Top games to watch in world soccer over the next few days:
9 a.m., Spain vs. Czech Republic, ESPN: Though they failed to make it out of the group stage at the last World Cup, Spain has reloaded and is among the favorites to win the European Championships.
Noon, Ireland vs. Sweden, ESPN: This may be Zlatan Ibrahimovic's final tournament with Sweden, and his final opportunity to cement his status as one of the best to ever play the game. So, he will be motivated to try to help his team grab all three points against a determined Ireland side.
3 p.m., Belgium vs. Italy, ESPN: Italy manager Antonio Conte will quickly find out if it was a mistake to not include MLS players Andrea Pirlo and Sebastian Giovinco when they take on Belgium, a team loaded with talent and skill.
8 p.m. and 10 p.m., Mexico vs. Venezuela followed by Uruguay vs. Jamaica: These are meaningless games because Mexico and Venezuela have advanced, while Uruguay and Jamaica are done.
Tuesday
3 p.m., Portugal vs. Iceland, ESPN: Iceland, with a population of 323,000 qualified for its Euros and won't be a pushover. Like Ibrahimovic, Portgual's Cristiano Ronaldo needs to accomplish something with the national team to cement his legacy.
8 p.m., Chile vs. Panama, Fox Sports 1: Chile and Panama are tied with three points heading into their final group game. Panama must win if it hopes to advance because, in the event this game ends with a tie, Chile will advance because it has a better goal-differential (0 to Panama minus-4).
10 p.m., Argentina vs. Bolivia, Fox Sports 1: Argentina is already through, but this is a chance to watch Lionel Messi, who destroyed Panama with three goals in a second-half stint in the previous game.
Wednesday
Noon, Romania vs. Switzerland, ESPN: A must win game for Romania, which was beaten 2-1 by France on a stunning goal by Dimitri Payet. A win by the Swiss would push them through to the knockout round because they already picked up three points by defeating Albania in their first game.
3 p.m., France vs. Albania: This is easy: Albania loses and it's out. France wins and it moves on.
Thursday
9 a.m., England vs. Wales, ESPN: Even before the teams played their first games – Wales won and England choked away a win – the Red Dragons weren't backing down in this game. Gareth Bale said he the Welsh have more pride than the English. It's time to back it up. If Wales wins it advances. England needs to win to avoid having to win it's third game to secure advancement.
3 p.m., Germany vs. Poland, ESPN: Another game between not-so-friendly neighbors. Both teams picked up three points in their first games, though neither impressed.
9:30 p.m. Centenario quarterfinal, Fox Sports 1: The U.S. will play Ecuador, not Brazil, for a chance to go the semifinals. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann said that he is tired of the U.S. being labeled as an underdog and that his team can't continue to sit back and absorb pressure because eventually any team will break. Well, he will get a chance to prove his point against the underrated Ecuadorians.
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