I'm away for a week and guess what happens during that time - nothing! OK, the European leagues are starting and in the rest of the world they are coming to the halfway stage or nearing their conclusion. But nothing I can really get my teeth into.
The new FIFA rankings were released last week with nearly the entire top twenty unchanged with only Italy and Germany swapping places. The USA (12) missed out on their chance of making the top ten after their 0-5 result against Mexico in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Biggest movers in the top fifty were Costa Rica (down 8), Honduras (down 7) and Egypt (up 5). Gold Cup winners Mexico rose from 33rd place to 30th.
The playoffs to the Champions League group stage start tomorrow night with perhaps the most interesting tie being the "local" derby between Celtic and Arsenal. Both teams will enter the fray after winning their respective domestic league opening matches this weekend but Arsenal must be over the moon after their 6-1 win away to Everton last Saturday in the Premier League.
The Women's Euros will be starting in Finland on Sunday, so there will be more to write about next week (I hope).
All the best.