Argentina vs Uruguay, Portugal vs Germany, Czech Republic vs England, Portugal vs France, and Brazil vs Colombia all comprise our list of must-watch games.

Top games to watch this week

Friday, June 18

Sweden vs Slovakia (UEFA Euro 2020)

Croatia vs Czech Republic (UEFA Euro 2020)

England vs Scotland (UEFA Euro 2020)

Chile vs Bolivia (Copa America)

Argentina vs Uruguay (Copa America)

Saturday, June 19

Hungary vs France (UEFA Euro 2020)

Portugal vs Germany (UEFA Euro 2020)

Spain vs Poland (UEFA Euro 2020)

Sunday, June 20

Italy vs Wales (UEFA Euro 2020)

Switzerland vs Turkey (UEFA Euro 2020)

Venezuela vs Ecuador (Copa America)

Colombia vs Perú (Copa America)

Monday, June 21

Ukraine vs Austria (UEFA Euro 2020)

North Macedonia vs Netherlands (UEFA Euro 2020)

Russia vs Denmark (UEFA Euro 2020)

Finland vs Belgium (UEFA Euro 2020)

Uruguay vs Chile (Copa America)

Argentina vs Paraguay (Copa America)

Tuesday, June 22

Croatia vs Scotland (UEFA Euro 2020)

Czech Republic vs England (UEFA Euro 2020)

Wednesday, June 23

Sweden vs Poland (UEFA Euro 2020)

Slovakia vs Spain (UEFA Euro 2020)

Germany vs Hungary (UEFA Euro 2020)

Portugal vs France (UEFA Euro 2020)

Ecuador vs Perú (Copa America)

Brazil vs Colombia (Copa America)

Thursday, June 24

Bolivia vs Uruguay (Copa America)

Chile vs Paraguay (Copa America)

What are the must-watch games this week?

Argentina vs Uruguay this Friday at 8 p.m. ET live on Fox Sports, TUDN, and Univision

This game is one of the standout fixtures of our list. Lionel Messi's Argentina, who go in search of their first silverware since 1993, take on Luis Suarez's Uruguay in what should be an interesting Copa America showdown. This will be the second game of the tournament for La Albiceleste, having kicked off their campaign in the 1-1 draw with Chile a while back. Wastefulness in front of goal and defensive frailties were the root causes of that stalemate as Messi's sensational first-half goal was cancelled out shortly after the break. Scaloni must remedy these persisting problems if he wishes to secure a win over La Celeste.

Argentina, Uruguay, Copa America, Broadcast Listings

ESPN continues Euro 2020 coverage with Portugal vs Germany this Saturday live at 12 p.m. ET

Portugal resume their European Championship defense this weekend but will be facing a far tougher opposition than Hungary, taking on Germany on Saturday. This clash follows their 3-0 triumph in their opening game, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a late brace to get him back into goalscoring mode ahead of their tough run of fixtures. Die Mannschaft, on the other hand, lost 1-0 to France in their opener and will be seeking their first three points. Can Joachim Low's men overcome the title holders? Tune in to find out.

Portugal, Germany, Broadcast Listings, UEFA Euro 2020

Portugal take on France this Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET live on ESPN, TUDN, fuboTV, Univision, and Sling TV in possible Group of Death decider

What will happen when the European Championship title defenders take on the reigning World Cup champions? That's the question on everyone's mind ahead of this midweek's Portugal vs France showdown, a game that could decide who wins Group F, aka the Group of Death. These two nations crossed paths last October and played out a goalless draw, but with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe being in hot form, we can expect an action-packed 90 minutes this time around. A runners-up finish would likely mean a round of 16 showdown with England, which both sides will be keen on avoiding. Do not miss this tie.

Brazil vs Colombia this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET live on Fox Sports, fuboTV, and Sling TV

Brazil's first big test of the 2021 Copa America tournament arrives this midweek, with the Selecao set to lock horns with Colombia in their third match of the group stage. Tite's men have already played two games, having brushed aside Venezuela and Peru 3-0 and 4-0 respectively. Neymar continues to be Brazil's main man, netting in both ties in the race to become his nation's all-time top scorer. Colombia trail the defending champions by two points after being held to a goalless draw by Venezuela, but it will be interesting to see whether they will return to winning ways in their showdown with the Selecao.

This week in women's football, June 18, June 24, 2021, NWSL, North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Chicago Red Stars, Washington Spirit, Racing Louisville, Houston Dash 

Women's football transfer news keeps pouring in as the NWSL readies for a return to action after the international break. Here is what is trending now in women's football.

NWSL action returns with 8 games from Jan 19-23

The National Women's Soccer League is back after a two-week absence due to the international break. Some of the league's biggest stars represented their countries in international friendlies around the world. Now, they are back and ready to compete at the club level.

Saturday, June 19

North Carolina Courage vs. OL Reign at 4 p.m. ET

The Courage will host OL Reign at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, June 19, at 4 p.m. ET. The game will air live on big CBS in the USA and Canada. Also, fans in the USA can watch the game online via Paramount. Twitch TV has viewers covered elsewhere in the world.

Chicago Red Stars vs. Washington Spirit at 8 p.m. ET

The Red Stars and the Spirit will meet at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday, June 19, at 8 p.m. ET. NWSL fans from around the world can tune into Twitch to catch all the action.

Sunday, June 20

Racing Louisville vs. Houston Dash at 3 p.m. ET

Racing Louisville will host the Houston Dash at Lynn Family Stadium on Sunday, June 20, at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be available online in the USA on Paramount+ and internationally on Twitch. 

Portland Thorns vs. Kansas City at 4 p.m. ET

Providence Park will house a clash between the Portland Thorns and Kansas City on Sunday, June 20, at 3 p.m. ET. The game will air live on big CBS in the USA and Canada. Also, fans in the USA can watch the game online via Paramount. Twitch TV has viewers covered elsewhere in the world.

Orlando Pride vs. Gotham FC at 6 p.m. ET

The Orlando Pride will host Gotham FC at Exploria Stadium on Sunday, June 20, at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be available online in the USA on Paramount+ and internationally on Twitch.

Tuesday, June 22

OL Reign vs. Chicago Red Stars at 10 p.m. ET

OL Reign and the Chicago Red Stars meet in a mid-week clash at Cheney Stadium on Tuesday, June 22, at 10 p.m. ET. NWSL fans from around the world, including the USA, can tune into Twitch to watch the game.

Wednesday, June 23

Kansas City vs. Orlando Pride at 2 p.m. ET

Kansas City and the Orlando Pride will meet at Legends Field on Wednesday, June 23. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. ET, and you can catch coverage of the game on Paramount+ if you live in the USA, and Twitch internationally.

Racing Louisville vs. North Carolina Courage at 7:30 p.m. ET

Racing Louisville will take on the North Carolina Courage at Lynn Family Stadium on Wednesday, June 23, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be available online in the USA on Paramount+ and internationally on Twitch.

Top women's football transfers

  • English winger Nikita Parris agreed to personal terms with Arsenal and is ready to undergo her medical.

  • English forward Leah Williamson extended her contract with Arsenal for one more year.

  • French left-back Sakina Karchaoui joined PSG from Olympique Lyonnais according to multiple French outlets. 

  • Jamaica's Khadija "Bunny" Shaw agreed to a three-year deal with Manchester City, according to Soccer Insider.

  • Serbian midfielder Jelena Cankovic signed a four-year contract extension with Rosengard.

  • Manchester City signed 17-year-old Arsenal prospect Ruby Mace on a three-year contract.

  • Twenty-year-old forward Eva Navarro renewed her contract with Levante despite interest shown from Real Madrid.

Biggest stories of the week

Denmark star Christian Eriksen issues first public statement after terrifying mid-game cardiac arrest

Denmark star Christian Eriksen spoke out on Monday for the first time since suffering that gut-wrenching cardiac arrest during his nation's Euro 2020 clash with Finland. The 29-year-old playmaker released a statement to Gazzetta dello Sport via his agent as he looked to address the entire footballing world, who were anxiously waiting for his first words after that nearly-tragic incident.

The Inter Milan player has remained in the thoughts and prayers of players, pundits, and fans from across the globe after collapsing right before half-time in Denmark's opening European Championship tie. After falling over, it immediately became apparent that the former Tottenham ace was in need of emergency aid, with medics quickly rushing in to perform CPR for 13 minutes before stretchering him off the field.

Shortly after that scary moment, both UEFA and the Danish national team announced that the midfielder was stable and had been taken to hospital for recovery, but this did not end all the worry. Many remain concerned over his condition and whether the Serie A winner could ever return to the pitch after suffering cardiac arrest. However, the player looked to calm the fears, insisting that he is "better now" and that he "will not give up".

"Thank you, I won't give up. I feel better now - but I want to understand what's happened," the statement read.

"I want to say thank you all for what you did for me."

"Now he just has to rest, with him are his wife and parents," the agent added. 

Eriksen's update was great to hear!

Christian Eriksen, Update, Denmark, Finland, UEFA Euro 2020

Coca-Cola loses BILLIONS following Cristiano Ronaldo's snub at Euro 2020

Given Cristiano Ronaldo's huge marketing power and mass following, it's no surprise that a simple word or action from the Portuguese superstar will cause a ripple effect.

On Monday, Ronaldo sat down with reporters for a pre-match press conference prior to Portugal's match against Hungary. It's well known that he's a fitness buff and leads a very healthy lifestyle - which has contributed to his ongoing success over the course of his career.

Spotting two bottles of Coca-Cola, CR7 opted to move them out of the way - as clearly soda is not a drink he partakes in - before telling attendees and viewers to drink water instead.

Amazingly, immediately after Ronaldo's action, Coca-Cola saw its share price drop from $56.10 to $55.22, or a 1.6 percent drop.

But that wasn't all. The soft drink conglomerate saw its market value drop from $242 billion to $238 billion.

Although given the size of Coca-Cola, $4 billion may not seem like a lot, it's still notable because it shows the impact a player of Ronaldo's caliber can have on markets with a simple action.

Italy make history to book Euro 2020 last 16 spot

Italy secured a historic win to become the first team to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the 2020 European Championship. The Azzurri's put in yet another impressive shift on Wednesday night to hit Switzerland for three in their second Group A game of the tournament at Stadio Olimpico. 

Manuel Locatelli's brace and Ciro Immobile's late strike secured the maximum points for Roberto Mancini's side. The result made Italy only the second side in the European Championships' history to begin the tournament with successive wins by a three or more goal margin, having defeated Turkey by the same 3-0 scoreline in their opening game. They are also just one win or draw away from equaling their record of 30 unbeaten games set between 1935 and 1939.

Italy continue going from strength to strength under Mancini

Italy, Record, Switzerland, UEFA Euro 2020

Ramos breaks down in tears as he puts an end to 16-year stay at Real Madrid

Thursday was a sad day for Real Madrid fans, as their captain for 16 years left the club due to a disagreement in his contract extension.

Speaking in a press conference after a ceremony where he said goodbye to Los Merengues, Sergio Ramos admitted that contract negotiations between himself and the team hit a roadblock that he was not able to overcome.

"In the past few months the club made me a one-year offer with a slight wage reduction. I have to say that I had no problem with that, the only thing is that I wanted two years and a bit of calm for me and my family. In our final talks, I accepted that offer, but I was told that the deal had an expiration date and I had no idea about that," Ramos told the media.

The former captain refused to discuss what he talked about with president Florentino Pérez before the ceremony, admitting that his real interest was to leave the club on the best possible terms.

"Those are private talks, and I want to keep them that way. There were lots of personal things said. I was told by my agent that the offer had expired and I was left shocked. But I don't want to have any hard feelings. I will respect this club as my family, this is only a brief goodbye, because this team will always be in my heart," Ramos added.

Farewell, legend: Ramos leaves Real Madrid having won everything

Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid, Record, Farewell

Other key headlines from the world of football

TRANSFER: Donnarumma secures five year contract with PSG

The transfer saga surrounding Gianluigi Donnarumma has finally come to an end, as the 22-year-old has said arrivederci to Milan and will be a PSG player starting from the 2021/2022 season.

Donnarumma endured a turbulent relationship with Rossoneri fans over the past few years due to his difficult contract negotiations spearheaded by his agent, Mino Raiola. But now, that is firmly in the past as the Italian international will be plying his trade in a new league in just a few months' time. The rising star has put pen to paper to a five year contract; according to numerous reports, he's set to earn approximately €12 million per season.

After becoming a free agent at Milan following his refusal to sign a contract extension, there was huge speculation that Donnarumma could move to Juventus - especially as his namesake, Gianluigi Buffon was moving on at the end of the season after a 20 year stay in Turin.

Finland send touching tribute to Eriksen before Euro 2020 clash vs Russia

Teemu Pukki and Co. traveled to the Krestovsky Stadium on Wednesday to lock horns with Russia knowing that victory could have sealed their spot in the round of 16. Markku Kanerva's side picked up all three points over Denmark, beating their rivals 1-0 after the game resumed, but were quickly usurped at the top by Belgium later that same day.

The Red Devils took on Russia in their opening fixture, winning 3-0 to move level on points – but ahead on goal difference – with Finland. With Lukaku and Co. all but destined to beat Denmark the following day, victory on Matchday 2 would have left the Eagles Owls with six points and in the driving seat to secure progression to the knockout stage.

Despite this, the Finnish players chose not to brush Christian Eriksen's nearly-tragic moment from their opening game under the rug. Instead, the players wore shirts with the message "Get well Christian" to send their well wishes ahead of kick-off.

Rüdiger makes headlines for 'trying' to bite Paul Pogba's back

Just when the first half was coming to an end in France vs Germany, Rüdiger was spotted trying to mark Paul Pogba. The main problem with his man-to-man marking came when everyone realized that Rüdiger applied a strange "method" of marking by trying to take a bite off Pogba's back, followed by a suggestive rub of the Frenchman's chest.

To make matters even more bizarre, VAR officers decided to ignore the incident, which could have been categorized as an aggression against Pogba, and which should have been checked by those watching the Video Assistant Referee monitors.

As soon as the incident took place, fans on social media did not waste any time to find a resemblance between this defensive move by Rüdiger and the antics that made Luis Suárez famous prior to his Barcelona arrival.