Several of Wednesday’s European Championship qualifiers are available on U.S. TV and closed-circuit:
CROATIA-ENGLAND. England hopes to rebound off last weekend’s embarrassing 0-0 tie with Macedonia in Manchester when it faces Croatia, which is undefeated in qualifiers since gaining independence from Yugoslavia. England has not conceded a goal in four games but Coach Steve McClaren is set to switch from a back four to a three-man backline. With midfielder Steven Gerrard suspended, there’s been a lot of second-guessing about McClaren’s dropping of David Beckham. (TV: Wednesday, Setanta Closed Circuit, live, 1 pm ET.)
ICELAND-SWEDEN. The Swedes’ 2-0 win over Spain last weekend gives them a five-point lead atop Group F and they aim for four straight wins against Iceland.
(TV: Wednesday, Fox Soccer Channel & Fox Sports en Espanol, live, 2 pm ET.)
FRANCE-FAROE ISLANDS. World Cup runner-up France faces the island amateurs after last weekend’s embarrassing loss to Scotland. "The match in Glasgow was a faux pas, that’s true. But we could go and win 80-0 on Wednesday but that wouldn’t change the result against Scotland,” said Coach Raymond Domenech. (TV: Wednesday, Fox Soccer Channel & Fox Sports en Espanol, delay, 4 pm ET.)
GEORGIA-ITALY. Last weekend’s 2-0 win over Ukraine was World Cup champion Italy’s first in four games under new coach Roberto Donadoni. "Not winning was weighing on us, so the Ukraine win was very important," said Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro. "But if we don’t win in Georgia, everything we’ve rebuilt will be useless." (TV: Wednesday, Setanta Sports USA, live, 2 pm ET.)
SLOVAKIA-GERMANY. The Germans, undefeated and unscored on since Coach Joachim Loew took over from Juergen Klinsmann, face the team that handed them a 2-0 friendly loss 13 months ago. (TV: Wednesday, Setanta Sports USA, delay, 4 pm ET.)
POLAND-PORTUGAL. The Portugeuse haven’t lost on the road for a decade in qualifying games but a loss on to Poland could drop them into fifth place in Group A. (TV: Wednesday, Setanta Closed Circuit, live, 2:30 pm ET.)