In their respective openers, Saudi Arabia and Japan provided dream fuel for the underdogs of the 2022 World Cup field and maybe made the U.S. men’s national team’s set of September friendlies look a little more acceptable.
The question is: what does it mean? Did it actually shake anything up?
That will be answered when some of the sport’s superpowers get to regroup this weekend.
Saudi Arabia, who upset Lionel Messi and Argentina 2-1, remains to be a sneaky team we don’t know much about. As a nation, they did not have league play in the months heading into the World Cup and sharpened themselves against the likes of Croatia, Colombia, and of course the USMNT. Did that seven-game slate of friendlies give the team a clear advantage?
It remains to be seen, but it certainly spells trouble for Mexico, which has to deal with a scorned and motivated Argentina on Saturday. Not exactly an ideal situation considering the Saudi’s already own three points in Group C.
When Japan upset Germany, it gave Spain a larger cushion than it would have ever imagined having after a 7-0 drubbing of Costa Rica. Now, the Germans go head to head with the Spaniards in a must-win match that has no shortage of superstars on show.
Of course, Friday’s England-USMNT contest is the one we’ve all been waiting for. Please refer to SBI’s homepage for several pieces eying in on that match, and what’s being said in the USMNT squad from Qatar.
If you need a break from World Cup action, both Wrexham and Venezia, two foreign teams with popularity, rage on. Wrexham takes on Farnborough in Saturday’s FA Cup slate, while Venezia locks horns with Palermo in Italy’s Serie B on Sunday.
Here is a full rundown of this weekend’s Soccer on TV and Online and Top 5 Matches to Watch:
This Weekend’s Top 5 Matches to Watch
- England vs United States – For many on both sides of the battle, this will be judgement day. Is the USMNT ready to mix it up with the contenders?
- Spain vs Germany – Spain’s 7-0 opener over Costa Rica spells trouble for the Germans, who fell 2-1 to Japan. A loss here almost guarantees an early crash-out from the 2014 World Cup champions.
- Croatia vs Canada – Canada, despite still waiting for its first-ever World Cup goal, held its own against Belgium. Croatia feels weaker, and if the Canadians bring their A-game again, could be in for a reward.
- Argentina vs Mexico – Argentina should have a chip on its shoulder, can Mexico handle it?
- Japan vs Costa Rica – If Japan can beat Germany and Costa Rica got routed by Spain, what happens here? Can Costa Rica pick itself up off the floor?
This Weekend’s Soccer on TV and Online
Friday
FIFA World Cup
2 p.m. – FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo – England vs United States
NCAA Women’s Soccer
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Alabama vs Duke
Saturday
FIFA World Cup
5 a.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – Tunisia vs Australia
8 a.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – Poland vs Saudi Arabia
11 a.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – France vs Denmark
2 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – Argentina vs Mexico
English FA Cup
7:45 a.m. – ESPN+ – King’s Lynn Town vs Stevenage
10 a.m. – ESPN+ – Forest Green Rovers vs Alvechurch
10:15 a.m. – ESPN+, fuboTV – Wrexham vs Farnborough
12 p.m. – ESPN+ – Dagenham & Redbridge vs Gillingham
Colombian Primera A
6 p.m. – fuboTV – Rionegro Águilas vs Deportivo Pasto
8:05 p.m. – fuboTV – Medellín vs América de Cali
Italian Serie B
9 a.m. – fuboTV – Parma vs Modena
Spanish Segunda Division
4 p.m. – ESPN+ – Las Palmas vs Tenerife
NCAA Men’s Soccer
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Vermont vs UCLA
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Tulsa vs Creighton
8 p.m. – ESPN+ – Western Mich. vs Portland
NCAA Women’s Soccer
5 p.m. – ESPN+ – Florida St. vs Arkansas
5 p.m. – ESPN+ – North Carolina vs Notre Dame
9 p.m. – ESPN+ – Virginia vs UCLA
Sunday
FIFA World Cup
5 a.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – Japan vs Costa Rica
8 a.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – Belgium vs Morocco
11 a.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – Croatia vs Canada
2 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo – Spain vs Germany
English FA Cup
7:30 a.m. – ESPN+ – Ebbsfleet United vs Fleetwood Town
9 a.m. – ESPN+ – Bristol Rovers vs Boreham Wood
9 a.m. – ESPN+ – Burton Albion vs Chippenham Town
10:15 a.m. – ESPN+ – Newport County vs Derby County
12 p.m. – ESPN+ – Ipswich Town vs Buxton
Colombian Primera A
6 p.m. – fuboTV – Millonarios vs Junior
8:05 p.m. – fuboTV – Deportivo Pereira vs Santa Fe
Italian Serie B
9 a.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Como vs Bari 1908
12 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Palermo vs Venezia
Spanish Segunda Division
12 p.m. – ESPN+ – Cartagena vs Eibar
NCAA Men’s Soccer
1 p.m. – ESPN+ – Duke vs FIU
2 p.m. – ESPN+ – Syracuse vs Cornell
6 p.m. – ESPN+ – Kentucky vs Pittsburgh
6:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Indiana vs Marshall
8 p.m. – ESPN+ – Stanford vs UNC Greensboro