Soccer
Australia returns to the World Cup in 2014 but has a tough task to overcome in order to move on from the group stage. Will the Socceroos be remembered for this tournament or will they continue to languish among the worst teams in the tournament?
The Champions League gets back underway this week with the final leg of the quarterfinals. A few matches are pretty much settled while most have some interesting storylines that are worth considering.
How the mighty have fallen. After looking like Premier League title contenders for half of the 2013-14 season, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal is in danger of missing the Champions League for the first time under the manager's tenure. Arsenal, which has struggled in big games on the road this year, lost arguably its most important remaining match on Sunday in a 3-0 blowout by Everton.
It was April 2013. Barcelona was kicking off against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena for the first leg of the Champions League semifinal and was fancied as the favorite to go through. The team had seemingly rebounded nicely from its Spanish league title loss to Real Madrid a year ago and was on pace to reclaim Spain's top prize. But then everything went south for Los Cules. In a matter of 90 minutes, Bayern Munich had given the world a lesson in how to take down Barcelona. The return home for the second leg was even more embarrassing as the team wound up losing 3-0 and ended up defeated 7-0 on aggregate. The aura of invincibility had been demolished completely and the beginning of the end of would begin. But what an end it would be.
Of all the matchups in the Champions League quarterfinals, none had less suspense than the one between Bayern Munich and Manchester United. On one hand, you have the best team in the world playing at its peak. On the other hand you have a mediocre side that is enduring a nightmare season under a manager that is unlikely to be on the bench this summer. But after 90 minutes, this may be the most interesting tie of all. Barcelona and Atletico are knotted at one apiece as well, but those two sides always prove to be evenly paired. However, this match could still go either way in the second leg.
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will renew their rivalry on Wednesday in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will meet again when Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain do battle in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Croatia has had a mixed history in the World Cup and the team will look to make the most of a big opportunity in Brazil. Led by a number of stars, the team looks poised to make some noise, but can it overcome mediocre performances at the end of 2013?
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will face off in a crucial Champions League match on Tuesday.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich will contest the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The Spanish League title race is the closest it has been in years and things got a lot more interesting this past weekend as the top three contenders managed to overcome big tests and won.
Despite years of futility, it finally seems like Liverpool has come to fore and become a top contender to win the Premier League. Brendan Rodgers' side finished in first place after the weekend and the side remains the team to beat as the Premier League heads into its final weeks.
Russia will make its hotly anticipated World Cup return in 2014 with hopes of creating and building experience ahead of its 2018 tournament. The Russians were drawn into a highly favorable group in 2014, but will the team finally overcome its rough history in the tournament?
David Moyes' time with Manchester United may be drawing to an end. Many have been wondering when the team's executives would make the decision, but it might not even be their choice. According to reports, the coach is facing a mutiny from his own players.
Barcelona managed a huge 3-0 win over Celta Vigo and is in complete control of its destiny regarding the chance to win the Spanish league title. The team now trails Atletico Madrid by one point. The two sides will meet on the final day of the season and if both teams manage to win their remaining games leading up to that match, then that game will literally be a final that decides the title winner.
