Saturday 21st November
11:00 Rubin Kazan v Zenith St Petersburg, Russian Premier Liga, ESPN
What better way to return to club football than by watching a potential domestic title decider?
Yep, it's starting to get a bit parky in Russia and this is the penultimate round of the season.
Click to continue reading...
Monday 16th November
19:45 Coleraine v Glenavon, IFA Premiership, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Not much to talk about this week. The last knockings of World Cup qualifying is underway with
precious little local interest. So instead, Sky have wheeled out this rare gem from Northern
Ireland.
Tuesday 17th November
19:45 Northern Ireland v Czech Republic, U21 International , Sky Sports 1& HD1
This is a European Championship Qualifier.
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Saturday 14 November
07.00 New Zealand v Bahrain, World Cup Qualifying Play-off 2nd Leg (0-0), British Eurosport
A treat for early risers to decide the 24th qualifier for next summer's World Cup. A goalless first
leg sees the All Whites as narrow favourites to progress. Bahrain haven't relied on Brazialian
ringers for their success (unlike their neighbours) and fully deserve their shot at getting to the
finals.
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Friday 6th November
19:30 Leverkusen v Frankfurt, Bundesliga, ESPN
Leverkusen find themselves one point ahead at the top of the Bundesliga, but they've only beaten
Frankfurt once in their last six meetings. Normally stingy in defence, they conceded two goals late
on last week against Schalke, so the potential for a further wobble here is considerable.
Click to continue reading...
Monday 2 November
19.45 Sheffield Utd v Newcastle Utd, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1
The Blades are in an awful slump that could see them in big trouble if they don't snap out of it
quick. A last minute winner from Kevin Nolan ended Newcastle's own winless run last time out but
they can go back top with a win here.
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Friday 30th October
19:30 Dortmund v Hertha Berlin, Bundesliga, ESPNNot a great offering from the Bundesliga this weekend. Hertha are awful and Dortmund got knocked
out of the Cup in midweek. If you must get involved then have a butchers atBVB's Lucas Barrios who
has scored four goals in four games.
Click to continue reading...
Another week, another World Cup tournament - this time FIFA's top competition for Under-17 players
currently going on in Nigeria until November 15th. As with the Under-20 World Cup, Eurosport UK are
covering the tournament so check their website for programme information. We'll pay closer
attention ourselves when it gets to the latter stages, but for now we're concentrating on.
Click to continue reading...
Friday 23 October
19.30 Bayer Leverkusen v Dortmund, Bundesliga, ESPN
BVB's fourth Ruhr derby in a row sees them make the short trip to the current table-toppers.
Readers of the Bundesbag will know of our resident expert's suspicion as to whether or not
Leverkusen can keep hold of their lofty place - this could certainly be where they lose it.
Click to continue reading...
Monday 19th October
19:45 Leeds Utd v Norwich City, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1Paul Lambert has settled the shredded nerves at Carrow Road and the Canaries are now unbeaten in
five games. A hot reception awaits them at Elland Road, though, and the best Norwich can hope for
is a point.
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Friday 16th October
19:00 Ghana v Brazil, FIFA U-20 World Cup Final, British Eurosport
Brazil's 'goals scored' column from their last three games reads like a NASA countdown - 3, 2, and
finally the one goal which knocked Costa Rica out in the semis. Ghana, meanwhile have scored eight
in their last three and look more than capable of an upset.
Click to continue reading...
If you're looking for a way to liven up the dead rubber that is England v Belarus, look no further
than Football 3s - the micro Fantasy Football site that's quick, fun and easy to play. All you need
is a TV showing the England game (ITV1 are showing it here in the UK - check our Midweek TV Preview
for more details) and a computer connected to the internet once things are underway.
Click to continue reading...
Monday 12th October
19:45 Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1Rovers are now John Barnes-free after a pretty awful start to the campaign. County are only a few
places above them. Needless to say both teams are skint and don't have much to work with, squad
wise.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Saturday 10 October
11.20 Japan v Scotland, International Friendly, BBC2 Scotland/BBC Red Button
An unfamiliar Scotland team travel half-way around the world for a pointless game.
15.00 Finland v Wales, World Cup Qualifying - UEFA Group 4, BBC2 Wales/BBC Red Button
Dead rubber.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Monday 5th October
15:30 Spain v Italy, FIFA U-20 World Cup Last 16, British Eurosport
19:00 Paraguay v South Korea, FIFA U-20 World Cup Last 16, British Eurosport 2
With another double-header of World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, we find ourselves staring into a
gaping void in the footballing calendar this week.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Friday 2 October
19.30 Schalke 04 v Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga, ESPN
An intriguing one this. While Schalke lie fourth, they desperately need to improve matters at home
having lost five of their last six matches at the Veltins-Arena. United, meanwhile, are unbeaten on
their travels, picking up seven points from a possible nine so far this season.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Monday 28th September
20:00 Manchester City v West Ham Utd, Barclays Premier League, ESPN & HDOne of the games of the weekend. City are through to the next round of the Cup and will be anxious
to continue their programme for World Domination (local derbies not withstanding).
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Before we start,
Some People Are On The Pitch would like to direct your attention to the
FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt which began on Thursday. All the matches are being screened
live on
Eurosport. Given the lack of any genuinely eye catching fixtures this weekend,
discerning football fans may want to have a look.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Monday 21st September
19:45 Cliftonville v Linfield, IFA Premiership, Sky Sports 1
We start this week with another all-too-rare dipping of the toes into the world of Northern Irish
football. You have to go back almost exactly three years for the last time Cliftonville beat
Linfield in a league fixture and on current form fourth-placed Linfield should beat their opponents
three places below them again.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Monday 14th September
19:45 MK Dons v Norwich City, League One Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD1
Another mammoth Midweek TV Preview begins with an England v Scotland clash - in managerial terms,
at least. Paul Ince's MK Dons and Paul Lambert's Norwich are enjoying similar form at the moment,
but Norwich need the points more after a poor start.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Saturday 12 September
12.15 Motherwell v Rangers, Scottish Premier League, Sky Sports 3/HD3
Three games in and both sides have yet to taste the bitterness of defeat. Rangers go into this with
a 100% record and haven't lost any of their the last 24 games against Motherwell.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Saturday 5th September
12:15 Charlton Athletic v Brentford, League One, Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports HD1
Your Saturday of international football viewing gets underway with the only domestic game on TV.
League One leaders Charlton aim to make it six wins out of six against Brentford in the first
league meeting between these two since 1993.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
The more observant amongst you will notice that this week's Midweek TV Preview is unnaturally
short. We would like to point out that this is not because we forgot to write most of it - merely
that next weekend's World Cup qualifiers have resulted in most domestic football being put on the
back burner for a week.
Click to continue reading...
(All times UK)
Friday 28th August
19:30 Borussia Monchengladbach v Mainz, Bundesliga, ESPN
Even after three games, 'Gladbach look woefully inconsistent. However, their mercurial if flighty
forwards will fancy having a crack against newly promoted Mainz who may still have their heads
turned after that fantastic victory over Bayern Munich last weekend.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Monday 24th August
19:45 Norwich City v Sunderland, Carling Cup 2nd Round, Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports HD1
A tale of two managers to begin with. After their catastrophic start to the season, Norwich have
replaced Bryan Gunn with Paul Lambert, the manager of the Colchester side that beat them 7-1 on the
opening day of the Championship season, and to good effect.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Friday 21st August
19.30 Hoffenheim v Schalke 04, Bundesliga, ESPN
Hoff will be looking for their first win of the season against a Schalke team in bullish form. Hoff
have only won twice in nine attempts in their new home, the Rhein-Neckar Arena, so Schalke will be
looking to maintain their 100% start.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Saturday 15th August
12.45 Chelsea v Hull City, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports HD1
The Premier League begins right here (as Sky are probably only too keen to remind you). Hull earned
a creditable goalless draw here last season but few will predict anything similar this time around.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Saturday 15th August
12.45 Chelsea v Hull City, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports HD1
The Premier League begins right here (as Sky are probably only too keen to remind you). Hull earned
a creditable goalless draw here last season but few will predict anything similar this time around.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Monday 10 August
19.45 Darlington v Leeds Utd, Carling Cup 1st Round, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Leeds scored five at this stage of the competition last season and made it as far as the fourth
round. Darlington's journey ended in extra time at Watford in round two. Leeds didn't really
convince against newly-promoted Exeter at the weekend but did a lot better than Darlington who were
comfortably beaten by Aldershot.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Friday 7 August
19:30 Wolfsburg v Stuttgart, Bundesliga, ESPNThe Bundesliga gets underway with a blue ribbon event at the home of the Champions, Wolfsburg. The
Wolves may have lost their coach but have retained their forwards who helped spectacularly to
deliver the title last May.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Sunday 14 June
15:00 South Africa v Iraq, FIFA Confederations Cup Group A, BBC Interactive
Expect this match to be high on pathos but low on quality. Neither team is in great shape but it's
nice to see the Asian champions taking centre stage along with the hosts in front of a packed house
and a global(ish) audience.
Click to continue reading...
Asia
As we've just mentioned in our TV Preview, Asia is awash with three new countries that have
qualified for the Finals in South Africa next year.
From Group 1, Australia and Japan are assured of occupying the top two places after the Aussies
played out a goalless draw against Qatar and Japan won 1-0 away to Uzbekistan.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Wednesday 10th June
11:00 Australia v Bahrain, World Cup Qualifier, British Eurosport
Dead Rubber of the Week #1: As we'll be discussing shortly, Australia secured their place at the
2010 World Cup at the weekend following their goalless draw against Qatar.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Saturday 6th June
09:00 North Korea v Iran, World Cup Qualifier, British Eurosport
Iran have much work to do. Lying fourth out of five teams in Asia Group 2 and four points behind
their opponents, a defeat would pretty much spell the end of their chances. That said, Iran have
won the three previous World Cup qualifiers between these two sides, so a congratulatory phone call
to Pak Doo Ik might have to wait a little longer yet.
Click to continue reading...
(All times - UK)
Friday 15 May
19.45 MK Dons v Scunthorpe Utd, League One Play-off Semi-final 2nd Leg (1-1), Sky Sports 1/HD1
All square in this one to see who joins Millwall at Wembley.
Saturday 16 May
12.30 Rangers v Aberdeen, Scottish Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
Setanta have the pick of the fixtures this weekend compared to Sky's raft of meaningless
end-of-season ties.
Click to continue reading...
(All times UK)
Monday 11 May
19:45 Sheffield United v Preston, Championship Play-off Semi-final 2nd Leg (1st leg 1-1), Sky
Sports 1 & HD1
A tense night is in store at Bramhall Lane. There are no away goals in the play-offs so advantage
for Preston. Advantage The Blades then?
Click to continue reading...
