After a close season of unprecedented upheaval in the English Premier League, the 2013-14 campaign, starting on Saturday, looks set to be the most tightly-contested in recent memory.
At some point during the 2013-14 Premier League season, soccer history will be made when technology is used to settle a contentious goal-line decision for the first time.
Premier League contenders guide ahead of Saturday's opening day of the new season):
Brazil fullback Dani Alves scored an embarrassing own goal to end his team's run of six straight wins and send it tumbling to a 1-0 defeat against Switzerland in a friendly on Wednesday.
Rickie Lambert needed barely a minute on Wednesday to justify the "England international" entry on his colorful soccer CV and mark himself down as a potential member of England's World Cup squad should it qualify for Brazil.
Argentina made light of the absence of injured striker Lionel Messi to beat Italy 2-1 in an entertaining friendly in Rome on Wednesday.
Having realized a lifelong dream by claiming the Wimbledon title, Marion Bartoli decided she had nothing left to give, shocking the world of tennis by bidding a sudden and poignant farewell to the sport.
Sprite added a little fizz to basketball when it hosted a celebrity match on Aug 9 in Shanghai to try to raise funds for youth development.
China's star swimmer Sun Yang will again train with coach Zhu Zhigen, who successfully worked with him for almost a decade, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.
The countdown clock to the opening of the Youth Olympic Games was unveiled in Xinjiekou Square in Nanjing on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray set out on another collision course after strolling into the third round of the Western and Southern Open on Wednesday.
Jose Mourinho's jigsaw pieces are slowly falling into place and if the Chelsea 'Messiah' can tempt Manchester United to part with their prodigal son Wayne Rooney the final part of the puzzle will be complete.
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