Euro 2016 Schedule: Live Stream, TV Info and Odds for Friday Group Fixtures
Italy, Croatia and Spain will look to build on opening-match wins when they play their second group games of UEFA Euro 2016 on Friday.
Croatia's Group D game with the Czech Republic will be fascinating, but it's Spain's meeting with Turkey that really stands out as a match brimming with technical quality.
Meanwhile, Italy will likely still be buoyant when they take on Sweden in Group E, after shocking their doubters with a 2-0 win over a Belgium team that always seems to flatter to deceive.
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Before taking a closer look at the games, here is the schedule information, along with odds, for each match:
Italy vs. Sweden
Date: Friday, June 17
Time: 2 p.m. (BST), 9 a.m. (ET)
TV: ITV 1, ESPN.
Live Stream: ITV Player, WatchESPN.
Odds: Italy 10/11, Sweden 43/10, draw 68/29.
Czech Republic vs. Croatia
Date: Friday, June 17
Time: 5 p.m. (BST), 12 p.m. (ET).
TV: BBC One, ESPN.
Live Stream: BBC Sport, BBC iPlayer, WatchESPN.
Odds: Czech Republic 75/19, Croatia 19/20, draw 13/5.
Spain vs. Turkey
Date: Friday, June 17
Time: 8 p.m (BST), 3 p.m. (ET).
TV: ITV 1, ESPN.
Live Stream: ITV Player, WatchESPN.
Odds: Spain 1/2, Turkey 17/2, draw 18/5.
All odds via Odds Shark, Oddschecker and Smart Bets.
Preview
There should be plenty of creative guile to wow the crowds when Spain meet Turkey in Nice. The Turks can count on cerebral schemer Arda Turan and midfield workhorse Oguzhan Ozyakup for ample flair.
Yet, as good as that pair is, few teams at the tournament can match the technical standards set by Spain's platoon of pass-masters. Chief among them is Barcelona veteran Andres Iniesta.
The 32-year-old was magnificent dictating play during the 1-0 win over Czech Republic. His typically stylish display prompted lofty praise from opposition goalkeeper Petr Cech, per Pete Jenson of the Independent: "He is one of the best players in the world and I'm not just talking about my era. I'm talking about in the history of the game."
Iniesta may be the main man, but he's far from alone in the ideas factory at the heart of Spain's midfield, where Premier League duo David Silva and Cesc Fabregas also ooze quality and imagination.
If there's one issue for the defending champions, it's who these playmakers should be supplying with chances. Striker Alvaro Morata struggled mightily in the first game, while Athletic Club Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz made a difference when he replaced the younger man.
Cagey manager Vicente del Bosque doesn't miss much, but he has to get the balance right up front.
Croatia displayed a nice balance in seeing off Turkey in their Group D opener. Like Spain, they win or lose on the strength of a fluid, ball-playing midfield led by Real Madrid brain-box Luka Modric.
Able support for Modric comes from Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Rakitic, but the latter was a little off key as an advanced No. 10 against Turkey.
Croatia need Rakitic on form because he's the key link in the supply chain for target man Mario Mandzukic and intelligent wide player Ivan Perisic.
Experience and craft aren't in short supply in a Czech Republic midfield suavely directed by 35-year-old Tomas Rosicky and 34-year-old Jaroslav Plasil. Skipper Rosicky wants to leave behind a legacy as he navigates the winter of his career, according to ESPN FC's Nick Ames.
Sadly, the stylish No. 10 doesn't have enough dynamic talents in front of him to really make the difference for his country.
Speaking of dynamic, that's exactly what unheralded strikers Graziano Pelle and Eder were for Italy in the 2-0 win over Belgium. Playing as the focal point of manager Antonio Conte's smart and physical 3-5-2 formation, the pair put on a clinic for how to lead the line at international level.
In particular, Southampton man Pelle was imperious as a target man who made the ball stick and routinely found midfield runners with clever flicks and knockdowns.
Pelle's brawn and the pace of Antonio Candreva gave the Italians a devilish mix in attacking areas, but it was at the back where their excellence really showed.
Conte put his faith in the same defensive three who had been the backbone of his best Juventus teams, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
Their miserly brilliance prompted Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher to urge incoming Chelsea boss Conte to consider bringing two of his favourites to the Premier League:
Not many have espoused the merits of this particular Italy squad, but the critics miss the point. This is a group of players and a manager who know each other well, playing a system they have down perfectly.
It would be foolish to easily count out the Azzurri.
It promises to be a day for playmakers at this tournament. Expect Modric, Iniesta and Co. to display plenty of classy touches and artful passing.
In terms of results, it's safe and smart to back predicted wins for Spain, Croatia and Italy.
