With Qatar looming in November, this final stretch of matches should be about fine-tuning the machine for the European sides betting on making a deep World Cup run.
Instead, several head coaches come into the week looking for major improvements.
The opening round of the UEFA Nations League has offered surprises almost exclusively, headlined by England’s shocking loss to Hungary. England, ranked fifth in the world as of the latest men’s FIFA rankings, really couldn’t afford the loss as it is grouped with Germany and Italy, who should figure to do enough to advance.
England did get a little help in the form of a 1-1 tie between Germany and Italy on Saturday though and sees the former on Tuesday to headline the week’s soccer viewing options.
The 2018 World Cup final isn’t so far in the rearview that Wednesday’s Croatia – France matchup won’t feel like something of a rematch. On Friday, the French also opened the tournament with an unexpected loss, falling 2-1 to Denmark. Croatia, which fell to Austria 3-0, is also looking for its first Nations League win.
Belgium also took a shock loss in the opening week and has to take on Poland Thursday. The Poles opened their campaign in better form with a weekend win over Wales and will look to bury the Belgians deep early in Group D.
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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. Germany vs England – Neither had a stellar Nations League opener and should feel pressure to grab a convincing win here.
2. Croatia vs France – Same story as above, but with a little more pressure on France.
3. Belgium vs Poland – Belgium is not far removed from being called the best team in the world and is at high risk of losing more power. A loss to Poland wouldn’t exactly be a shocker, either.
4. Japan vs Brazil – A clear mismatch that should showcase Brazil’s class.
5. United Arab Emirates vs Australia – The loser’s World Cup dreams end here, while the winner has to go through Peru to claim its spot.
This Week’s Soccer on TV and Online
Monday
UEFA Nations League
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Latvia vs Liechtenstein
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Austria vs Denmark
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV – Croatia vs France
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Iceland vs Albania
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Belarus vs Azerbaijan
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Slovakia vs Kazakhstan
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Andorra vs Moldova
CONCACAF Nations League
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs Nicaragua
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – Bonaire vs Sint Maarten
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – U.S. Virgin Islands vs Turks and Caicos Islands
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Cayman Islands vs British Virgin Islands
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Aruba vs Saint Martin
8 p.m. – Paramount+ – Trinidad and Tobago vs Bahamas
10 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Honduras vs Curaçao
Argentine Primera División
6 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV – Rosario Central vs Lanús
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV – Argentinos Juniors vs Aldosivi
Brasileirão
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Botafogo vs Goiás
Men’s International Friendly
6:20 a.m. – fuboTV – Japan vs Brazil
Toulon Tournament
9 a.m. – fuboTV – Japan U23 vs Saudi Arabia U23
11:30 a.m. – fuboTV – Algeria U23 vs Comoros U20
African Cup of Nations Qualification
3 p.m. – fuboTV – Equatorial Guinea vs Libya
Uruguayan Primera Division
5:30 p.m. – fuboTV – Wanderers vs Boston River
Tuesday
UEFA Nations League
12 p.m. – Fox Sports 2, fuboTV – Finland vs Montenegro
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Germany vs England
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV – Italy vs Hungary
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Romania
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Faroe Islands vs Luxembourg
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Lithuania vs Turkey
CONCACAF Nations League
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – Guyana vs Bermuda
5 p.m. – Paramount+ – Haiti vs Montserrat
7 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Grenada vs El Salvador
9 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Jamaica vs Suriname
World Cup Qualifying
2 p.m. – Paramount+ – United Arab Emirates vs Australia
NWSL
10 p.m. – Paramount+ – Angel City vs Houston Dash
Argentine Primera B Nacional
5:10 p.m. – fuboTV – Almirante Brown vs Flandria
Brasileirão
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Cuiabá vs Corinthians
African Cup of Nations Qualification
12 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Zambia vs Comoros
3 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Rwanda vs Senegal
Wednesday
UEFA Nations League
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV – Belgium vs Poland
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Wales vs Netherlands
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Scotland vs Armenia
2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Ireland Republic vs Ukraine
NWSL
8 p.m. – Paramount+ – Chicago Red Stars vs Washington Spirit
10 p.m. – CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, fuboTV – San Diego Wave vs Portland Thorns
Brasileirão
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – América Mineiro vs Ceará
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Juventude vs Athletico-PR
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – RB Bragantino vs Flamengo
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Atlético Goianiense vs Avaí
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Fluminense vs Atlético Mineiro
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Santos vs Internacional
African Cup of Nations Qualification
12 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Tanzania vs Algeria
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Gabon vs Mauritania
3 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Sudan vs Congo DR
USL Championship
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Miami FC vs Indy Eleven
7:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Loudoun United vs New York RB II
8 p.m. – ESPN+ – Birmingham Legion vs Memphis 901
MLS Next Pro
9 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Colorado Rapids II vs St. Louis City II
10 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – San Jose Earthquakes II vs Minnesota United II
USL League One
9 p.m. – ESPN+ – Northern Colorado vs North Carolina
Thursday
UEFA Nations League
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV – Portugal vs Czech Republic
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Switzerland vs Spain
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Norway vs Slovenia
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Sweden vs Serbia
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Kosovo vs Northern Ireland
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Greece vs Cyprus
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Gibraltar vs Bulgaria
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – North Macedonia vs Georgia
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Malta vs Estonia
CONCACAF Nations League
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Dominica vs St. Lucia
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Barbados vs Guadeloupe
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Belize vs French Guiana
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Aruba vs St. Kitts and Nevis
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Cayman Islands vs Puerto Rico
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Antigua and Barbuda vs Cuba
8 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Panama vs Martinique
10:30 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Canada vs Curaçao
Argentine Primera División
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Newell’s Old Boys vs San Lorenzo
Brasileirão
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Palmeiras vs Botafogo
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Fortaleza vs Goiás
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Coritiba vs São Paulo
Men’s International Friendly
1 p.m. – fuboTV, FOX Deportes – Saudi Arabia vs Venezuela
Toulon Tournament
8:30 a.m. – fuboTV – Semi Final 1
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Semi Final 2
African Cup of Nations Qualification
9 a.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Burundi vs Cameroon
9 a.m. – fuboTV – South Sudan vs Mali
12 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Ethiopia vs Egypt
1 p.m. – fuboTV – Lesotho vs Côte d’Ivoire
3 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Morocco vs South Africa
MLS Next Pro
7 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Columbus Crew II vs Inter Miami II