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All eyes on Man United, Bayer Leverkusen: August soccer storylines

The Euros and Copa America ended barely two weeks ago, bleeding right into the Olympics and club exhibition season. The German second division starts its season this Friday, while other midtier leagues such as Belgium's Jupiler Pro League have already begun play. Basically, the Olympics will carry us through the next week-and-a-half -- the quarterfinals are this Friday and Saturday, the gold medal matches the next Friday and Saturday -- and then it's on to the Community Shield and everything else.

There is truly no offseason in European soccer. We always say it, and it feels more true with every passing year.