The week ahead: 19/07/2009

Today

Rome hosts the swimming World Championships starting today and Brands Hatch is the venue for the World Touring Car Championships. But if you're really missing your football, Liverpool play Rapid in Vienna and Steve Bruce's Sunderland take on the locals in the Algarve. Or they may decide to play golf instead.

Tomorrow

Will it be another nail-biting finish in the Ashes? Can England beat Australia at Lord's for the first time since 1934? Will Ricky Ponting wish he was at the European Shooting Championships in Osijeck, Croatia?

Tuesday

The Welsh resort of Rhyl will be hoping to turn the tide and overturn a 4-0 deficit in their Champions' League qualifier against the once mighty Partizan Belgrade in Serbia.

Wednesday

In the United States, Chelsea take on Internazionale, managed by their erstwhile Special One Jose Mourinho, at four o'clock in the morning. Expect daggers at dawn. There is unbridled rivalry as the Royal International Horse Show kicks off at Hickstead.

Thursday

Some fleeting glimpses of the future of track and field as the European Junior Championships start in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Friday

The Grand Prix at Crystal Palace sees the big boys and girls take their marks, while in north London, Tottenham play host to Barcelona.

Saturday

This time Carlo Ancelotti's old muckers Milan take on his new boys Chelsea at 1am. MotoGP roars into Donington and it's all uphill in the gruelling penultimate stage of the Tour.