Caribbean
ESPNCaribbean.com 9y

The best soccer on ESPN

Euro 2016 Qualifiers

Euro 2016 Qualifying continues on ESPN/ESPN2 this month with Matchdays #9 & #10 airing LIVE and on short-turnaround

Euro 2016 Qualifying takes the final steps towards determining the 23 finalists who will be joining France next summer with this month´s action from Matchdays #9 and #10, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround on ESPN/ESPN2. As of September, teams looking good to advance included holders Spain and Group C rivals Slovakia, a soaring England, solid sides from Wales, Iceland, Croatia and Austria, and some familiar talents led by Germany, Italy and Portugal.

Germany, the reigning World Cup champions, have been hotly challenged in Group D by Poland, while Portugal and Denmark have waged an entertaining battle for the top spot in Group I. More surprising has been a struggling Netherlands squad, a recognized power in world football who remain in the race in Group A behind Iceland and the Czech Republic. The nine group winners, nine runners-up and the best third-placed side qualify directly for the final tournament in France, with the eight remaining third-placed teams contesting playoffs in November to determine the last four qualifiers.

Euro 2016 features a qualifying competition, playoffs, and the final tournament. Coverage on ESPN/ESPN2 airs LIVE and on short-turnaround throughout the qualifying stage. Most matches airing on short-turnaround on ESPN air LIVE on ESPN2.

Schedule:
Oct 8 02:30pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Republic of Ireland vs. Germany
Oct 8 08:00pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Portugal vs. Denmark (S)
Oct 9 02:30pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Spain vs. Luxembourg
Oct 10 12:00am Euro 2016 Qualifying: Moldova vs. Russia (S)
Oct 10 11:50am Euro 2016 Qualifying: Azerbaijan vs. Italy
Oct 11 01:00am Euro 2016 Qualifying: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Wales (S)
Oct 11 02:30pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Poland vs. Republic of Ireland
Oct 11 04:45pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Serbia vs. Portugal (S) 

Oct 12 11:50am Euro 2016 Qualifying: Russia vs. Montenegro
Oct 12 02:30pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Ukraine vs. Spain
Oct 13 02:35pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Netherlands vs. Czech Republic
Oct 13 04:45pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Wales vs. Andorra (S)
Matches, TBD at a later date, will air LIVE or on Short-turnaround

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

English football´s top level of play, the Barclays Premier League, continues LIVE on ESPN, and it shows signs of being a hugely competitive season. The title chase last season was pretty much all about Chelsea, who led wire-to-wire, with Manchester City making a brief insurgence mid-season. But given that Chelsea were the third different Premier League champion in three seasons, with Manchester City and Manchester United claiming the other titles, there´s reason to expect parity and drama in the new season.

The offseason saw Chelsea swap Didier Drogba for Radamel Falcao, but do little more. Manchester City brought in Liverpool´s Raheem Sterling, who should provide some creative spark up front, and Manchester United made a flurry of additions, not the least of which is the addition of top-quality veterans Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield. Arsenal, meanwhile, have brought in famed keeper Petr Cech, making a four-way battle for the title a real possibility, with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also expected to be in the mix.

ESPN’s coverage of the English Premier League airs all season, LIVE and on short-turnaround, featuring 1-2 matches per week. Also featured are select matches from the Capital One Cup. Some matches re-air in prime. NOTES: EPL not available to cruise lines; matches airing on short-turnaround/taped on ESPN Caribbean will air LIVE on ESPN2 Caribbean. Some matches TBD; dates/times subject to change.

Schedule: LIVE coverage
Oct 3 09:55am Barclays Premier League
Oct 17 07:40am Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool
Oct 19 02:55pm Swansea City vs. Stoke City
Oct 24 09:55am Barclays Premier League
Oct 27 03:40pm Capital One Cup - Round 4
Oct 28 03:40pm Capital One Cup - Round 4
Oct 31 08:40am Chelsea vs. Liverpool
*NOTE: English Premier League not available to cruise lines; dates/times subject to change.

MORE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL - German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1 and Dutch First Division

International football continues on ESPN/ESPN2 with weekly coverage from Germany, Italy, France and more

The world’s top football leagues grab the spotlight all season on ESPN/ESPN2 with weekly action continuing from the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1 and Dutch First Division.

Known for quality and consistency, the German Bundesliga remains a force in world football. Still, although it is home to some very skilled sides, doubts remain if any team has the strength to dethrone Bayern Munich, winner of the last three league titles. Italian Serie A has been much the same story in past years, with mighty Juventus taking the last four ¨scudetti¨ and opening this season with a 2-0 win over Lazio in the Italian Supercoppa.

The French Ligue 1 also saw Paris Saint-Germain win the league title for the third straight year, although with rumors swirling around the possible departure of Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic – with a move back to Italy´s AC Milan just maybe in the works – things could change this season. And in the Dutch First Division, holders PSV Eindhoven will be looking to stay ahead of rivals Ajax, one of the most legendary clubs in world football.

Catch weekly football coverage from around the world airing LIVE and on short-turnaround throughout the season on ESPN and ESPN2; dates/times TBC closer to airdate.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS)

Major League Soccer (MLS) wraps the regular season this month, with the last day of the season, October 25, featuring the debut of Decision Day, with five games in the Eastern Conference played concurrently, followed by five Western Conference games, also played concurrently. This all-day soccer extravaganza closes the regular season and sets the stage for an expanded field of 12 teams to advance to the MLS Playoffs.

The arrival of renowned English talent Steven Gerrard gave the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy a boost back in July, creating playoff hopes among fans if the team can stay in step with other Western challengers like the Vancouver Whitecaps, Sporting Kansas City and Portland Timbers. In the East, D.C. United has held on to the top spot most of the season, but the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution have come on strong in the last part of the season.

Coverage of Major League Soccer airs all season, LIVE and on short-turnaround, on ESPN and ESPN2.

Schedule: LIVE coverage - Host team shown first
Oct 18 05:00pm Major League Soccer - Teams TBD
Oct 25 05:00pm Major League Soccer - Teams TBD

^ Al Inicio ^