The Cricket World Cup moves into the knockout round Wednesday, as the quarterfinals start in Australia and New Zealand. All eight remaining teams are full members of the ICC, most of them considered the “big boys” of the sport. The one exception, of course, is England, who managed to win only two of their six group matches, and will be watching from home.

The quarterfinals begin with an intriguing matchup between South Africa and Sri Lanka. The Proteas have been viewed as proverbial underachievers in the World Cup, boasting enough talent to win the tournament but having failed to do so yet. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, finished as the runner-up in 2007 & 2011; will the third time be a charm? Two of their greatest all-time players, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, are retiring later this year, and both men have displayed outstanding performances so far in their final World Cup. Can they go out on top and finish the storybook ending?

Defending champions India had plenty of unanswered questions leading into the tournament. Their response: bowling out every one of their opponents en route to a perfect group record. The highest run total they conceded in six games was 287 – against a Zimbabwe team already eliminated and with nothing to lose. India’s opponents, Bangladesh, will be on a high after clinching a quarterfinal spot with a game to spare and playing New Zealand close in the final group match. The holders may be favorites to advance to the semifinals but don’t write off the Tigers.

Both co-hosts have qualified for the last eight, as Australia will face Pakistan in Adelaide. The four-time champions were not in the final when they last hosted the World Cup in 1992, which gives the current squad plenty of motivation to win on home turf; their semifinal would be in Sydney, with the final in Melbourne. New Zealand also went through group play unbeaten, with no matches rained out. They surprised many when they upset South Africa to make the semifinals in 2011; there is a sense of expectation that they will beat the West Indies on Saturday in Wellington.

Has your pick to win the Cricket World Cup changed? We’ll find out the winner in two weeks.

Manchester United enter the final stretch of the Premier League this weekend, with only 10 games remaining in the 2014/15 season. The slate contains several major clubs who United have yet to face a second time, starting with Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, who won both of their last two visits to Old Trafford.

United will need some positive momentum after Monday’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal. It was a game where many analysts thought Louis van Gaal’s club played rather well, but a fatal mistake by the defense led to the match-winner scored by former United striker Danny Welbeck, who joined the Gunners at the fall transfer deadline. It was Arsenal’s first victory over their rivals in any competition in almost four years, as they keep hope alive for a second straight FA Cup title.

The Red Devils, meanwhile, have an intriguing list of upcoming games, including home dates with Spurs, Manchester City, and an EPL match with Arsenal; they will also travel to Anfield and Stamford Bridge. Through 28 games, Manchester United are fourth in the Premier League, which would put them in the play-off round of Champions League qualifying. Van Gaal says his main concern is getting United back into Europe’s most prestigious club competition, and with the Red Devils out of the FA Cup, the Premier League is the only competition left in the club’s 2014/15 schedule. Some may say finishing fourth – thus making the UCL play-off round – is beneath a club the size of Manchester United. However, optimists have two responses to that argument: it’s better than not making the Champions League at all, which was the case for United this season; the other counter would be that United is currently only one point behind Arsenal for third place, which means automatic entry into the group stage. Again, Arsenal still has to make one more journey to Old Trafford on May 16.

Expect Sunday’s match with Tottenham to be indicative of how United approach the final slate of Premier League fixtures. It will show the character of a team making the best of a less-than-favorable situation, or will leave supporters wondering for at least another year what could have been.

With Monday’s loss to Bangladesh, England have been eliminated from the Cricket World Cup, with one group game still to come. The result proved to be a summary of a disappointing tournament for England, who have only managed one win so far (against minnows Scotland) in five games.

It was always going to be difficult for the Lions, as their first two group matches came against the two co-hosts – Australia and New Zealand. In both games, England posted tame totals and never really looked like a side eager to win. Whether some of the players were still having nightmares about the 2013-14 Ashes, or the triangular series right before the World Cup, remains to be seen, but England seemed to behind the 8-ball right away.

They righted the ship to a degree against Scotland, although a loss would’ve been akin to a Major League Baseball club losing to one of its minor league affiliates. Then came the group match against Sri Lanka. The two had met in the 2011 quarterfinals (in Sri Lanka), with England batting first and posting a decent total. But the bowlers’ inability to take wickets allowed Sri Lanka to cruise to a 10-wicket victory, and four years later it was a case of déja vu. England did well to make over 300, but again their bowlers failed to get enough wickets to put the opponents under pressure, as Sri Lanka cruised to a win.

Monday’s match against Bangladesh was a “do or die” situation for England, and batting second with a target of 276, they crumbled down the stretch to finish 260. One analyst has called this the “worst performance in England’s ODI history,” saying the current format of the World Cup makes it very difficult for the Lions to go out this early. Yet they did, and now there are questions galore about where the team goes from here.

Several positives can be taken from this, though. As mentioned earlier, England played both co-hosts in 2015; they also faced all three co-hosts in 2011. In those five total matches, they lost four and tied once. With the 2019 World Cup being held in England, they will have an advantage of playing in a familiar environment. Also, their final group match comes Friday against Afghanistan, a game that England was always expected to win handily. Now that there’s no pressure, with the team’s fate already sealed, fans might see England adopt a “nothing-to-lose” mentality, one that could have served them well in earlier games. Also, it gives one more chance for some of the younger players to gain valuable experience Down Under (a lot of them have already played in the previous matches), and prepare them for what to expect in four years.

What’s your take on another disappointing result for England in an international sporting event? Leave a comment below!

Friday marks 10 years since the defining moment of Thad Matta’s first season in charge of Ohio State men’s basketball. The Buckeyes were hosting unbeaten, top-ranked Illinois, and looking for their signature win of their 2004-05 season.

OSU had self-imposed a postseason ban after a violation committed by previous head coach John O’Brien, although the team did play in the Big Ten Tournament. In their first year under Matta, the Buckeyes started well, going 11-3 in non-conference play, but struggled against league opponents. Prior to the home game against the Illini, Ohio State had lost three straight, and needed the upset just to finish .500 in Big Ten play.

After trailing by 11 at halftime, the Buckeyes came back in the second half, setting up this memorable finish.

As you may have heard in the video, it marked the second straight season where the #1 team in the country lost to a Thad Matta-coached squad; Xavier upset St. Joseph’s in the 2004 Atlantic 10 Tournament. Matta would then take the Musketeers to the Elite Eight, before arriving in Columbus.

It’s always interesting to wonder what would’ve happened if just one, or neither, of those upsets had taken place. Had the Buckeyes lost to Illinois in 2005, would they have come back to win consecutive regular-season conference titles the following years? Would they have landed the outstanding recruiting class headlined by Greg Oden and Mike Conley? Maybe Matta would’ve pulled both off anyway, but the Illinois game served as a sort of announcement that Ohio State could be considered a legitimate basketball power in the Big Ten.

This marks Matta’s 11th season with the Buckeyes, who under him have made eight trips to the NCAA Tournament, and are highly expected to go this year as well. Fans are more than eager to witness how this second decade unfolds in Columbus.

The 20th season of Major League Soccer kicks off this weekend, with a lot of excitement planned for the new campaign. The league has endured many periods of growth since its inception, and has made a lot of news in the offseason with the planned changes for this year.

The biggest change is the addition of two new clubs: New York City FC and Orlando City SC. The two will actually face each other Sunday evening in the first game for both teams. NYCFC will be the second team in its metropolitan area, along with the New York Red Bulls – one of the original MLS clubs (formerly known as the NY/NJ Metrostars). Orlando is a new market for MLS, but the league is hopeful that its third Florida franchise won’t suffer the same fate as the first two (Miami and Tampa Bay both folded after 2002); Orlando used to have a USL Pro team, which relocated to Louisville for this season. MLS will also lose a franchise in Chivas USA, although there are plans for Los Angeles to regain a second team in 2017, along with a team in Atlanta.

Another major change, although the practice isn’t new, is the amount of world-class talent expected to debut. Former World Player of the Year Kaká has been named Orlando City’s captain, while David Villa and Frank Lampard are both on NYCFC’s roster. Longtime Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will also join MLS in July, having agreed to an 18-month contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy. While critics may argue that all four aforementioned players are well into the second half of their careers, their presence could continue to bring exposure to new fans and respect from those outside the U.S. and Canada.

With the new logos also making an appearance in 2015, how will that affect the appeal of MLS to players and fans? As the league celebrates its 20th year, expect this season to be indicative of what executives have planned for the future as it continues to grow.

The PGA of America formally announced Tuesday that Davis Love III will be the Team USA captain for next year’s Ryder Cup at Hazeltine. There had been rumors over the last few weeks that the 50-year-old would be selected as captain for the second time, and now Love has a unique opportunity. Having been in charge of the 2012 squad, he is one of the few to boast experience as both a leader and a player in the biennial competition. But can he put the demons of three years ago behind him, or will they come back to haunt Team USA?

Depending on who you were rooting for, the 2012 Ryder Cup is known as the “Miracle” or the “Meltdown at Medinah.” After the first two days of play, the United States had a 10-6 lead over Europe, and was in good position to win the Cup for only the second time this century. But the Europeans won 8 of Sunday’s 12 singles matches to complete an improbable comeback, winning 14.5-13.5. It was exactly what the Americans had pulled off in 1999, with Love himself playing a significant role; his 6 & 5 win over Jean Van de Velde was the first match to finish in Brookline, bringing the deficit to 10-7 and giving the Americans hope. In 2012, the role reversal was dramatic, and this recap illustrates the range in emotions for both teams.

In 2014, Europe won the Ryder Cup for a third straight time, with American captain Tom Watson heavily criticized following the defeat for his approach to selecting pairings. With Love back in charge, his agenda is simple, but the pressure to deliver will be present.

Team Europe appointed its captain last week: Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, who has played on several victorious squads, and won the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s.

The 2016 Ryder Cup will be held September 30-October 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

Sunday marks the 35th anniversary of one of the greatest upsets in sports history: the United States men’s hockey team defeating the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. A generation has passed since that day, but for those who viewed it, whether in person or elsewhere, their emotions rival those of the American players who were part of something iconic. It is often regarded as a “Where were you?” moment, not just because of the game itself, but also because of the bigger picture.

Consider the background leading up to the game. The Soviet team was laden with veterans, while the U.S. roster consisted of college-age athletes. That gap in experience showed at the beginning of February 1980, when the Soviets easily won an exhibition at Madison Square Garden, 10-3. Tensions between the two nations because of the Cold War didn’t help, either.

After the debacle in New York City, the Americans rebounded in Olympic group play to tie Sweden, then won their next four games, including a 7-3 defeat of Czechoslovakia – a favorite to take the silver medal. All roads led to the medal round, with a date against the country who had taken the gold in the four previous Winter Games. After tying the game at 2-2 to end the first period (which led to Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak being pulled), the U.S. erased a 3-2 deficit to win 4-3, the game-winning goal scored in the third by captain Mike Eruzione. Although Disney’s 2004 film Miracle can’t equal the emotion of the actual game’s final moments, it does very well in letting the images speak for themselves.

The United States has not won gold in men’s ice hockey since Lake Placid – they were silver medallists in 2002 and 2010 – meaning the team from 1980 is revered even more. Whether that status will change should the Americans win gold in the future remains to be seen, but given the reception for the players on Saturday, in a special ceremony commemorating the 35th anniversary, it’s very hard to see this team ever fading in relevance.

Share your memories of the “Miracle on Ice” below!

This Sunday marks the start of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, with the top drivers already gathered in Florida for “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500. With two days still to go until the race itself, there has already been a lot of news about the events leading up to Sunday, from the new qualifying process to the arguments between drivers.

One of the more prominent stories is the fact that 2015 is the final full-time season for Jeff Gordon. The man whose name has been synonymous with NASCAR for over a decade is already the sentimental favorite to win his fourth 500 title, and having won the pole during qualifying, it appears as if the stars may align for #24 to begin his swan song with a win in the most important NASCAR race. Here are some of the highlights from last Sunday’s qualifying run, uploaded by Fox Sports’ YouTube channel.

There’s just something special about the Daytona 500 (and the Indianapolis 500, too, for that matter) that allows it to appeal to casual racing fans, and non-racing fans as well. Is it Daytona being on the popular racing game one sees at arcades around the country? Or when one watches the race on television, most years viewing a bright and sunny Florida day in February? In 2015, it could be Gordon starting the year with a win at the first race of the season, one that’s regarded as the most prestigious race.

Will Gordon complete the narrative with a win? What about defending 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., or reigning Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick? Leave a comment below!

After two months, the UEFA Champions League resumes this week with the first portion of matches in the Round of 16. Four German teams have qualified for this stage, along with three each from England and Spain, two from France, and one club each from Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, & Ukraine. From this round to the semifinals, the competition will have two teams play twice (once at each home ground), with the club scoring the more goals in the 180 minutes advancing.

The first wave of matches begins on Tuesday, when PSG hosts Chelsea and Bayern Munich travels to Shakhtar Donetsk. PSG defender David Luiz left the Blues to join the French club in the offseason, and will face many of his former teammates in this tie. Bayern are heavily favored in their matchup, but Shakhtar boasts Luiz Adriano, currently the leading scorer in the UCL. On Wednesday, Schalke 04 hosts defending champion Real Madrid, who are aiming to become the first club in the modern era to win back-to-back titles. Also, Basel welcome Porto to Switzerland, with the winner of that matchup likely considered a dark horse to spring an upset in later rounds.

Next week, the first legs continue with four more intriguing encounters. Juventus take on Borussia Dortmund in a rematch of the 1997 Final, while reigning Premier League champions Manchester City host Barcelona; the Catalans looking for their fourth title in a ten-year span. Then on the 25th, Bayer Leverkusen will hope to end the dreams of last year’s runner-up Atletico Madrid, and the Arsenal-Monaco tie offers an interesting story: Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was once the manager of the French team, and Arsenal has many connections with France in general when it comes to former players.

As I mentioned in my group preview of the Champions League, there’s an opportunity for a trend to continue. After Italy won the 2006 World Cup, AC Milan lifted the European Cup the following season; when Spain became world champions in 2010, Barcelona beat Manchester United for the European club crown. With Germany winning the 2014 World Cup, what does that mean for the odds of Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund, or Schalke?

Has your pick to win the competition changed? Leave a comment below!