SPORTS

Germany are favourites to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after a strong performance in 2010 losing in the semi-finals to eventual champions Spain. The then very young team have since matured and gained valuable experience to hopefully help them go further in the competition this time around. They are now safely through to the quarterfinals after winning against Algeria in their round of 16 match.

Europe may have taken big blows in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil with the early exits of defending champions Spain and other European giants like Italy and Portugal, but the remaining teams are keeping it alive in the knockout stages. The Netherlands have already booked a place in the quarterfinals after beating Mexico and now Germany and France have bested their African opponents to create a showdown against each other in the top 8.

Justin Rose wins the Quicken Loans National at Congressional after an exhilarating playoff with Shawn Stefani.

The North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) is currently in the thick of things in the AFL Premiership Season Ladder at 7th place with an 8-6-0 record. Their ruckman, Majak Daw is in a different kind of battle; proving his innocence on a rape charge which apparently occurred way back in 2007.

Kei Nishikori advances to the fourth round of Wimbledon by dispatching Italian Simone Bolleli in five sets.

France were able to seal a victory over Nigeria in the closing minutes of their match at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia in the round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The 2-0 win is only the second match in three days that has so far been decided on regulation time.

NBA Rumors, NBA News - The NBA free agency period is officially underway and teams can formally start tendering offers to prospective signees on Tuesday. With a recent trade that centered on further creating cap space, the Atlanta Hawks are in prime position to chase a big name free agent and one of the targets is Luol Deng, an unrestricted free agent (UFA) from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James Rodríguez, the Colombian striker who is presently the leading goal-scorer at the 2014 FIFA World Cup with 5 goals in 4 matches, may join Real Madrid this summer.

Andy Murray stormed into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon as he beat Kevin Anderson in straight sets.

Uruguay President Jose Mujica is still fuming about the ban on La Celeste star Luis Suarez, who was meted a four-month suspension from all soccer activities by FIFA for the biting Giorgio Chiellini in the Uruguay vs. Italy match in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup.

Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard beat Alize Cornet from France to get in to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

Match number 60 is the fourth and final quarter final match. The Netherlands won against Mexico during the last moments of the full time of the match to enter the quarter finals while Costa Rica defeated Greece in the penalty shoot-out.

Unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr is at it again. No dissing Manny Pacquiao - whom he might finally meet inside the ring in Dubai either in September or 2015 - but going on a shopping spree.

Match number 57 is the first quarter final match. Brazil won against Chile in penalty shoot-out to enter the quarter finals while Colombia defeated Uruguay within regular time.

Borussia Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc revealed that the Bundesliga outfit have not received any offer for Chelsea-linked forward Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang.

Dinamo Zagreb vice-president Zdravko Mamic claims that the Croatian club have yet to receive an offer for attacking midfielder Marcelo Brozovic amid links with Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan.

France is heavily favored to advance in the quarterfinal stage as it faces Group F second place qualifier Nigeria in Monday's continuing games in the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Australian tennis is on the rise and Tennis ACT is looking to ride the wave as they, along with the ACT government and Tennis Australia, look to bring the Davis Cup and Fed Cup to Canberra, Australia. The world-class events, if the rights will be awarded to Australia, will be held at the soon-to-be-finished Lyneham Centre.

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew appealed to supporters to understand the club's financial capacity, as far as signing English talents is concerned.

The Phoenix Suns main target in this offseason is LeBron James and/or Carmelo Anthony but if they missed out on one or both their apparent Plan B is to get Gordon Hayward the rising star from the Utah Jazz.

Chelsea target Paul Pogba will not be leaving Juventus anytime this summer, according to his agent Mino Raiola.

Arsenal attacker Joel Campbell expects to be in the mix of Arsene Wenger's squad next season following impressive stints on-loan at Olympiakos and in the ongoing World Cup.

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield joined the list of Hall of Famers who believed pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. is ducking Manny Pacquiao, the former champion said in an interview with Boxing Scene.

NHL News - Sam Gagner was traded twice in a span of a day when the Edmonton Oilers traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning who then immediately shipped him to the Arizona Coyotes.

FC Barcelona will be offering striker Alexis Sanchez and £80million to lure Liverpool to sell their prized hitman Luis Suarez.

Greece skipper Giorgios Karagounis announced his retirement from international football following their round-of-16 exit at the World Cup in the hands of Costa Rica on Sunday.

On Wimbledon High Street, Sharapova opened 'Sugarpova Candy Lounge' to sell treats during the Wimbledon championships on June 16. The world's richest female athlete, Russia's tennis champion, Maria Sharapova opened in 2012 a sweet firm called Sugarpova, a premium candy line.

It was Europe against the Americas on day 2 of the knockout stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with the Netherlands going up against Mexico and Greece playing against Costa Rica. In the end, neither continent dominated as the Netherlands defeated Mexico but Costa Rica took out Greece.

Costa Rica and Greece provided the second fixture in as many days to be decided through a penalty shootout. Brazil and Chile settled the score through penalties on Saturday night with the hosts coming out on top 3-2 while Costa Rica bested the Europeans with a 5-3 penalty shootout score after regulation and extra time ended level at 1-1.