The 2018 Australian Open began Monday in Melbourne, though most Americans might hope it began at a different date.

Within the first four hours of play beginning, three of the top 13 seeds in women’s singles – all from the US – lost their first round matches in a morning session American tennis fans will want to forget quickly.

The upset started with the very first match at Margaret Court Arena, with reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens facing Shuai Zhang of China. The American started very well, and found herself serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But Zhang was able to not only break serve, she forced that set into a tiebreak, and took control in the third set. Stephens seemed to lose focus after that critical break, and having now lost eight straight matches since her win at Flushing Meadows, the question will now when she can get back to winning ways.

Venus Williams entered the tournament with high expectations as well, having reached the final in Melbourne a year ago. But Belinda Bencic of Switzerland took control midway through the first set, unaffected by a rain delay of nearly a half-hour, going on to win 6-3 7-5. It’s the third time in five seasons Williams has lost in the first round in Australia. Meanwhile, Bencic, who in the first round to Serena in 2017, may now be considered a favorite to reach the third round.

Coco Vandeweghe gained an advantage early in her first-round match with Hungarian Timea Babos before the rain delay, with the first set going to a tiebreak, which Babos won. Prior to the second set, the American became involved in an argument with chair umpire Fergus Murphy, which ended with a violation being issued for time-wasting. Vandeweghe received another penalty later in the second set, as Babos continued her momentum to record the win in straight sets.

Monday wouldn’t fare much better for the favored Americans in men’s singles, as both John Isner & Jack Sock lost in four sets to their respective opponents. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios had little trouble progressing to the second round.

Tuesday’s schedule sees Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic take the court for the first time, along with Madison Keys, who is now the last remaining player from last year’s US Open semifinals. Will there be more upsets to come over the next few days in Melbourne?

Well, it happened. The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, which had used up eight of its nine lives already in this World Cup qualifying cycle, lost 2-1 to Trinidad & Tobago, which coupled with other results from the CONCACAF region, means the Americans will miss out on Russia 2018. It’s the first World Cup without the United States since 1986.

Even more frustrating about the outcome is the fact that after everything they’ve been through over the last 11 months, the Americans still controlled their fate entering Tuesday’s match. A win would’ve guaranteed a trip to Russia next summer; with the US having a superior goal difference to Panama and Honduras, a draw would’ve been enough, too. For the US to miss out, that scenario required a loss AND a Panama win AND a Honduras win.

Yet all three outcomes occurred, and here we are.

What’s most difficult to accept is the way Tuesday’s game unfolded; the USMNT knew they had everything to gain and everything to lose, yet began lethargically. Omar Gonzalez’s own goal seemed to be an omen of things to come, yet credit must be given to Alvin Jones on the Trinidadians’ second goal; had it been Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, how many fans would be campaigning for it to win the Puskas Award as the best goal of the year? The Americans did have a pulse in the second half, getting one goal back through Christian Pulisic, followed by two chances late – one denied by the post, the other saved by Adrian Foncette. Again, even with the other results, a tie would have been enough. But it’s a loss, and the questions surrounding the future are ever-present.

What does this say about the legacy of Bruce Arena? He’ll always be remembered for leading the USMNT to the 2002 quarterfinals, but he had one simple job when he returned last year, and he has now failed to deliver.

The responsibility is also on the players, as they will have to spend next summer knowing they won’t compete in the most-watched sporting event on the planet. Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, and other veterans are already in the twilight of their playing days; was this their last qualifying cycle, and is this how their national careers end?

One thing is for sure: it’s going to be a long summer for US Soccer, and the 2022 qualifying cycle cannot begin enough.

The US Men’s National Team will finish World Cup qualifying Tuesday when they visit Trinidad & Tobago. On paper, the mission is simple for the Americans; win against a team already eliminated, and they’ll be headed to Russia next summer. Even if they tie, that gives Panama and/or Honduras a chance to finish level with the US on points, but they’d need to overtake the Americans on goal difference (entering Tuesday, USA is +5, while Panama is -2 and Honduras is -7).

The worst-case scenario, of course, would be if Team USA loses to the Trinidadians. Should that occur, Bruce Arena and company could be looking at a two-leg playoff with Australia or Syria for a berth, or no berth at all. It could potentially be the first time since 1986 that the US wouldn’t appear in the most-watched sporting event on the planet.

Given how the qualifying cycle has gone over the past year, some might view it as appropriate if Tuesday’s game proves to be an emotional roller coaster. This cycle, after all, began with a loss to Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, breaking the trend of “Dos a Cero” results; it later continued with a crushing loss at Costa Rica, a result that cost Jurgen Klinsmann his job. Under Arena, they’ve steadied the ship, in addition to winning a Gold Cup in the summer.

But Panama and Honduras have made strides as well; the Americans did draw 1-1 when they visited both nations earlier this year. Plus, they both have home matches Tuesday with Costa Rica & Mexico, respectively; those two have already clinched World Cup berths. One would anticipate the USA needing to win their match to ensure qualification.

Bottom line: the Americans have everything to gain, but everything to lose, too. Arena certainly didn’t make things easier with his jab at European nations, and while CONCACAF has indeed improved as a whole, it’s not enough to the point where teams can yet make a push to that top tier of the region – where the US, Mexico, and Costa Rica currently sit. Arena’s job when he was brought in for a second stint with the national team was simple: lead the team to Russia. If they do that, they’ll keep that qualification streak alive, but the initiative will be on them to avoid another tumultuous cycle in four years.

To paraphrase the old saying, like teacher, like pupil.

When Louis van Gaal took over as Manchester United manager in 2014, his number one priority was to get the club back into the Champions League, as they finished fourth in the Premier League and dominated their play-off round tie with Club Brugge. Last year, Jose Mourinho faced the same challenge, but guided the team to a title in the Europa League, thus booking a spot in the group stage of Europe’s top club competition.

Now can he maintain the string of second-season success that he’s enjoyed in the past? In both stints at Chelsea, his second season was marked by Premier League titles. His “sophomore” (and final, as it turned out) campaign at Inter Milan was a Treble-winning season, the first Italian club to do so. His second team at Real Madrid, in 2011/12, arguably had the best chance to win the Champions League of his three seasons, losing to Bayern Munich on penalties in the semifinals.

As is the case with every upcoming season, much will be made about the new faces on the roster. Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic have each already experienced success in England, and will be hungry to continue that with a new club. Victor Lindelof may find life in England intimidating at first, coming from Benfica, but he can rely on seeing what Eric Bailly accomplished in his debut Premier League campaign.

Speaking of Bailly, how will he and the others who joined this time last time fare in their second season with United? Henrikh Mkhitaryan emerged as a Europa League specialist of sorts, but may face pressure to play just as well in the Champions League. Paul Pogba, meanwhile, will not only be freed up to play as an attacking midfielder, but is now free from bearing the “world’s most expensive player” tag thanks to Neymar. His 2016/17 campaign wasn’t awful, but look for an improved Pogba this season.

The Red Devils open this season Sunday at home against West Ham United. Three points will be the minimum goal, but fans would certainly hope for a more entertaining style of play than they were treated to last season, if not the kind of thrill that was seen in Friday’s Arsenal-Leicester match. Are United finally back to “title contender” status after four seasons of a rival lifting the trophy?

For now, it appears Jose Mourinho has his wish. Manchester United will have to rely on winning the Europa League if they wish to return to the Champions League in 2017-18.

There is still a chance that the Red Devils could maneuver their way into the top four, but the club still have an option that Liverpool & Manchester City don’t – take care of business against Celta Vigo and win the Final (presumably over Ajax), and they’ll return to Europe’s top club competition.

It was just several weeks ago that United controlled their own destiny to not just finish in the top four, but a chance to finish third, the difference being an automatic place in the UCL group stage. Liverpool and City have continued to drop points, allowing Mourinho’s team an opening that they’ve been unable to take advantage of. On the bright side, the club enjoyed an unbeaten Premier League run which came to an end Sunday after nearly eight months. At the same time, though, that run included home draws with West Bromwich Albion, Everton, and Swansea City, the last of those involved in a heated battle with Hull to avoid relegation.

And what if the plan to focus on the Europa League backfires? Should the club run into obstacles Thursday or in the Final, what will fans remember when they look back on this season? One positive that can’t be overlooked is the effect Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had on both the club and the Premier League, proving that he can still play at a high level even in his mid-30s. But when the Swede returns from his injury, can he maintain that level of play?

Manchester United are already assured a spot in next year’s Europa League, having won the EFL Cup in February. But for a club that has viewed an appearance in the Champions League as a birthright for two decades, anything less is looked at as failure. They’ve already experienced disappointment under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.  Can Mourinho return them to the UCL after one season? We will know by the end of the month.

Sunday marked the start of Year Four in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United. In the three full seasons since the Scotsman announced his retirement, the club has experienced a significant decline, finishing seventh, fourth, and fifth in the Premier League. Ferguson’s successor, David Moyes, was a prominent example of how the pressures of managing a major club can lead to poor results. While Louis van Gaal did bring a trophy to Old Trafford – the FA Cup – the Red Devils’ inconsistent performances led to the Dutchman’s departure as well.

Enter Jose Mourinho, who first made a name for himself with his touchline celebrations as Porto edged United in the 2004 Champions League. He has experienced success since at Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, while always maintaining a great deal of respect for United. He’s made no secret in the past of his desire to be the manager at Old Trafford, and after a longer-than-expected wait, that opportunity has arrived.

United players responded by opening the 2016/17 season with a 3-1 win at Bournemouth. The first goal came late in the first half, as Juan Mata took advantage of a Cherries defensive error to put the visitors in front. Commentator Peter Drury described the goal as a “delicious irony,” seeing as Mata joined United in 2014 after Mourinho deemed him surplus at the start of his second stint with Chelsea. There have been rumors that the Spaniard will be leaving Old Trafford in the near future, so seeing him score the opener – in a manner similar to how Leicester scored against United in last week’s Community Shield – might prompt management to keep him with the club. Wayne Rooney & Zlatan Ibrahimovic added their names to the scoresheet, while a late goal for the hosts prevented a season-opening shutout for David de Gea.

The 2016/17 campaign will certainly be one to watch for United supporters, with the arrival of not just Mourinho but multiple high-profile players. Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly have already made their presences known in the opening fixtures of the season, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan provides another midfield option. Last week, the Red Devils made their biggest move of the summer so far as Paul Pogba has returned to the club whose academy he was once part of; he was suspended for the Bournemouth match. Will the new signings make a lasting impact throughout the season, or are the first few weeks going to end up misleading?

Manchester United’s first home match comes Friday against Southampton. The Red Devils are keen to continue the momentum gained from Sunday, and not have it be a repeat of the David Moyes era, which also started with a multiple-goal win on the road but ended in disaster. The club feels they are ready to return to the top of the Premier League pyramid, and may have the pieces in place to do just that.

The 2016 European soccer championships begin Friday, as 24 teams compete for continental supremacy and the Henri Delaunay Trophy. The field has expanded from 16 to 24 teams this year, with several nations making their Euro debut, while the Netherlands are missing their second major tournament since the turn of the century. Here are my picks for how the group stage will play out.

Group A

France are hosting the European championships for the third time, and will be favorites to win; they did clinch the title in 1984, the last time they hosted. They’re paired with Switzerland, Romania, and Albania, the latter making their first ever major tournament – Euros or World Cup. The most interesting battle here, and across all groups, is who finishes second, as all the group winners runners-up make the Round of 16, but four second-place teams will join them. Switzerland may have enough experience to edge Romania for second place here. Prediction: France, Switzerland, Romania, Albania

Group B

England are hoping to put a poor 2014 World Cup behind them as they are paired with Russia, Slovakia, and Wales. The Russians boast several veterans from the 2008 squad that made the semifinals, but that age could prove a negative for them. Wales’ major question is how well the team can perform should Gareth Bale play poorly, while Slovakia might struggle overall, particularly if the stars on the other three teams are all 100 percent. Prediction: England, Wales, Russia, Slovakia

Group C

It’s Germany’s turn to do what Spain accomplished several years ago: hold the World Cup and European titles at the same time. The Germans are heavily favored against Northern Ireland, Poland, and Ukraine, with the Green & White Army making their Euro debut. This stage might prove to be a bit too much for them, but for the two co-hosts from 2012, they have realistic expectations of reaching the knockout round. Ukraine & Poland will meet in the final group match on June 21 in Marseille, which should provide a fantastic atmosphere. Prediction: Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Northern Ireland

Group D

This group brings back memories of Euro 2008, starting with the fact that it was Spain’s win in this competition eight years ago that started their domination of the world game that continued for over five years. But the matches to watch will be Turkey’s first and last group games; they were seconds away from going out in the 2008 quarterfinals to Croatia before a Semih Sentürk goal forced penalties. The match prior, they scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to prevail in a winner-take-all match against the Czech Republic. If Turkey’s matches here against those two are half as good as they were eight years ago, fans are still in for a treat. Prediction: Spain, Turkey, Croatia, Czech Republic

Group E

Belgium are currently the top-ranked team in Europe, second in the world only behind Argentina, but will miss several key contributors because of injuries. This is likely the final international tournament for both Gianluigi Buffon and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and while Italy has a lot of depth, Sweden’s fortunes depend largely on Ibrahimovic, who has put up good performances in past Euro performances. Ireland look to be outmatched by all three of its counterparts, and will struggle throughout group play. Prediction: Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Ireland

Group F

As long as Cristiano Ronaldo plays with the style that has made him a household name, Portugal are firm favorites to top the group. The big wild card here is Hungary; not many analysts are giving them a chance, but if the Modern Magyars draw their opening match with Austria and win over Iceland, they may clinch a spot in the last 16 prior to meeting Portugal. Austria’s only previous Euros appearance was 2008, when they co-hosted, but this nation has greatly improved since then. For Iceland, it will be a great learning experience, but nothing more than that in all likelihood. Prediction: Portugal, Hungary, Austria, Iceland

Group winners: France, England, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Portugal

Group runners-up: Switzerland, Wales, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy, Hungary

Four best third-place teams: Croatia, Austria, Russia, Sweden

Manchester United have long been considered the dominant team in English soccer. But ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, the club have experienced a significant decline. Coming into Saturday’s FA Cup Final, United had failed to win a major trophy since the Scotsman left as manager. That changed over the weekend, with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Wembley.

In regards to the match itself, it certainly is worthy of being regarded as one of the more entertaining Finals in recent memory, as Palace & United met in a rematch of the 1990 Final. Like 26 years ago, the Eagles appeared to have a game-winning goal from a substitute, before the Red Devils equalized through Juan Mata. Jesse Lingard won the Cup with an extra-time strike fitting for the occasion, one that will be replayed for many years.

Saturday’s win was significant for multiple reasons. It marks United’s first FA Cup win since 2004, when now-assistant coach Ryan Giggs was still in the prime of his playing career. The club would go on to make two more Finals under Ferguson, but were unsuccessful against Arsenal & Chelsea. The new Wembley has not been the kindest ground for the Red Devils since opening in 2007, but Saturday’s win does provide a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

The Red Devils did qualify for the Champions League in 2015/16, though a 3rd-place group finish meant a spot in the Europa League knockout rounds, where they fell tamely in the Round of 16. In the Premier League, they had several opportunities to book a top-four finish, but the club would ultimately finish 5th, meaning no Champions League appearance for the second time in three years.

Despite the FA Cup triumph, speculation remains over the job security of Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman has one year remaining on his contract, but talk has grown of van Gaal being replaced by Jose Mourinho. It’s unfortunate that the main topic of discussion following Saturday’s match was about LvG’s future with United, but it appears that even winning the FA Cup – which admittedly doesn’t mean as much today as it used to a generation ago – won’t be enough to justify him staying at Old Trafford one more season.

Who will Manchester United’s manager be in 2016/17? And whoever it is, can he use the momentum from the Cup title to lead the club to more success?

Saturday’s game with the Ottawa Senators marked the 50th game since John Tortorella took over as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The change came after a disastrous 0-7 start to the season under Todd Richards, in which the franchise failed to even take a game to overtime, which would’ve meant at least a point. By hiring the winningest American coach in NHL history, analysts viewed the coaching change as a much-needed wake-up call for the Blue Jackets, who have a history of slow starts to new seasons.

At the 50-game mark, Tortorella’s record with Columbus stands at 23-21-6, with 52 points. They are not the worst team in the league as of February 14, but still face a monumental climb if they want to challenge for a playoff spot. The New York Islanders have a 12-point advantage on the Blue Jackets for third in the Metropolitan Division, while the Penguins lead Columbus by 11 points for the second wild card slot.

It’s been a habit for the Jackets to make late-season streaks at the end of campaigns. At the end of the shortened 2012-13 season, Columbus was arguably the hottest team in the NHL, but their poor start meant they lost out on a tiebreak to Minnesota for a playoff berth. The following year, their hot streak began in mid-January, allowing the team to make the playoffs for only the second time. Last year, a dismal November meant their winning run towards March & April was not enough to qualify for the postseason.

In 2015-16, the biggest problem for Columbus has been late-game collapses or giving up the first goal of a game early. On more than one occasion, players have said they found a way to lose a game, rather than win. Tortorella made a bold move earlier this season, bringing in defenseman Seth Jones in a trade that sent one-time fan favorite Ryan Johansen to Nashville. Jones has adapted well to Columbus, playing a key role in the past two games; a shootout win over Anaheim and a regulation win over the Senators.

The Blue Jackets have won four of their past five games, so making this the start of a big run could spell a postseason berth. Perhaps most incredible is the fact that both Sergei Bobrovsky and regular backup Curtis McIlhenny are both injured, but both Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg have shown at times they have futures in the NHL.

Columbus has two more games remaining on their current homestand, hosting Boston on Tuesday and Buffalo on Friday. They’ll have a matchup at Detroit on February 23rd on NBCSN, which could prove to be either an important statement or an embarrassment on national television. It’s make-or-break for the Blue Jackets, and what a turnaround it would be for Tortorella to take the franchise to the playoffs after that disastrous start.