Midweek TV Preview: 1 - 3 March 2010

Monday 1 March

19.45 Crusaders v Glenavon, Irish Premiership, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Two sides struggling for form as the Northern Irish 'Clausura' approaches. Crusaders have gone from title challengers to being in serious danger of playing out the remainder of the season at the wrong end.

Tuesday 2 March

20.05 Brazil v Republic of Ireland, International Friendly, ITV1
The Emirates stadium, Brazil's unofficial European venue, hosts the Republic's first match since The Paris Incident. I don't think there's any significance to this fixture - maybe this will help the Brazilians against World Cup Group G rivals Ivory Coast, who have an identical national flag to Ireland.

Wednesday 3 March

18.00 England U21 v Greece U21, UEFA U21 European Championship, ESPN/HD
Greece currently top the group with England two points behind with a game in hand. Because seven teams qualify along with the hosts, winning one of the ten qualifying groups just entitles you to a play-off along with the four of the best runners up. The finals in Denmark next summer will be used to determine which European sides will join Team GB in the 2012 Olympics in London.

19.45 Wales v Sweden, International Friendly, Sky Sports 2 / HD2
Happy St David's Day to all our Welsh readers. Long term development here with two teams you won't be seeing in South Africa. The Swedes will provide a useful test for the Welsh in the run-up to a tough qualification campaign for Poland/Ukraine 2012 .

20.00 England v Egypt, International Friendly, ITV1/ITV HD
What should be excellent World Cup preparation against the best team in Africa is of course over-shadowed by the ongoing unpleasantness. You know things must be bad when Craig Bellamy is scoring points off you for the way you conduct yourself.

20.00 Scotland v Czech Republic, International Friendly, Sky Sports 1/HD1
This match was organised weeks before the Euro 2012 draw pitted these two nations against each other in Group I. With holders Spain also in the group, these fixtures could be key to the runners-up berth in this group. As such, this fixture will probably bear little resemblance to the real deal this coming October.