Euro 2012 Schedule: Start Times, Live Stream and TV Info for Day 7 Action

If the first six days of Euro 2012 have taught us anything, it's that this is going to be an exciting year for the tournament.

We've already seen underdogs come from nowhere to surprise, favorites assert their will and well-balanced matches where one play shifts momentum for good.

Day 7 offers some intriguing matches, with some underdogs looking to uproot some impressive sides.

Here's a look at Day 7 of Euro 2012, complete with predictions.

Start Times

Italy vs. Croatia: Thursday, June 14, Noon ET

Spain vs. Ireland: Thursday, June 14, 2:45 p.m. ET

Live Stream

You can catch all the action live on Watch ESPN.

TV Info

ESPN2 will provide complete coverage for both matches. 

Players to Watch

Italy: Daniele De Rossi

Daniele De Rossi is simply a spectacular player. He's well balanced on the pitch with great passing, vision, shooting and tackling ability. 

Perhaps De Rossi's ability to do so many things is why he was part of a three-man defense for Italy to start things off against Spain, a game in which the Italians battled the favorites to a 1-1 draw. 

Croatia: Mario Mandzukic

Mario Mandzukic not only terrorizes with his speed and ball control on the pitch, he showed he's quite adept at putting it in the back of the net with his two-goal performance in Croatia's 3-1 victory over Ireland.

Mandzukic's striking ability is nothing new, of course, scoring 12 goals in 32 appearances for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga this past season. It's going to be fun to see him go up against De Rossi and Co.  

Spain: Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta is widely regarded as the best player on the Spanish squad, and that's saying something given Spain are the defending champions, with players such as Xavi and Cesc Fabregas on its side.

Iniesta has the complete package: passing, speed, vision, creativity and surprising shooting ability for a midfielder. Former Croatia international and current coach for Red Star Belgrade, Robert Prosinecki, said he'd choose Iniesta over Lionel Messi if he had the choice.    

Ireland: Sean St Ledger

Sean St Ledger is by far the best player on what has been a disappointing Irish squad thus far. It wasn't a surprise that St Ledger cursed Ireland's defense in its 3-1 loss to Croatia, given he's made a living protecting the net throughout his career.

Beyond St Ledger's ability to play tight defense, he's even exhibited the ability to score when called upon, as he did against Croatia. If Ireland is able to get its defense together, it will be because of St Ledger, the side's leader.  

Predictions

Italy 2-1 Croatia

Croatia looked good against Ireland despite Ireland's less-than-brilliant play. But this is Italy we're talking about, who just battled Spain to an impressive draw. Italy's defense, combined with the fact that I think the side will put up more offense against Croatia, makes it a 2-1 game for me.

Spain 3-0 Ireland

Spain wants a win here, and the favorite is going up against quite possibly the worst team in the tournament.

Forgive me if I think this isn't going to work out for the Irish.

Even if Ireland ups its defense, I still see the Spaniards blowing past the underdog. Fernando Torres' apparent lack of ability to put the ball in the net is a concern for Spain, but the side has plenty of other scoring options, and it's a much tighter squad in practically every way possible.

I would like to see this be a competitive match, but I think Spain is going to come out blazing hot, ready to get back on track. Ireland's in a bad position after Spain's draw against Italy.