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What to Watch Today (Part 1 of 2): Final Day of Euro2012 Qualifying Round

October 11, 2011 — by John Lally

[Editor's note: Today is the final day of the qualifying round for Euro 2012. John Lally provides us with a rundown of which of today's 22 fixtures actually matter for qualification.  Click through the "Group X" headings to see the group standings on UEFA's site, click thru the hyperlinked fixtures for further TV info and match previews on livesoccertv.com]
Germany vs Belgium - today in Dusseldorf
Group A: Germany vs Belgium (1pmET ESPN2, ESPN Deportes,ESPN3.com) & Turkey vs Azerbaijan (1pmET, foxsoccer.tv): Germany already topped the group, Belgium is but a single point above Turkey in race for playoff spot.  Turkey should win at home against Azerbaijan, meaning Belgium has to go into Dusseldorf and win against their powerful neighbors. Group B: Republic of Ireland vs Armenia (1:45pmET ESPN3.com) - If Armenia win, they get the playoff spot, an Ireland win or draw gives them second place (Russia is in 1st place only 2 points

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What To Watch This Weekend, Interlull Edition (Part 1 of n)

October 7, 2011 — by Suman

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Another interlull upon us--no club matches, as the top players are jetting around to join their national sides. There's a full and relatively interesting slate of Euro2012 qualifiers, given the that qualifying group stage finally wraps up on Tuesday: 20 fixtures today, out of which we've picked 5 to keep an eye on, and then 22 more on Tuesday. We start with five Euro qualifiers plus one friendly; we'll be back over the course of next few days with picks for Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (hence the "Part 1 of n", where n is somewhere between 1 and 4). In fact, all five of the matches we've chosen are between the top two teams in their respective group tables--which is what's important of qualification.  The 9 group winners qualify directly for the tournament in Poland & Ukraine next summer, as well as the runner-up with the best record. The other

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CommentaryEngland

Underdog Arsenal Match Report: Tail Between Legs

October 2, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

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If you write an optimistic match preview and it just doesn’t pan out, it’s never fun writing the post-match report. Such are the perils of wishful thinking. You have to walk back to the discussion with tail firmly between legs, no one’s fault but your own.
Kyle Walker proves the match winner.
Put simply, Tottenham earned the 2-1 win today, not only because Arsenal’s defense was again found lacking but because the attack didn’t have nearly enough attack in it. Van Persie didn’t get adequate service, Walcott, Gervinho and Arshavin were flat, and the midfield opposition repeatedly outmatched Arteta and Ramsey. That said, as much as it'll make a bad week for any interactions with Tottenham supporters, it was no mauling. At 1-1, losing was not a foregone conclusion. Tottenham were the better team on the day, but one would hardly herald them as the new

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CommentaryEnglandPreview

Derby Day: Arsenal Underdogs But By No Means Dog Meat

October 1, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

So, up next, the North London derby Sunday at White Hart Lane. The most honorable Arsenal travel down the road to duke it out with Tottenham’s lily-livered lily whites, new and improved with former Gunner Adebayor. Yes, everyone’s favorite Togolese traitorous mercenary who, when he’s not enjoying long walks with sharp spikes over former teammate’s faces and ankles, enjoys long runs to rub salt in the wounds of the away support.
Arsenal bring the Cannon to a cock fight.
And the sad fact is Adebayor will almost certainly score in the match tomorrow. First, he is still an amazingly fast and effective goalscorer when motivated, and vocal ex-supporters baying for his blood by name is nothing if not motivational. He’s in form having scored three goals in three games since arriving on loan from Manchester City. And most importantly, he’s playing against the Arsenal. Even David Bentley

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Commentary

What To Watch This Weekend (Sept 24-25)

September 23, 2011 — by Suman

Relatively slim picking this weekend for must-see matches.  Here are a few quick picks for Saturday: Saturday, Sept 24 Spain, Sevilla-Valencia 12pmET (GolTV): Valencia is atop La Liga, undefeated after drawing Barcelona at home mid-week, in an exciting game they very well could have won (or lost, actually). They'll have to be careful to avoid a letdown, with another relatively tough fixture, going down south to take on Sevilla. Germany, Bayern Munich-Leverkusen 12:30pmET (ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com): After last season's turmoil, Bayern Munich are back, riding high in Bundesliga--in fact, there's already talk about whether anyone will challenge them in the league. Leverkeusen is one of the few sides that might. Netherlands, Ajax-Twente 2:45 p.m. ESPN3.com: We choose another Eredivisie Ajax match, this weekend against another of the sides that could challenge for the Dutch title. Spain, Barcelona-Atletico Madrid 4 p.m. ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com: Barcelona have been shaky in the back,

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What to Watch This Weekend, Part 2: Sunday Sept 18

September 18, 2011 — by Suman

Belatedly posting our guide to today's matches to watch. In fact, the first match is already in progress--it's 1-1 at halftime in Eindhoven, where PSV is hosting Ajax: Sunday, Sept 18 Netherlands, PSV-Ajax 6:30aET (ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com): We said it last year, and we'll say it again: if you're only going to watch one Eredivisie match all year, might as well be this one.  A surprising fact that kicks off the excellent The Swiss Ramble's ("Usually writes about the business of football") excellent essay about Ajax ("Why Ajax are no longer Dutch masters"): "Ajax’s star has been on the wane for many years. The cold, hard facts are that they have only won the Eredivisie twice in the last 12 years, the most recent occasion being way back in the 2003/04 season, while PSV Eindhoven have won the league seven times in the same period." England, Spurs-Liverpool 8:30aET (Fox Soccer Plus, foxsoccer.tv):

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What to Watch This Weekend, Part 1: Saturday Sept 17

September 17, 2011 — by Suman

  Subscribing as we do the just-in-time philosophy, here's your weekend TV guide for today's matches, with the first one kicking off in 15 minutes at Ewood Park.  Check back tomorrow morning for Sunday's picks. (As usual, we've included US TV coverage, and listed kickoff times in terms of ET.  If you live elsewhere, do the timezone math, and check your local listings--or rather check livesoccertv.com.) Saturday, Sept 17 England, Blackburn-Arsenal 7:30aET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com): Venky's boys host the Gunners.  Arsene's revamped squad is still a work in progress, but at least they've produced a Premier League win and a Champions League draw (on the continent against a good team, no less).  They should really beat Blackburn, given that the Rovers are sitting dead last in the table, with only a single point from 4 games. But we'll see.. Spain, Gijon-Valencia 12pET (DirecTV 477): We like Gijón, because it's

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