But failure on the big Heineken Cup stage has caused most angst among Welsh rugby fans, players and officials.
"Our chances of winning the World Cup are big, " said Brazil's Bayern Munich defender Dante.
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The J-boats, for example, were built to compete in the America's Cup and Big Class Circuit regattas off the coast of England in the 1930s.
Regardless of whether Klinsmann succeeds or not, he is a guarantee that people will remain curious about how the U.S. is progressing towards its next big showcase, World Cup 2014.
In other news, this week Qatar showcased designs for 9 sustainable stadiums for the 2022 World Cup and BIG unveiled plans for a plant-wrapped waste to power plant that doubles as a ski slope.
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Now we know our audience isn't as big as the World Cup's, but we have a nice audience and we appreciate every one of you, and you'll be happy to know we have just figured out a way to increase our listenership by a factor of, oh, 100 trillion, without adding anybody new.
But yes, I have found a big, steaming, fantastic cup of Ethiopian coffee, so the day can begin now.
"Playing Montferrand away in the first game of the European Cup is a big ask, because Toulouse and Montferrand are probably the two best teams in France, " Connolly said.
We got tickets for the big match: an FA Cup quarter-final.
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The next Cup will be a big break from the past, when the racing tended to be overshadowed by vicious infighting among challengers and defenders.
"It's a big embarrassment to us as World Cup hosts that we have to settle for second best, " said South African FA chief executive Leslie Sedibe at the time.
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In a village with a population of just over 8, 000 securing financial backing has not always been easy, but Baldwin knows the FA Cup will prove a big boost.
Like many golf fans, I was shocked at how the United States Ryder Cup team let a big lead slip away, allowing the European team to retain the title.
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As a sponsorship vehicle, Cup racing already has big advantages over many sports: Companies can use the boats as floating billboards--technology and teamwork are the main messages--but they can also take customers and employees out for spins.
"The question of violence is a constant concern not only for the World Cup, but for other big events, " he said.
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She's expecting a big boom in customers during the World Cup and is planning to rent the place next door to expand her business.
Even when there's a big event like the Air New Zealand Cup, we didn't put that on the front page because sales just die.
The encounter, in Stormont on the outskirts of Belfast, confirms Ireland's ascent in the sport and also provides big-game preparation for their World Cup debut in the West Indies.
Other names mentioned include Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, and 23-year-old golfer Anthony Kim, a rising star whose success in this year's Ryder Cup should land him some big deals before long.
The call from Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam for his big guns to start performing has encouraged a strong turnout from Europe's top players.
Telford equalised five minutes from time to dash Margate's hopes of a morale-boosting victory ahead of next week's big game at Leyton Orient in the FA Cup.
His first big win came in the 1994 Hennessy Gold Cup on One Man before a victory on his first outing at the Cheltenham Festival on Dizzy in the County Hurdle.
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The first four U.S. golfers out had all played well so far in the Ryder Cup. (The really big question is whether Tiger could have made a difference coming out somewhere in the first half of the order).
In 2006, the FIFA World Cup in Germany tackled that with big police numbers, but restraint in their presence, setting environmental targets as part of the tournament while investing in transport improvements, and they tied in increased sporting and voluntary activity.
"For me, the big season is with Arsenal, not the World Cup, " he said.
The Swansea-born targetman graced a UEFA Cup Winners Cup final with Arsenal and starred in big European nights with Celtic.
Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers also has some big shoes to fill after taking over from World Cup-winning coach Jake White.
"We have a big chance to become the first holders of the Confederation Cup, " said Schmidt.
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Dunne is joined at half-back by Ulster's Isaac Boss who has seen a big dip in form since his return from the World Cup.
"Cardiff Blues are a very good team who are more used to playing in these big games than us after their experience in the Heineken Cup, " Saint-Andre said.
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