Manchester United will meet Real Madrid Saturday afternoon in the  Guinness International Champions Cup at Michigan Stadium. Even though this is a friendly between the two clubs, tickets at “The Big House” sold out within a day, as both sides boast avid fan bases throughout the country. If United avoid losing in regulation, they will advance to Monday’s Final in Miami.

Louis van Gaal’s reign of Manchester United has started well this summer, to say the least; the English giants defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 7-0 before holding off Roma 3-2 and Inter on penalties in their previous tour games. United have enjoyed the presence of first-team regulars, including potential captain Wayne Rooney, who recently played for England at the World Cup. But even with the success they’ve had here the last few weeks, it’ll be their performances in the first months of the upcoming Premier League that determines if last season was an aberration.

Real Madrid are coming off their record 10th European Cup title, but will miss Cristiano Ronaldo, the most recent FIFA Ballon d’Or winner and former United player. The Spanish club have struggled in their first two matches of this tournament, losing to Inter on penalties and to Roma in regulation. The Spanish domestic league (commonly called “La Liga”) starts later in the month than the Premier League, but Real are competing in both the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups once they return to Europe. Real’s record of signing world-class players has continued in 2014, with World Cup stars James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos joining in the last few weeks.

With the sell-out expected in Ann Arbor, American soccer fans can look to this as one more sign that the sport is continuing to grow its popularity in the U.S. Two of the most recognizable brands not just in soccer, but in all of sports, competing in one of the largest stadiums in the world. For the fans lucky enough to attend Saturday’s match, it’s an experience they won’t forget.

The Big Ten held its football preseason media day this week in Chicago, and tomorrow marks one month until the first Saturday of the new college football season. The big story for the league this summer was the addition of Maryland & Rutgers, bringing the conference to 14 teams. Here are some of the key stories to keep an eye on in each division.

East: Opportunities for redemption

Ohio State is the favorite to win the East Division, according to a poll of 29 media members run by cleveland.com. The Buckeyes had been on a 24-game winning streak, before losses to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and to Clemson in the Orange Bowl. The Spartans received multiple first-place votes themselves, but they’ll be replacing key starters from the Rose Bowl-winning squad, particularly on defense. The two schools will meet in East Lansing for a primetime matchup on November 8, a game that could likely decide who represents the East in Indianapolis. Michigan was picked to finish 3rd, followed by Penn State, Maryland, Indiana, and Rutgers.

West: Potential underdog role

Only one of the 29 poll voters picked a West team to win the Big Ten Championship, predicting Nebraska over Ohio State. Wisconsin beat out Iowa for the most first-place votes, and neither the Badgers nor the Hawkeyes will be playing Ohio State or Michigan State in crossover games. Wisconsin has a very high-profile opening game against LSU in Houston on August 30, but their visit to Iowa City on November 29 will also draw attention. Nebraska’s senior class (excluding redshirts) will be the first group of Cornhuskers to play all four years in the Big Ten, and after being embarrassed in the championship game in 2012, they’re eager to win the crown in 2014.  Northwestern was picked fourth, followed by Minnesota, Illinois, and Purdue.

Will the poll voters’ predictions hold up by season’s end? How will Maryland and Rutgers fare in their new home? Which coaches are on the hot seat? Minnesota and Rutgers are the first Big Ten teams to open play on August 28. Until then, we still have one more month to go!

With the All-Star break over, Major League Baseball resumes its regular season tonight. Several teams control their destiny when it comes to who will make the playoffs, but other clubs have time to catch up if they can get on a roll. Here’s what I’ll be keeping an eye on in each of the leagues.

AL: Is this Oakland’s year?

At the break, Oakland boasted the best record in the majors at 59-36; the A’s and Angels are the only teams with a .600 winning percentage. Boston won the World Series last year after having the best record in the American League, so Bob Melvin’s squad will look to that for encouragement. Right now, the A’s have a 99.4 percent chance of making the playoffs, and tonight they begin a series with a potential October opponent, current AL East leaders Baltimore. Be sure to also keep an eye on the Angels, who have won five straight and nine of their last ten. Over in the AL Central, Detroit is keeping a steady lead on Kansas City and Cleveland, while in the East, the Red Sox will need a big streak the rest of the season if they’re going to defend their championship.

NL: Breaking the trend

The last five World Series winners have all come from the league that won the Midsummer Classic; if that continues in 2014, an American League team would lift the crown. After getting off to a hot start, the Brewers maintain a one-game lead in the NL Central, but they’re spending the weekend visiting East leaders Washington. In the West, the Dodgers have the best record in the NL, and are in St. Louis for a three-game series. Los Angeles should have 10-win pitchers in action Saturday and Sunday, with Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw both slated for starts. The Cardinals don’t have Adam Wainwright starting this weekend, but they would benefit from a win streak, as they sit a half-game back in the wild card race.

Has your pick to win the World Series changed? Who do you think will win the individual awards? Leave a comment below!

The 143rd Open Championship began today at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (or Hoylake; according to Scott Van Pelt, the locals deem both names acceptable). For those who have never watched the Open Championship before, it’s fascinating to see how the world’s top golfers cope with the conditions and courses on the other side of the Atlantic. Here are some of the top stories from golf’s third major of the year.

McIlroy Magic

Rory McIlroy is the 18-hole leader after a bogey-free round of 66, seeking a first Open Championship and a third career major. He appeared confident throughout his day, giving off the same aura that helped him win the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2012 PGA. McIlroy still has 54 holes to go, but could become only the second Open champion from Great Britain since the turn of the millennium.

Tiger Confident

Tiger Woods will always remember Royal Liverpool; it’s where he won his first major following his father’s death in 2006. But the seventh-ranked player in the world was delighted with his first round of 69, especially after making bogey on the first two holes. Still searching for a first major championship since the 2008 U.S. Open, is this a weekend where Woods edges closer to Jack Nicklaus and the all-time majors record?

Former Champions Struggle

Although some past winners like Woods, Louis Oosthuizen, and Stewart Cink would be pleased with their opening rounds, Thursday was a day to forget for other champions. Twelve Open champions finished their rounds over par, including 2013 winner Phil Mickelson. With the cut coming tomorrow, how many will be around for the weekend? At 1-over, David Duval and Tom Watson are still in good shape, as are Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis, and Padraig Harrington (all at +2). But 1985 champion Sandy Lyle had two double bogeys and one triple, while two-time winner Ernie Els shot 79, and is 13 strokes behind McIlroy.

How much of the Open Championship do you plan to watch this weekend? Will McIlroy, Woods, or someone else win the title in 2014? Leave a comment below!

Do you remember watching the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup? Do you remember the event being arguably the biggest story of that summer? Did you tune in to the Final? For those who did, what were your emotions in the aftermath of the match?

15 years ago today, the United States and China met in the WWC Final at a sold-out Rose Bowl. The historic venue had already hosted Super Bowls, college football national championships, and the men’s World Cup Final five years earlier. But this time, the Americans weren’t just hosts at a major soccer tournament, they were on the brink of winning it. Although the U.S. was victorious at the first WWC in 1991, the fact that ’99 was held here just makes it that much more special. After a scoreless regulation and extra time, where China had a sudden-death opportunity headed off the line by Kristine Lilly, the match went to penalties. Here’s the shoot-out, plus several clips from the pre-game festivities, as shown on ABC (uploaded to YouTube by tocrob):

Many Americans still remember Brandi Chastain taking off her jersey after that Cup-winning penalty. And 15 years later, the legacy of “the ’99ers” still remains. When Brazilian legend Pelé selected the greatest then-living footballers in 2004 (known as the FIFA 100, in honor of the organization’s 100th anniversary), two players on that prestigious list were Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm, both Americans, both stars on that ’99 squad.

Last year, ESPN produced “The ’99ers”, a documentary that focused on the USWNT’s accomplishment that summer. It is worth checking out, especially for those interested in how that U.S. team is still an important part of today’s sports culture.

Share your memories of 1999 below!

Two of the most recognized nations in world cricket meet on Wednesday, when India begins its summer tour against England. When the two sides last met in England in 2011, the hosts won the Test series in a 4-0 whitewash, taking the #1 Test ranking in the process. A lot has changed in the three years since, and cricket fans are eagerly awaiting the first Test in Nottingham.

You might be wondering how an American became a cricket viewer. For me, it started in February 2011, during the Cricket World Cup held on the Indian subcontinent. I was watching a group stage match between Australia and New Zealand, and I was mesmerized by the action. Whether it was T20, ODI, or Test matches, it was fascinating to see how the game was played. A Test can go up to five days and not have a winner; what counts as a home run in baseball would automatically mean six runs in cricket; some innings last until the batting team gets 10 outs (they’re called “wickets” in cricket). Cricket is a sport that can seem simple and complicated at the same time.

Now back to England-India…

The hosts have been through a wild 2014 so far, still recovering from losing 5-0 in the Ashes, their biennial rivalry with Australia. Last month England narrowly lost a Test series with Sri Lanka, with their final batsman getting out on the penultimate ball of the match. The Three Lions are still adapting to new head coach Peter Moores, and this series could ultimately determine the future of Alastair Cook’s time as captain. It was against India three years ago, though, that Cook managed his highest ever score in a single innings of 294. A win at Trent Bridge would quiet the critics, if only for a short time.

India are desperate to put the horror show of 2011 behind them, and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is confident that his side can get a critical series win overseas. The tourists have an array of talented batters, including Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, the latter having excelled at T20 cricket in the recent past. But with this being India’s first Test since February, will that gap prove costly in England? Right now the visitors are fourth in the Test rankings, with the hosts right behind them at fifth.

There are five Tests in this series: one each in Nottingham, Southampton, and Manchester, and two in London (at separate grounds). Will England use the home conditions to their advantage, or will India have an away series win to show for their improvement?

For more on the intricacies of cricket, check out this video ESPN produced, featuring “Rules of Engagement” star Adhir Kalyan.

Brazil takes on Germany in a World Cup semifinal tomorrow, with the hosts seeking an unprecedented sixth title, and their first since 2002. But if the host nation are going to advance in 2014, they will do so without Neymar, who suffered a fractured vertebra during Friday’s quarterfinal. Brazil will also miss Thiago Silva, after the captain picked up his second yellow card of the tournament against Colombia, meaning he is suspended for the semifinal.

Silva’s presence will be missed, but a likely replacement would be Dante, who plays club football in the German Bundesliga for Bayern Munich. Because Dante will be facing several Bayern teammates like Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer, and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Brazil could be aware of what to expect from the Germans.

But Neymar’s absence could be the critical difference in tomorrow’s match. Ever since he was shown limping while warming up for Brazil’s opening match with Croatia, fans (both Brazilian and neutral) have had some concern for the star forward’s health. While he recovered enough to start and score twice against the Croatians, this new injury will sideline him for at least two months.

In five matches, Neymar has scored four goals for the host nation, who haven’t looked as convincing as their fans would probably like. Not all of the Seleção’s struggles are the striker’s fault, but without him, Brazil could have a few nerve-wracking moments in Belo Horizonte. They’ve survived an own goal and a penalty shootout; can they handle 90 minutes without their best player, against a country desperate to end a 24-year World Cup drought?

German fans know about a key player missing out on an important World Cup match. In 2002, Michael Ballack picked his second yellow in a semifinal, which suspended him for the Final. Brazil would beat Germany 2-0, and this is the first Cup meeting between the two nations since then.

Tuesday’s match should have plenty of drama, but one has to wonder what kind of impact Neymar would have if he were healthy.

With the World Cup going on at the same time this year, it’s possible to forget about Wimbledon also taking place in Southwest London. But one of the most famous tennis tournaments is wrapping up play this weekend, and the drama that usually defines Wimbledon from other Grand Slams has stayed through the last two weeks. Here are some of the biggest stories from Wimbledon 2014.

Andy Murray Upset

Last year, the Glasgow native became the first Briton to win the Gentlemen’s Singles Championship in 77 years (Fun fact: Murray won the Final on 7/7; also, Virginia Wade, the last British female to win in singles, did so in 1977). In 2014, Murray cruised to the quarterfinals without losing a set. But Grigor Dimitrov proved too strong in the last eight, defeating Murray in straight sets to set up a semifinal meeting with Novak Djokovic. Will it take another 77 years for Britain to see a Wimbledon singles champion?

Serena Struggles

It wasn’t an easy fortnight for the five-time champion. In the singles draw, Williams made the third round before losing Alize Cornet of France. Then last Tuesday, Serena was forced to quit her doubles match with older sister Venus after picking up a virus. In that match, Williams served four consecutive double faults (a full game), before being checked by medics. Serena still has one more chance for a Grand Slam this year, if she can win a third straight U.S. Open.

Canadians Come Close

2014 at Wimbledon will a time to remember for two Canadian players: Eugenie Bouchard and Milos Raonic. Raonic, the first male player from Canada to reach a Slam semifinal in the Open era, lost to Roger Federer. But Bouchard, the first female, bested Simona Halep to reach the Ladies singles final. Bouchard’s joy would be short-lived, as she would lose the championship to Petra Kvitova, in a match that only lasted 55 minutes.

The Gentlemen’s Championship on Sunday will feature two household names: Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer. Will the Swiss legend be able to win yet another title at the All England Club?

Tomorrow signals the start of the knockout rounds at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The first games in the last 16 have traditionally begun on the third Saturday of the tournament, but this year is unique since there were no games on the Friday before (that’s when the final group games have been played in the past). Here are some fun facts on the eight matches that will determine who moves on to the quarterfinals…

SATURDAY

Brazil vs. Chile

These two countries met in a last-16 encounter at the previous World Cup in South Africa, with Brazil running away victorious 3-0. Now with the Seleção hosting in 2014, Chile will be under pressure not just facing the Brazilian team, but also the home crowd. Mexico kept the hosts scoreless in group play, but can Chile do the same?

Colombia vs. Uruguay

Both teams come into this match missing key offensive weapons. Colombia’s Radamel Falcao was left off the squad after he couldn’t recover from an injury in time, while Luis Suárez is banned from all competitions for four months after his incident with Italian Giorgio Chiellini. Don’t expect a dull match, however, with a berth in the last eight, possibly against Brazil, on the line.

SUNDAY

Netherlands vs. Mexico

Mexico has gone out in the Round of 16 in each of the last five World Cups, but they have a lot of confidence after their scoreless draw with Brazil, after a magnificent performance from keeper Guillermo Ochoa. The Dutch had a morale-boosting match after they defeated Spain 5-1 in their opening match, getting some revenge for the 2010 Final.

Costa Rica vs. Greece

Costa Rica emerged from the “Group of Champions” unbeaten, while Greece converted an injury-time penalty against the Ivory Coast to progress from Group C. The Central American nation has already played in Recife, beating Italy 1-0, so that familiarity could help them against the 2004 European champions. This is the first time Greece has advanced past the group stage at a World Cup in three appearances.

MONDAY

France vs. Nigeria

France’s fortunes have alternated in recent World Cups, but should that trend continue, Les Bleus would be poised for a deep run in Brazil. Nigeria gave Argentina fits in their final group match, and could do the same to the French if the 1998 champions take the African side lightly.

Germany vs. Algeria

This is Algeria’s first appearance in a World Cup knockout round, while Germany is seeking a fourth championship, and their first since reunification. This match will take place in Porto Alegre, where Algeria beat South Korea 4-2 in their second group game. Die Mannschaft will be looking for their eighth straight appearance in the quarterfinals.

TUESDAY

Argentina vs. Switzerland

Argentina was one of four nations to win all its group games, with captain Lionel Messi tied for most goals in the competition right now. Switzerland struggled mightily against France in group play, losing 5-2, but came back against Honduras 3-0 to clinch a spot in the last 16. The Swiss were eliminated at this phase in 2006 despite not conceding any goals; they lost on penalties to Ukraine.

Belgium vs. United States

Belgium had one of the stoutest defenses in group play, only conceding once in three games. The U.S. lost its final group match to Germany, but American fans can rely on some history; the Americans lost to Poland in 2002, but still advanced to the knockout round, where they beat Mexico to make the quarterfinals.

There is no consolation round for the nations who lose in this phase, so the excitement will definitely be there for fans around the world. The action resumes in only a few hours.

In case you haven’t heard, the United States men’s soccer team faces Germany at noon tomorrow in their final group game of the 2014 World Cup. There are multiple scenarios for the four teams in Group G to advance to the knockout round, so here are the three simplest ways the Americans can progress…

If Team USA wins over Germany, they are group winners.

If the match is a draw, the U.S. will advance as the 2nd-placed team from the group.

If the Portugal-Ghana is a draw, the Americans will advance regardless of their result with the Germans.

The Americans have a chance for redemption against Germany, a traditional European powerhouse looking for a fourth World Cup (they won in 1954, ’74, and ’90 as West Germany). These two nations met in the quarterfinals of the 2002 tournament in South Korea, with Germany winning 1-0 on a header from Michael Ballack. USA fans will remember the game for a controversial no-call on Torsten Frings, who handled the ball on the goal line according to the American players. Referee Hugh Dallas elected to not give the U.S. a penalty, and German keeper Oliver Kahn collected another shutout victory.

Here’s a video of highlights from that 2002 quarterfinal encounter, taken from Our Way, a documentary about the Americans’ run to the last eight, their best finish since reaching the semifinals in 1930. The film includes audio taken from ESPN’s lead broadcast team at Korea/Japan, Jack Edwards and Ty Keough. This video was uploaded to YouTube by Paul Henricksen:

Will the U.S. beat Germany tomorrow in Recife? The match starts at noon Eastern on ESPN. Portugal-Ghana will be played simultaneously on ESPN2, so you might find flipping between the two channels as the afternoon goes on. With Group H also being decided tomorrow, it should be an exciting end to group play at the World Cup.