Pick Of The Week

Today

Today

BBC1 (1.45), BBC2 (9.25pm), Network 2 (11.35pm): Wimbledon. Pete Sampras, king of the power servers, takes to the Centre Court in a bid to win his fifth consecutive title while viewing figures should peak due to the frenzied creation of the Spice set on the female circuit.

Network 2 (7.30pm), ITV (7.30pm): France 98. Romania v England. Given the hysteria after their Tunisian victory, if the English win this, the pundits will probably call for the reconstitution of the Empire.

Network 2 (6.35pm): The Game on Monday. A little homespun sport to bridge the soccer clashes. Action includes Cork v Clare and Dublin v Kildare.

Tomorrow

BBC1 (1.45pm) BBC2 (12.00): Wimbledon. Martina Hingis begins the defence of her title.

Network 2 (2.45pm), ITV (2.45): France 98. Italy v Austria.

Network 2 (7.30pm): France 98. Brazil v Norway. The plodding Brazilians should hopefully learn a thing or two about skill from the silken Scandinavians.

BBC1 (7.30pm): France 98. Scotland v Morocco. If history means anything, the Scots will be eliminated on a jammy goal in this one.

Wednesday BBC2 (12.00am, 3.35pm), BBC1 (1.45pm), Wimbledon. NETWORK 2 (2.45pm), BBC1 (1.45pm), EUROSPORT (2.30pm) France 98. France v Denmark. The French conclude their first round series.

Network 2 (7.30pm), ITV (7.50pm), Eurosport (7.30pm). France 98. Spain v Bulgaria, or Nigeria v Paraguay.

ITV (10.40): Fantasy World Cup Live. In keeping with ITV's plastic presentation, Skinner and Baddiel inject their own brand of "humour" to proceedings.

Thursday BBC2 (12.00am), BBC1 (1.45pm) Wimbledon.

Network 2 (2.45pm), BBC1 (2.45pm), Eurosport (2.30pm): France 98. Holland v Mexico. Different teams, same game. BBC may opt for Belgium v South Korea as the forgettable Group E concludes its business.

Network 2 (7.30pm), ITV (7.50pm), Eurosport (7.30pm): France 98. Germany v Iran and USA v Yugoslavia in the final lot of Group F matches. Coverage will depend on which game is more significant.

Friday BBC2 (Noon, 9.30pm), Network 2 (11.35pm). Wimbledon.

Network 2 (2.45pm), Eurosport (2.50pm): France 98. Argentina v Croatia or Japan v Jamaica finish affairs in Group H.

ITV (4.30pm): ITV bring delayed coverage of the Group H games owing to their coverage of the Assembly Election results. What ever happened to priorities?

Network 2 (7.30pm), BBC1 (7.30pm), EUROSPORT (7.30pm): France 98. England v Colombia. The English are also causing a bit of a stir in France. Tonight, the bandwagon is in Lens.

Network 2 (11.05pm): Sideline View. Previews of the Leinster and Ulster football clashes.

Sky sports 1 (3.30am Sat): Live Rugby Union. New Zealand v England (second Test).

Saturday

UTV (11.40am), Network 2 (11.55am): Live Formula One. French Grand Prix Qualifying from Magny Cours. Arrows to take pole, as usual.

BBC2 (12.00am), BBC1 (2.00): Wimbledon.

Network 2 (3.00pm) France 98. Group B winners v Group A runners up. RTE are showing every second round match of the World Cup. BBC and ITV will share the spoils.

Sky Sports 1 (4.00): Rugby Union. South Africa v Wales. Too tight to call.

Sunday

UTV (12.20), Network 2 (12.30): Live Formula One. The French Grand Prix.

RTE1 (1.45), Channel 4 (2.10), BBC2 (3.45): Live Horse Racing. From the Curragh, including the Irish Derby at 3.55pm.

Network 2 (3.00pm), UTV (3.10): The Sunday Game Live. Armagh v Derry. Two in-form teams battle it out for a place in the Ulster final.

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Keith Duggan

Keith Duggan

Keith Duggan is Washington Correspondent of The Irish Times