WEEKEND WATCH GUIDE
World Cup qualifying: Ireland at Denmark, 1:45 p.m. Saturday, FS2. The Danes are big favorites to qualify, but Ireland has the advantage of playing Tuesday's second leg at home. Expect the Irish to play for a solid defensive performance and to try to steal a goal on the counterattack, or at least try to get out of Denmark without being overrun.
World Cup qualifying: Northern Ireland at Switzerland, 11 a.m. Sunday, ESPNEWS. Switzerland has the clear advantage, with a 1-0 lead from the first leg (thanks to an awful call by the referee that awarded the Swiss a penalty). Northern Ireland was outplayed at home. Now "Norn Iron" will need a near-miracle on the road to make it to Russia.
World Cup qualifying: Croatia at Greece, 1:45 p.m. Sunday, ESPNEWS. Croatia leads 4-1 after a series of Greek defensive mistakes helped put one Croatian foot in the World Cup. Croatia had one of the best defensive records in qualifying, allowing just four goals in 10 games. Ninety more minutes of defense is all that separates them from qualification.
NASL Soccer Bowl: New York at San Francisco, 7 p.m. Sunday, beIN. This could well be the final game of the newest incarnation of the NASL. San Francisco will almost certainly go out of business at the end of the year, win or lose. The Cosmos nearly folded last year and could do so again. If this is the end, it'd be appropriate if New York won another title.
