Sunday, February 26, 2012

Midweek TV Preview: 27 - 29 February 2012

Monday 27 February

19:45 Shrewsbury Town v Crawley Town, League Two, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
One points separates these two in the play-off zone. Shrewsbury have the second best home win record in the division and have yet to lose at the Meadow. Crawley are managed by a convicted fraudster and no one knows where their money is coming from. An easy choice for the neutrals then.

Tuesday 28 February

19:00 Brazil v Bosnia Herzegovina, International Friendly, ESPN / ESPN HD
Ronaldinho's patchy form for Flamengo has not prevented his selection for Brazil's home match in Switzerland, yes Switzerland. Quite how many home games the Seleção plan to to play in their homeland in the build up to the World Cup in 2014 remains to be seen. Let's hope the hosts don't find themselves strangers in their own land when the tournament comes around.

Wednesday 29 February

17:30 England U21 v Belgium U21, UEFA U21 Championships 2013 Qualifying, ESPN / ESPN HD
Brian Eastick and John Peacock take the reins while Psycho looks after the grown-ups. Seems odd that Pearce should take a back seat for this important competitive fixture so he can manage a friendly but that's England for you.
17:30 Scotland U21 v Holland U21, U21 International, Sky Sports 1
Scotland are second behind the Dutch in this group but beat them, in the reverse fixture. Huddersfield goal machine, Jordan Rhodes, has been tearing up this group with six goals in six games.
19:45 Slovenia v Scotland, International Friendly, Primetime
This is a pay per view event available on Sky and Virgin. You can watch it for £4.99 or you could give it a miss.
19:45 Northern Ireland v Norway International Friendly, Sky Sports 3 / HD3
Michael O'Neill makes his bow as Northern Ireland coach. The former Shamrock Rovers manager may lack pedigree on the surface but was the man who masterminded that stunning Europa League win at Partizan Belgrade, last year, to take Rovers into the Group Stages. Good luck to him, say I.
19:45 Wales v Costa Rica, International Friendly, Sky Sports 2 / HD2
An opportunity for the Welsh public to pay their respects to Gary Speed in this memorial match. Football takes a back seat in what promises to be an emotional evening.
19:45 Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic, International Friendly, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
Two outsiders for Euro 2012 meet in a match of moderate interest.
20:00 England v Holland International Friendly, ITV1 / ITV1 HD
The truth is there is little to learn from this match from an England point of view. However, the Dutch are one of the favourites to win Euro 2012 and fans of international football will be curious to see Bert van Marwijk's team as he prepares for the Summer. If he plays, Klaas Jan Huntelaar is the big goal threat with 18 goals in the German Bundesliga.

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