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With his return to the lineup last week, Matthijs de Ligt helped the Netherlands clinch a spot in the knockout round with another one of his steady performances. And because the Dutch have advanced with a game to spare, they now face the same kind of decision that Roberto Mancini had to make entering Italy’s group stage finale the day before.
Do you rest your most important players?
Or do you keep most of the starting lineup together and keep the good times going?
It’s the case for the Netherlands against North Macedonia. It’s the case for Belgium against Finland. That’s just what happens when you win the first two games of the group stage and essentially just have securing the top spot in your group to play for when you reach your third match of the tournament.
Today’s schedule, featuring the entirety of two groups:
- Matthijs de Ligt and the Netherlands vs. North Macedonia
- Austria vs. Ukraine
- Belgium vs. Finland
- Russia vs. Denmark
There’s Group B. There’s Group C. There’s ... one Juventus player in four games total.
Fun, right?
A day after Italy swept through the group stage with a win over Wales, the Azzurri are about find out who their next opponent will be by the end of the day. Barring any kind of disaster today, that almost certainly won’t be de Ligt and the Netherlands, so it’s not like there is about to be a Serie A reunion of sorts happening in the round of 16.
But, if you’re hoping that Italy plays somebody like Ukraine or Austria, then there’s a very good chance of that happening. Much, much more than a de Ligt vs. Serie A attack situation a few days from now.
So behind the first day of two sets of games going on at the same time. What fun there could be.
Netherlands vs. North Macedonia
MATCH INFO
When: 6 p.m. local time and across Europe; 5 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 12 p.m. on the East Coast; 9 a.m. on the West Coast
Where: Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
HOW TO WATCH
Television: ESPN2 (United States); TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, TVA Sports 2 (Canada); ITV UK 1, STV Scotland (United Kingdom)
Online/mobile: WatchESPN, fuboTV (United States); TSN.ca, TSN app (Canada); The ITV Hub (United Kingdom)
Austria vs. Ukraine
MATCH INFO
When: 6 p.m. local time and across Europe; 5 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 12 p.m. on the East Coast; 9 a.m. on the West Coast
Where: Arena Naţională, Bucharest, Romania
HOW TO WATCH
Television: ESPN (United States); TSN2, TVA Sports (Canada); ITV4 (United Kingdom)
Online/mobile: WatchESPN, fuboTV (United States); TSN.ca, TSN app (Canada); The ITV Hub (United Kingdom)
Finland vs. Belgium
MATCH INFO
When: 9 p.m. local time and across Europe; 8 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 3 p.m. on the East Coast; 12 p.m. on the West Coast
Where: Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia
HOW TO WATCH
Television: ESPN2 (United States); TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, TVA Sports 2 (Canada); BBC One (United Kingdom)
Online/mobile: WatchESPN, fuboTV (United States); TSN.ca, TSN app (Canada); BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Web (United Kingdom)
Denmark vs. Russia
MATCH INFO
When: 9 p.m. local time and across Europe; 8 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 3 p.m. on the East Coast; 12 p.m. on the West Coast
Where: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
HOW TO WATCH
Television: ESPN2 (United States); TSN2, TVA Sports (Canada); BBC Two (United Kingdom)
Online/mobile: WatchESPN, fuboTV (United States); TSN.ca, TSN app (Canada); BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Web (United Kingdom))
Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live and all the stupid things we say on Twitter. If you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.