Match of the Days

I can’t warn you enough just how rough this is going to be. Welcome to your TV guide, in a week where we “welcome back” International football. It’s not pretty. Let’s rush through.

Tuesday 20th March

I’m really struggling to find anything on Tuesday. The best I can get is on the Bet365 streaming schedule where they have CA Tigre vs Independiente from the Argentine Premier Division. It’s at quarter past midnight, so barely even Tuesday, but here we are. Desperation.

Wednesday 21st March

Bless BT, trying their best to fill the void. They have a live National League game for you to enjoy, as Barrow welcome crisis club Hartlepool. Hartlepool’s financial difficulties have been well publicised whereas Barrow haven’t had a great season. It’s practically a derby given how few northern clubs they are in the National League, but I can’t sell this any more than what it is: a clash between two sides in the bottom half of the National League. What a treat. Kick off is at 7.45pm.

Thursday 22nd March

This is odd but we’ll go with it. 11.35am, BBC Wales…China vs Wales. They are playing the China Cup, I’m sure you all know what the China Cup is but in case you don’t: it’s a cup, played in China. A series of International friendlies which start with two semi-finals with a final to come. The other two teams are Uruguay and Czech Republic. I don’t know why. It happened last year and Chile won. Chile are not defending their title. It’s on in the middle of the day so how much enjoyment you can really get from it is debatable. It’s Ryan Giggs’ first game as manager though, so there’s that.

Friday 23rd March

ENG-ER-LAND. Nothing sets the pulse rating quite like an International friendly on ITV, as lovely Clive and stupid Glenn warm up their vocal chords for England’s trip to Holland. The Netherlands of course didn’t qualify for the World Cup so we’ll doubtless get a lesson from a country who won’t even be there to pull our pants down this summer, but beggars can’t be choosers. Scotland are also in action as they welcome Costa Rica, on Sky Sports Mix, with both games kicking off at 7.45pm. That’s the first game for Alex McLeish who is back for his second spell in charge. If you prefer watching better footballers, Germany play Spain on BT Sport 3, also at 7.45pm. What a Friday night.

Saturday 24th March

Oh the options, THE OPTIONS. You know I love FreeSports, right? Well, they’ve got Northern Ireland vs South Korea at 2pm. Hmm. Before that, BT are back with more National League coverage, this time Tranmere vs Eastleigh at 12:15pm. Red hot. Sky Sports can go one league higher at 5.15pm, Luton vs Barnet is probably important in League Two. Luton’s promotion charge has faltered recently but they’ll be looking to put that right in front of the TV cameras. England Under 21 take on their Romanian counterparts at the same time on BT Sport 2, that’s just a friendly though. The MLS saves your Saturday night wit ha double header. FC Dallas host the Portland Timbers at 7.30pm then it’s off to Columbus to watch Crew vs DC United at 10pm. Not your classic Saturday night.

Sunday 25th March

A mix of League One and League Two, oh Sky you do spoil us. At 1.30pm it’s Chesterfield vs Notts County, a big game at both ends of the table. That’s followed by Portsmouth vs Oxford United at 4pm. I kind of hope Sky treat it like Super Sunday and have presenters in the studio at Fratton Park and make a huge deal out of it, but they won’t. It’s better than nothing. At 11am you could watch Spanish Second Tier action as Alcorcon play host to Gimnastic. No, me neither.

Monday 26th March

It’s once again that time where Sky get very desperate on a Monday and put on the Northen Irish Premier League as their Monday Night Football offering. Warrenpoint vs Crusaders take centre stage at 7.45pm. Great. Wales will also be in action but when and who against will depend on what happens in their semi-final against China. It’ll be on, anyway, probably in the morning. Lovely.

What a drastic week ahead. Try and make the best of it.