The heights of winning EURO 2020 and the lows of missing the cut on the 2022 World Cup must have Italian national team fans feeling a little conflicted about the skill level of their nation’s side.
Obviously, nothing can excuse back-to-back absences in World Cup play, but a good showing against Argentina in the first CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions — the Finalissima — on Wednesday would be a start in the regeneration on the international stage.
The game is also set to be the last international appearance for Italian centerback Giorgio Chiellini, who will look to make it a memorable one in his 117th and final appearance for the Azzurri.
Argentina will be looking to add another trophy after winning the Copa America last summer, with Lionel Messi headlining a strong squad that includes Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala.
The UEFA Nations League also kicks off this week, with Wednesday’s Spain – Portugal tie being an opening matchup worthy of a final.
The U.S. men’s national team’s friendly with Morocco on Wednesday will garner most of the attention in our region this week.
American fans will be hoping to see a striker emerge as a clear leader in the pack as judgment day in Qatar looms, only six months away. The USMNT has never beaten Morocco in three tries, but few players of the current generation are even old enough to remember the last time the sides met in 1998 and are more than capable of helping be the first to do it.
One of the USMNT’s Group B opponents for Qatar will get a little more clarity on Wednesday when Scotland and Ukraine play out the penultimate European qualifier. The winner will face Wales in hopes of cementing a World Cup bid on Sunday.
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Here is a look at This Week’s Top 5 Matches to Watch, as well as a full rundown of This Week’s Soccer on TV and Online:
This Week’s Top 5 Matches to Watch
1. United States vs Morocco – The World Cup bid is secured. Can the USMNT show something a little better than its qualifying closer back in March?
2. Italy vs Argentina – Messi, Chiellini, and a cast of superstars vying for a trophy.
3. Scotland vs Ukraine – Everything is on the line here, and a quick-turn week awaits the winner.
4. Spain vs Portugal – The headlining match in the UEFA Nations League opening action.
5. Mexico vs Uruguay – El Tri gets a healthy test in its World Cup tune-up tour.
This Week’s Soccer on TV and Online
Monday
NWSL
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Kansas City Current vs Racing Louisville FC
Argentine Primera B Nacional
8:10 p.m. – fuboTV – Deportivo Morón vs Deportivo Riestra
Brasileirão
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Internacional vs Atlético Goianiense
CAF Champions League
3 p.m. – fuboTV – Al Ahly vs Wydad Casablanca
Toulon Tournament
7:30 a.m. – fuboTV – Indonesia U19 vs Venezuela U23
11:30 a.m. – fuboTV – Mexico U21 vs Ghana U20
Peruvian Primera Division
4:30 p.m. – fuboTV – Sport Huancayo vs Alianza Atlético
8 p.m. – fuboTV – Alianza Lima vs Cienciano
Tuesday
Colombian Primera A
7 p.m. – fuboTV – Atlético Bucaramanga vs Junior
9:05 p.m. – fuboTV – Atlético Nacional vs Millonarios
Toulon Tournament
8 a.m. – fuboTV – Japan U19 vs Algeria U23
11:30 a.m. – fuboTV – Colombia U19 vs Comoros U20
MLS Next Pro
10 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Tacoma Defiance vs Portland Timbers II
Wednesday
Men’s International Friendly
7:30 p.m. – ESPN2, fuboTV, TUDN USA – United States vs Morocco
UEFA Nations League
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Poland vs Wales
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV – Italy vs Argentina
World Cup Qualifying
2:45 p.m. – ESPN2, ESPN+, fuboTV – Scotland vs Ukraine
NWSL
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Washington Spirit vs Chicago Red Stars
Brasileirão
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Fortaleza vs Ceará
Colombian Primera A
7 p.m. – fuboTV – La Equidad vs Envigado
9:05 p.m. – fuboTV – Deportes Tolima vs Medellín
Toulon Tournament
8 a.m. – fuboTV – Panama U23 vs Argentina U20
11:30 a.m. – fuboTV – France U20 vs Saudi Arabia U20
African Cup of Nations Qualification
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Libya vs Botswana
3 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Ghana vs Madagascar
USL Championship
7:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Atlanta United II vs Rio Grande Valley
8:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – FC Tulsa vs Tampa Bay Rowdies
10 p.m. – ESPN+ – Oakland Roots vs Orange County SC
USL League One
6:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Richmond Kickers vs Chattanooga Red Wolves
Thursday
UEFA Nations League
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Cyprus vs Kosovo
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Bulgaria vs North Macedonia
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Estonia vs San Marino
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Czech Republic vs Switzerland
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV – Spain vs Portugal
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Israel vs Iceland
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Serbia vs Norway
2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Slovenia vs Sweden
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Northern Ireland vs Greece
Men’s International Friendly
7 a.m. – fuboTV – Korea Republic vs Brazil
8:30 p.m. – fuboTV, FOX Deportes – Ecuador vs Nigeria
10 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA, UniMás – Mexico vs Uruguay
CONCACAF Nations League
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – Anguilla vs Dominica
5 p.m. – Paramount+ – French Guiana vs Guatemala
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Belize vs Dominican Republic
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Panama vs Costa Rica
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Barbados vs Antigua and Barbuda
8 p.m. – Paramount+ – Guadeloupe vs Cuba
Toulon Tournament
7:30 a.m. – Fanatiz USA, fuboTV – Ghana U20 vs Indonesia U19
11:30 a.m. – Fanatiz USA, fuboTV – Mexico U21 vs Venezuela U23
African Cup of Nations Qualification
3 p.m. – fuboTV – Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea
UEFA Euro U-21 Qualifying
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – France U21 vs Serbia U21
USL Championship
5 p.m. – ESPN+ – New York RB II vs San Diego Loyal
MLS Next Pro
7 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Rochester New York vs Toronto II
Last time USMNT played Morocco was not in 1998 but in 2006 in the pre-world cup friendlies which they lost 1-0 to Morocco, even though the USMNT dominated play and missed quite a few opportunities.