia friendly. Then there is a trio of top-notch international friendlies featuring six of the world's best teams.
In other words, there will be PLENTY of great matches to watch this weekend. Here is a rundown of our picks for the Top Ten Matches to Watch, as well as the weekend's full TV schedule:
Top Ten Matches to Watch
1. Slovakia vs. USA. No Landon Donovan or Tim Howard? No problem? This match should provide a good glimpse of the depth of Bradley's squad.
2. Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo. One of the most talent-laden conference finals in MLS history kicks off tonight in a must-see battle (assuming you can stay up late enough to watch).
3. Ireland vs. France. One of these European powers will miss the World Cup and we'll get a step closer to knowing which team it will be after this showdown.
4. Portugal vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina. Can Portugal win without Cristiano Ronaldo? We are about to find out as a very dangerous Bosnian team stands in Portugal's way in this first-leg World Cup playoff match.
5. Spain vs. Argentina. Never thought you'd see Lionel Messi going against Xavi and Iniesta? Well here's your chance in this star-studded friendly.
6. Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake. Not nearly the same star power as LA-Houston, but when you have an underdog like RSL and a villain like Cuauhtemoc Blanco, you have a knockout match worth watching.
7. Brazil vs. England. This match would be higher if not for the big names to drop out of this friendly. That said, it will still be fun to watch.
8. New Zealand vs. Bahrain. Yes, it is a 2am match, but how do you pass up a chance to see a winner-take-all World Cup play-in game?
9. Italy vs. Netherlands. Remember when the Dutch torched the Italians during Euro 2008? Yep, and so do the Italians. Look for fireworks in this friendly.
10. Pachuca vs. Tigres. Jose Francisco Torres vs. Edgar Castillo in a battle of players you wish were in Slovakia this weekend instead of Mexico.
This Weekend's Soccer on TV
FRIDAY
8pm– FSC- Princeton vs. Yale
11pm– ESPN2- Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo
2am– FSC- New Zealand vs. Bahrain
SATURDAY
10am– FSC/Galavision- Slovakia vs. USA
10am– ESPN360- Wales vs. Scotland
11am– Setanta USA- Russia vs. Slovenia
Noon– FSC- Brazil vs. England
1pm– Setanta USA- Greece vs. Ukraine
2pm– FSC- England vs. Portugal(UEFA Under-21 Championships)
2:45pm– GolTV/RAI- Italy vs. Netherlands
3pm– Setanta USA (Pay Per View)- Ireland vs. France
3pm– Setanta USA- Portugal vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
4pm– ESPN Deportes/ESPN360- Spain vs. Argentina
6pm– Telefutura- Pachuca vs. Tigres
6pm– Telemundo- Monterrey vs. Morelia
6pm– FSE- Jaguares vs. Atlas
6pm– Azteca America/ESPN Deportes- Puebla vs. Toluca
7:45pm– Setanta USA- Greece vs. Ukraine
8pm- FSC- Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake
8pm– Telemundo- Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Cruz Azul
8pm– Telefutura- Queretaro vs. San Luis
8pm– GolTV- Independiente Medellin vs. Once Caldas
9:30pm– Setanta USA- Portugal vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Delayed)
SUNDAY
10am– ESPN360.com- Colombia vs. Spain (Under-17 World Cup Third Place game.)
1pm- ESPN360/Galavision- Switzerland vs. Nigeria (Under-17 World Cup Final)
1pm- Telemundo-UNAM Pumas vs. Indios
5pm- Univision- Santos Laguna vs. Club America
—————–
Which matches are you most looking forward to? Who do you see winning the big friendlies? Ready to break a personal record for soccer viewing hours?
Share your thoughts below.
Costa Rica vs. Uruguay makes my top ten this weekend.
Anyone know who Spain and Argentina called in for the friendly?
Definitely keeping an eye on Egypt-Algeria
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8358365.stm
Man some soccer fans are disgusting
so are we getting a post about the galaxy match, maybe im just anxious, it is about a hour and half away
(SBI-I’ll be doing a running commentary on the LA-Houston match.)
anyone know where in NY city area (prefer long island) to watch the Ireland match?
Oh what an age we live in! “The top 10 soccer games to watch on TV this weekend”!!!
I love that you narrowed it down to the best 20 hours of TV for the weekend (about 60 hours)…and still you had to leave off some games that many people will watch over your top 10.
It truely is a good time to be a soccer fan.
agreed. better than some of the friendlies.
I pretty much wouldn’t even call Ireland a power amongst ‘Islands Northwest of Continental Europe’ much less a European power. France has no reason to not beat them handily.
luck o’ the Irish.
they’re always eastern
I was thinking the same.
ESPN coverage is supposed to start at 11, but the game does not start until 11:30. The football game should be over by then…. **crosses fingers**
Allez les Bleus!
times are eastern correct?
SICK WEEKEND LINE UP
haha seriously?!?! Egypt needs a three goal win? You’d better believe I’m gonna check that result…..
should have added that the USMNT take priority…but that should have been a given…
I’ll be able to watch France-Ireland…i have the french channel TV5…looking forward to watching the games and the results…
I wouldn’t automatically rate the Euro WC qualifiers above other regions. Uruguay-Costa Rica could be pretty good and, in Africa, Egypt is hosting Algeria needing a 3-goal win to clinch the berth in Group C or a 2-goal win to force a playoff.
Cameroon has a point lead over Gabon going into the final Group A qualifier but they don’t go head-to-head. But since African WCQs double as qualifiers for the African Nations Cup, they still face opponents who have something to play for (Cameroon is at Morocco while Gabon visits Togo).
Similarly in Group B, Tunisia has a 2-point lead over Nigeria for the WC berth. Tunisia plays at Mozambique while Nigeria plays at Kenya. Both Mozambique and Kenya can still qualify for African Nations Cup so the games should be high intensity.
Does anyone know what time the Costa Rica-Uruguay game is?
Drawing from prior experiences this season (when Seattle and DC in June was pushed back by the College World Series), the game won’t show up on Classic.
Maybe they’ll change that this time.
they typically go to espn classic
I could be wrong, but that’s why they have ESPN2 Alternate. You should have it if you have ESPN2. Look for ‘ESP2A’ in your listing.
did you really just mention O’Shea and hattrick in the same sentence? the guy has the record for most goals scored off a shin or a knee when meaning to kick the ball. luckiest player in the world, bar none.
You know we are going to miss about half of LA/Houston? The college football game is slated to start at 8. And our game at 11.
It takes well more than three hours to play a game of college football.
http://www.iraqgoals.net/
Watch every game for free. Of course, you won’t have hordes of people spilling beer on you when O’Shea nails a hattrick…
much more a comment on RSL I’m sure.
I work with a man from Morocco. He said watch out for the Algeria-Egypt match. The two countries hate each other. There has already been some trouble this week.
He said ” not nearly the same star power,” meaning not as much.
Again, reading comprehension folks…..
on the top 10 matches to watch you should have listed Costa Rica vs Uruguay. (if you have enough money to pay to watch it or can find a good internet feed.)
any way to watch france-ireland apart from setanta?
Blanco and Brian McBride = lack of star power? WTF??
(SBI-Didn’t say Chicago-RSL didn’t have star power, just not nearly as much as LA-Houston.)
Maybe I don’t understand how Setanta USA works, but how can they play both the France-Ireland game and Bosnia-Portugal game at the same time?
(SBI-Ireland/France is on Pay-Per-View.)
I’d hardly consider Ireland a European power…
ESPN360.com shows Argentina vs Spain live tomorrow.
Consider this a test run everybody, for watching next year’s World Cup. Time to stock up on your favorite beverages and snacks everyone.