Russia beat New Zealand to start the traditional World Cup warm-up event, the Confederations Cup, but Australian eyes are looking forward to the Socceroos' big task at the tournament.
And that big task starts with the biggest of tasks - a match against world champions Germany in Sochi on Tuesday morning.
Being put in the same group in this tournament as the Germans, South American champions Chile, and African champions Cameroon might have some nations giving up already.
But not these Socceroos, if their coach has anything to do with it.
Ange Postecoglou says his team is aiming to win the tournament, despite the odds being stacked high against them.
He says it's time Australian football starts to think big.
"I grew up in a country where I've seen every other sport conquer the world. And I want the sport that I love, and has given me such a blessed life, to also have that ambition."
In Australian netball, it doesn't get any bigger than the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
They're the inaugural champions of the Super Netball competition, defeating the Greater Western Sydney Giants 65-48 in the Grand Final in Brisbane.
The Lightning are the only national-level sporting team based on Queensland's Sushine Coast.
Captain Geva Mentor says the team is happy to win for their community.
"We really felt the support of the Sunshine Coast community right from the beginning. They backed us, when I guess they really didn't know what to expect. And we just felt the love and support, all the way through. And they've been with us through the draws, and the losses, and the wins. And we're just so happy to be able to not only host a Grand Final in this state so a lot of our supporters can get to (it), but also win it."
In the AFL, a sadly familiar tale for Richmond fans.
The club has developed the unfortunate reputation of falling barely short and disappointing their fans in recent years.
They've had a good start this year and looked like staying in the top four of the competition standings, if not moving up in them, when they earned handsome quarter-time and half-time leads against the struggling Sydney Swans this past weekend.
But the second half was a different story.
The Swans kicked nine goals to just three for Richmond after half-time to rally, and ultimately win by nine points, leaving Richmond fans again to wonder what might have been, as they fell out of the top four.
But coach Damien Hardwick says it's not all bad news and there are are opportunities coming out of this latest disappointment.
"We've got a young side, full stop. We don't use it as an excuse, but the fact of the matter is, they're learning every week. We're a good side. When we play our best footy, we're capable of beating most sides. I still stick by that. We didn't win today, but we'll learn a bit out of it. And we'll go forward, and (we'll) attack Carlton next Sunday, full of vigour."
This was the last bye-affected AFL round.
The full rounds begin again on Thursday, when top-ranked Adelaide hosts Hawthorn, whose glory days are now so far behind them, only the Brisbane Lions sit below them on the league ladder.
And the saga that currently is Australian rugby union continues, with more disappointment - this time of the on-the-field variety.
Australia has fallen to a 24 points to 19 defeat to an understrength Scotland side in Sydney.
Captain Michael Hooper has told Fox Sports the inability to maintain pressure in attack on the sixth-ranked team in the world was especially a let-down.
"I was a bit disappointed with the kicks there, not being able to maintain pressure, particularly when we got down (to) the end. We would have had a lot of possession there, especially in their half (of the field), in that second (half of the game). So, disappointed we couldn't get over the line."
Australia, ranked third in the world, is next in action next Saturday against the fifteenth-ranked team in the world, Italy, in Brisbane.
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