Perfect Swiss Timing

Football

International

A couple of months have passed since I was sat in a bar high up in the Swiss Alps watching a stalemate knock-out round go into extra time with only a touch of magic from a special Messi to break Swiss hearts.

At the same time it's still very raw memories of England's win-less campaign in Rio.

I don't think there were a lot of England fans that were eager for this game and the start of the road to France, myself included. With Roy hot under the collar after an unconvincing friendly against Norway and still no fixed starting 11, a win in Basel against our strongest group rivals looked bleak.

But Arsenal’s new £16 million signing showed us were still a decent squad and positivity is the way forward. Danny scored both goals on the night that should dare I say it.. march us onto staying top of the group table.

If anything, last night proved to be the final curtain call of World Cup woes and the start of an exciting experimental England squad looking towards 2016.

National Football League – NFL

Get your BBQ pulled pork rolls out and head down to the tailgate because the NFL is back!!

There were several surprises in week 1 of Americas game with one of the shock results coming from my team the Buffalo Bills turning over a solid Chicago Bears away at Soldier Field. We've never won the Super Bowl, our long-time owner Ralph Wilson has recently passed away and our future isn't secure but WHAT a start to what hopefully could be a successful campaign. I could waffle on all night about New York States finest but there was a bigger surprise this weekend.

I noticed through US friends on social media sharing reports of the Jacksonville Jaguars game - who by the way share the same owner as my beloved Fulham – that the team have been described as “London's Team”. Not just in a few local papers but all over national sport websites.

What does this tell us?

Well the facts are fairly simple.. Jacksonville are one of the most underachieving teams in the NFL at the moment with one of the smallest fan-bases while on the other end of the spectrum, interest of the game in the UK is at an all time high with the NFL's directors having no choice but to notice and fulfill our growing fan-base needs by rewarding us with two games being annually held at Wembley. Throw in the fact the Jaguars play a 'home' game per season for the next two years in London and that the owner Shahid Khan has a strong connection between the NFL and London with owning Fulham also and you've got to see the potential of a British team on the horizon.

It's not uncommon for NFL franchises to pack up and move hundreds of miles to other locations but crossing the pond is something that is becoming a bit more of a rumour and lets be honest, who would reject the chance to see a British team beat the Yanks at their own game..

Tennis

US Open 2014 Champion Marin Cilic had his triumph in the Grand Slam over Kei Nishikori dubbed as the 'changing of the old guard'.

For years the sport has been dominated by the big four of Murray, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic who have played some of the best quality tennis between them and given us thriller encounters but maybe this final highlights more youngsters breaking into the elite.

I personally believe all four of the above have still got a lot to give and will remain powerful for the years to come in the sport but who can deny the game is becoming more competitive and exciting with plenty of upcoming stars proving their worth.