Petrolheads and speed lovers can look forward to the British F1 Grand Prix in Silverstone, the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Netherlands in Assen and the FIM Superbike World Championship race in Imola. As usual, rugby and soccer will not be in short supply as the British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia continues with the defining second Test in Melbourne, the resumption of Super Rugby and the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup in Rio de Janeiro.
What to watch (29, 30 June, 1 July):
Motorsport
30 June: British F1 Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit, Buckinghamshire, 1.30pm (SS2)
Germany’s Sebastian Vettel and his team Red Bull Racing-Renault sit comfortably aloft the driver’s and constructor’s championship standings respectively, with the chasing pack including his nearest challengers behind by between 36 and 63 points going into the eighth race of the season. Defending champions Vettel and Red Bull are the best in the business without a shadow of a doubt and while they may not necessarily win on Sunday, they should collect a podium finish and the accompanying points provided he does not suffer any misfortune. Hometown ace Lewis Hamilton will stand his ground with McLaren, while Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Ferrari should also be jostling for podium finishes.
29 June: MotoGP Grand Prix of the Netherlands, Assen, 11.45am (SHD3)
30 June: Italian FIM Superbike World Championship race, Imola, 11.30am (Race 1) 3.15pm (Race 2) (SS7)
Soccer
1 July: FIFA Confederations Cup Final, Brazil vs Spain, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 12am (NB!) (SABC 1, SS3)
The dream final. Former football masters and defending Confederations Cup champions Brazil, off-colour in the last few years, look to strike a blow against Spain, the current overlords of the sport. The Spanish football team, in the middle of a Golden Generation, are two major steps away from being considered one of the greatest sports sides of all time. Namely: winning a maiden Confederations Cup tournament and defending the World Cup in Brazil next year (not done since 1962 by the Brazilians in Chile). It would be highly satisfying for the Europeans to do this on hallowed Brazilian soil, considering their consecutive European Championship titles in 2008 and 2012. The home side, led by Pele’s Chosen One in Neymar, simply cannot afford to let this happen, and are likely to stand in the way of the Andres Iniesta-inspired La Furia Roja next year, too. The stakes are that high. Postpone your bedtime time by four hours for a match that will define 2013 this Monday. It’s a hard one to call.
Rugby
29 June: British and Irish Lions Tour to Australia, Australia vs The Lions, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, 11.45am (SS1)
ADVANTAGE, LIONS! Oz fullback Kurtley Beale’s fatal last-minute slip last weekend handed the Lions an opportunity to seal their first series win since 1997 in South Africa. England’s cricket team nearly outdid him a day later with a spectacular choke in the ICC Champions Trophy final which gave India the glory. However, the latter is another story. The home side was decimated by injuries throughout the brutal first Test and this could be a factor in this deciding match. However, the curse also befell the visitors as they lost inspirational hardman Paul O’Connell a few days later, a vital part of their lineout. It’s up to Australia to dig in like it usually does in times of sporting crisis, with the thought of gloating by the Britons and Irish for the next 12 years a distinct possibility. Will Genia and Israel Felau will have to be lethal in their respective duties as scrumhalf and wing with the backing of accurate goalkicking. After all, we have seen this movie before. The Ozzies were 0-1 down in 2001 before coming back to win the series 2-1. Unfortunately, back then they could call on the likes of John Eales, Owen Finegan, George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, Matthew Burke, Toutai Kefu etc. to save them. This. Should. Be. Good.
28-30 June: IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, Moscow, 6.45am onwards (SS)
