Midweek TV Preview: 19 - 20 July

Tuesday 19 July

16.45 Flora v Shamrock Rovers, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2 2nd Leg (0-1), Premier Sports

The Dublin side take a slender lead to Estonia with the eventual winners going on to play the Danish champions FCK in the next round. Hopefully any travelling fans will be wandering around Tallinn asking attractive young ladies how to say "12 months" in Estonian. I certainly would be.

17.45 FSV Mainz v Borussia Dortmund, Liga Total Cup, ESPN/ESPN HD

The German League Cup sits in that murky place between pre-season friendly and actual competition - the fact it's hosted in one venue and the games are only 30 minutes each way doesn't really help you take it any more seriously. Mainz host the tournament after impressing greatly with their young side last season - they've had a lot of transfer activity this summer so even to fans the team playing today may look very unfamiliar. Dortmund have held on to most of their title winning side, with exception of Sahin now at Real Madrid. His replacement, Ivan Perisic - bought from Bruges for half the money they got from Real - looks like a smart investment.

01.45 (Wed) Peru v Uruguay, Copa America Semi Final, ESPN/ESPN HD

A replay of these sides' first match in this tournament. That ended 1-1 with Luis Suarez equalising in first half injury time. Uruguay have to be the favourites to go on to win the tournament after the elimination of Brazil and hosts Argentina on penalties in the previous round.

Wednesday 20 July

17.45 Liga Total Cup Third Place Playoff/Final, ESPN/ESPN HD

The climax of the German League Cup (or sorts). Two back-to-back hour long games featuring Mainz or Dortmund against Bayern or Hamburg.

19.45 Dundee United v Slask Wroclaw, UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 2 2nd Leg (0-1), Premier Sports

These sides met in this competition's fore-runner in 1980 with the Tangerines winning 7-2 in the second leg. Slask were runners up in their League and this is their first European campaign for 24 years.

01.45 (Thur) Paraguay v Venezuela, Copa America Semi Final, ESPN/ESPN HD

A semi final for Venezuela is a fantastic achievement for a side that have historically been the whipping boys of South American football. Sadly they'll miss Hamburg's Tomas Rincon - red carded in the last minute of their quarter final win over Chile. Paraguay have yet to win a single match so far - drawing all their group stage games and beating Brazil on penalties after their goalless quarter final.

GrahamN