By DAN KARELL

The defending World Cup champions were given a small dose of reality last Saturday when they fell, 2-0, at Poland.

Now with a chance to regroup, a depleted Germany side host the Republic of Ireland in Gelsenkirchen, with a little bit more pressure riding on the game than originally anticipated. Since the World Cup, Germany are dealing with the absences due to international retirement of Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, and Per Mertesacker, as well as injuries to Mesut Özil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bendikt Höwedes, Marco Reus, Mario Gomez, and many others.

Robbie Keane and Ireland meanwhile are hoping to prove that the luck of the Irish extends all the way to Germany.

Elsewhere in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, Portugal look to rebound from their qualification defeat to Albania when they hit the road to take on Denmark, Scotland visit Poland, and Greece host Northern Ireland, among nine UEFA matches.

In friendly action, Euro 2016 host France kicks off the day when they take on Armenia, with matches between Chile vs. Bolivia, the USA vs. Honduras, and Canada vs. Colombia to follow.

If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by–play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today’s schedule is after the jump):

12 p.m. – ESPN Deportes/ESPN3 – Armenia vs. France

2:45 p.m. – FOX Sports 2 – Republic of Ireland vs. Germany

2:45 p.m. – ESPN 2 – Denmark vs. Portugal

2:45 p.m. – ESPN3 – San Marino vs. Switzerland

2:45 p.m. – ESPN3 – Faroe Islands vs. Hungary

2:45 p.m. – ESPN3 – Finland vs. Romania

2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus – Greece vs. Northern Ireland

2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer 2Go – Gibralter vs. Georgia

2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer 2Go – Serbia vs. Albania

7 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Chile vs. Boligia

7 p.m. – beIN Sports en Español – El Salvador vs. Ecuador

8 p.m. – ESPN – USA vs. Honduras

8:30 p.m. – FOX Deportes – Cerro Porteño vs. Lanus

9 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Peru vs. Guatemala

9:15 p.m. – beIN Sports USA/en Español – Canada vs. Colombia