Weekend sport preview

SBS World News Radio: There's another busy weekend of sport ahead with the Euro 2016 Football Championship into the knockout stages, the Copa America heading into the final and international rugby, cricket and tennis to look forward to.

Weekend sport previewWeekend sport preview

Weekend sport preview Source: AAP

After two weeks of group matches the Euro 2016 Championship is down to the sudden death phase.

The round of 16 begins Friday with Switzerland against Poland.

That's followed by Wales and Northern Ireland, and then what's shaping as one of the matches of the tournament when Croatia lines up against Portugal.

SBS has live coverage from 5am on Saturday.

One man that will have his eyes glued to the screen will be Croatian tennis star Marin Cilic.

He's in London preparing for Wimbledon, but the big football fan will be watching every kick.

Cilic believes avoiding the side of the draw which includes big guns France, Germany, Spain and Italy is a distinct advantage for his country.

"We are now in a part of the draw that is a bit easier the one that we obviously wanted to miss so that's great and I think we have good chances to go far."

And football fans will be able to see another blockbuster on SBS when Italy and Spain go head to head at 2am AEST on Monday morning.

And then it's the turn of the fairytale team of the tournament so far, Iceland, when it faces England.

To the Copa America and the final being played between Argentina and Chile in New York.

SBS will have coverage of the 100th staging of the tournament from 9.30am on Monday morning in the East, as Chile looks to make it two titles in a row.

In Rugby action this weekend, the Wallabies will be looking for some measure of redemption against England when the third test gets underway in Sydney on Saturday night.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika though has been pleased that one or two untried players have had some valuable experience in the first two tests.

Cheika did admit England's historic first-ever series win on Australian soil has been hard to swallow, but he's enjoyed coaching against his former Randwick teammate and now England coach Eddie Jones.

"As tough as it's been losing, because you feel like you're letting people down, I've really enjoyed being in the fight and I'm going to enjoy the next few days and I'm going to enjoy watching the boys on Saturday night."

Before that clash, the world champion All Blacks meet Wales looking for a clean sweep in their three-test series in Dunedin.

Japan and Scotland play the second and final test in Tokyo while in the early hours of Sunday morning, Ireland and South Africa are in action in Port Elizabeth.

If Ireland wins, it will be the first series victory against the Springboks in South Africa.

Australia's One Day cricketers are waiting for the result of Saturday's Tri-Series match between the West Indies and South Africa to find out who they'll play in Monday's final.

Steve Smith's side booked its spot in the decider with a six-wicket win against the host nation in Barbados on Wednesday.

But despite the emphatic nature of that win all-rounder Glenn Maxwell says they can do better, especially taking catches and cutting down runs.

"I think if we're not taking those half chances I think it just makes a bit of a difference in the game. So I think that's why it was disapointing we weren't as clinical in the field, we still let a few get past, if you look back at the game it could have been costly."

Whichever nation wins through to play Australia, they'll be up against not only the number one-ranked one-day side in the world, but also a side with some young players on the rise, such as 24 year old Mitch Marsh.

He hit an unbeaten 79 in that win against the West Indies and he believes the side is set to get even stronger.

"This is the start, this is a young team building something hopefully special over the next few years, so we've got a chance to play in a final and we've got a chance to wn a final which is great."

The year's final tennis major gets underway on Monday evening Australian time in London.

Defending champion Serena Williams will find out who she's playing when the Wimbledon draw is made but whoever she's paired against, the 21-time Grand slam champion will enjoy the experience.

Williams explained why Wimbledon is such a special tournament.

"I like the tradition. I really do. I like that it is so traditional. The white, I love wearing the white, so just love that, there is something special about it."

Also in London this weekend, the Women's Champions Trophy will be decided with the Hockeyroos loooking for some good preparation ahead of the Rio Olympics.

And there's also AFL, NRL and netball for sports fans to look forward to.

 

 


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By John Baldock



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