Big Weekend of International Football

Massive, Massive week of international football this week. The centerpiece is the final round of Euro 2008 qualifiers, with a few other big games as well.

The biggest game of the week is probably Scotland v Italy. The winner will qualify for Euro 2008, while the looser is gone - and given the results Scotland have had lately, you'd have to say that it could easily go either way.

England's fate is also on the line - although their fate is not in their hands - if Russia beats Israel on Saturday morning, they will only need to beat minnows Andorra to qualify for Euro 2008 at England's expense. Lose or Draw in Israel, and England's fate is back in their own hands - they will need to beat Croatia at Wembley next wednesday to go through.

There's also a couple of important games for Australian fans. Firstly, on Saturday night the Olyroos place in the Beijing Olympics is on the line as they face Iraq in Gosford - only a win will do. The Socceroos are also in action against Nigeria in London.

Here's a schedule of the games/broadcast details:

Saturday Morning

-> International Friendly
Austria v England - Setanta Sports - 6:30am (LIVE)

Saturday Night / Sunday

-> 2008 Olympic Games Qualifier
Olyroos v Iraq - SBS - 10:15pm

-> International Friendly
Socceroos v Nigeria - Fox Sports 2 - 1am (LIVE)

-> Euro 2008 Qualifiers
Wales v Ireland - Setanta Sports - 1am (LIVE)
Scotland v Italy - ESPN - 3:25am (LIVE)
Israel v Russia - Setanta Sports - 4:30am (LIVE)
Germany v Cyprus - ESPN - 9:30am
Norway v Turkey - ESPN - 11:30am
Greece v Malta - Setanta Sports - 1:30pm
Poland v Belgium - Setanta Sports - 3:15pm

-> World Cup 2010 Qualifiers
Colombia v Venezuela - Setanta Sports - 7:30am (LIVE)
Paraguay v Ecuador - Setanta Sports - 11:40am (LIVE)
Argentina v Bolivia - Setanta Sports - 11:45am

Wednesday Morning

-> World Cup 2010 Qualifiers
Venezuela v Bolivia - Setanta Sports - 9am (LIVE)
Colombia v Argentina - Setanta Sports - 11:15am (LIVE)

Thursday Morning

-> Euro 2008 Qualifiers
Romania vs Albania - Setanta Sports - 2:30am (LIVE)
England vs. Croatia - ESPN - 6:25am (LIVE)
Ukraine vs France - Setanta Sports - 6am (LIVE)
Hungary vs. Greece - ESPN - 8:30am
Portugal vs Finland - Setanta Sports - 11:15pm Thursday Night

-> World Cup 2010 Qualifiers
Ecuador vs Peru - Setanta Sports - 8am (LIVE)
Brazil vs Uruguay - Setanta Sports - 10am (LIVE)
Chile vs Paraguay - Setanta Sports - 12pm (LIVE)

Friday

-> Euro 2008 Qualifiers
Germany v Wales - ESPN - 9:30am
Hungary v Greece - Setanta Sports - 9:30pm
Serbia v Poland - Setanta Sports - 11:15pm