Sports highlights and fixtures for Summer 2002

Football​The football "season" doesn't mean very much these days with the action continuing to the end of June and starting up again in August.An exciting Premiership campaign does come to an end on May 11, however, and there may still yet be some surprises left in a season with more twists and turns than one of Giggsy's mazey dribbles.The extended Football League season, meanwhile, concludes the following day with the First Division play-off final to decide who'll join Manchester City and West Brom in the top flight for 2002-3. There are more World Cup warm-up friendlies for England, who take on Korea and Cameroon as the squad acclimatises to the balmy Far East, and for Ireland, who play Nigeria.England's women could attract some attention too. They take on the old enemy Germany in their own World Cup qualifier on May 19.Then it's into the World Cup proper, which dominates the sporting calendar for the whole of June. England's and Ireland's group matches are displayed in the box, along with dates for the later rounds. You'll find a full fixture list here.After the final whistle blows there's a break of only six weeks before the new Premiership season kicks off on August 17 with another close contest in prospect. Have we seen the end of a great Man United side? Are Arsenal heading for their own spell of domination? Can Liverpool fulfil their promise? Will Newcastle, Chelsea and Leeds be able to find consistency? And how will the newcomers fare? All will be revealed.Cricket​England's visitors this summer are India and Sri Lanka, the latter deservedly getting their first stab at a full, three-match test series over here.With these two, there should be no shortage of flair with bat or ball, giving the fans plenty of entertainment as well as the hosts a fair test of whether skipper Nasser Hussein has led the boys out of the doldrums.For pubs, the key matches will be the one-dayers, played between June 27 and July 13, and the triangular tournament is looking particularly unpredictable this time (see below).For the counties, the Benson & Hedges Cup Final takes place on June 22 and the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy final is on August 31.Rugby League​According to sponsor Tetley's, interest in the Super League, which features the leading clubs, is growing every year. Despite a strong northern bias, it's the biggest spectator sport after football and boasts a core television audience of more than nine million fans, 40 per cent of them women.Sky screens key matches live, and this summer's schedule is shown below. Rugby Union​Following the Heineken Cup Final a smattering of internationals plus the closing games of the Zurich Premiership keep the interest alive through the early part of the summer. The Barbarians take on England and Scotland while struggling Wales have two tests in South Africa - not for the squeamish - and Ireland are in New Zealand.Motor Racing​This may not be the year Juan Pablo Montoya topples Michael Schumacher from his domination of the Grand Prix circuit, but the Colombian is certainly getting closer and by the end of the summer we could see some tight contests.Monaco, the most exciting venue, is on May 26 while Scot David Coulthard could fancy his chances in the British Grand Prix on July 7.Horse Racing​Perhaps the most underrated pub sport. The two big meetings of the summer are Royal Ascot, in June, and Glorious Goodwood, which starts at the end of July.Both will have the regulars dashing backwards and forwards from the bookies like three-year-old fillies.The Derby is on June 8 - and don't forget the greyhound version on June 1.Tennis​The BBC's coverage of Wimbledon fortnight, which starts on June 24, went digital last year, which means you can choose which match to watch - if you've got digital TV of course. Popular reigning champion Goran Ivanesevic is doubtful thanks to a dodgy shoulder but Tim Henman will be there trying to make it a British winner in Jubilee year.You can warm up for Wimbledon with the Stella Artois tournament, from June 10.Golf​A fitting conclusion to an amazing summer of sport should be provided at the end of September by golf's greatest competition, the Ryder Cup. The tournament was postponed last year following September 11 but the Europeans will be no less determined to take revenge over 1999's close - and controversial - victory by the United States.Meanwhile, the Open tees off on July 18.Athletics​What with all the excitement of the World Cup it's easy to forget that it's Commonwealth Games year - and that Manchester is the host city.That alone should inspire extra interest, not to mention a decent haul of British medals, and by July 25 we should all be ready again for a fortnight of athletics action.Sports fixtures​May​

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