2022 is finally over, and looking back on it, it may be the most eventful year for sports in recent history. From the highs of the Lionesses triumph in the Euros and Argentina’s miraculous World Cup victory, to the lows of a World Cup defeat for the Three Lions at the hands of France and the death of the greatest footballer ever in Pele, last year was certainly one to remember. But now I will leave last year behind and look at some of my most anticipated sports events that are set to take place in the coming year.
Number 1 – World Athletics Championships (August 19th to August 27th)
At this point you’re probably bored of my wittering on about how good the athletics is, articularly if you’ve seen the countless amounts of Instagram stories I’ve posted. But please, listen. On Saturday, 19th August, the beautiful city of Budapest will welcome the best athletes on the planet. And I’m even more excited for it this year than I was last year, as there are several athletes returning after missing previous World Championships (case in point the American long jumper Tara Davis, who missed last year through injury) as well as several younger stars who last year impressed on the junior scene, such as Matthew Boling from the United States and Botswana’s Leslie Tebogo.
There are also several World Records under threat, such as Usain Bolt’s Men’s 200m WR (19.19s, 2009) and Genzebe Dibaba’s Women’s 1500m WR (3:50.07s, 2015) which were challenged most notably by Noah Lyles (USA, achieved 19.31s for 200m last year) and Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, achieved 3:50.37s last year) respectively. Once the outdoor season arrives, athletics fans are going to be in for a very exciting few months, culminating with the 9 most important days of the athletics calendar.
Number 2 – FIFA Women’s World Cup (July 20th to August 20th)
Well, it looks like I’m going to have to pull a few all-nighters should I want to watch the 9th edition of this tournament (thanks Australia and New Zealand). Jokes aside though, I am now fully convinced that this England side can win the biggest tournament of them all following their miraculous Euros triumph under Sarina Wiegman’s wing, not only because Wiegman has now become the first coach since the late, great Sir Alf Ramsey to take an England senior team all the way in a major tournament, but she can become only the 9th manager ever to have won a Continental tournament and a World Cup, and the fourth female, with the others being:
Helmut Schon w/ West Germany (Euro 1972, WC 1974
Mario Zagallo w/ Brazil (WC 1970, Copa America 1997)
Vincente del Bosque w/ Spain (WC 2010, Euro 2012)
Lionel Scaloni w/ Argentina (Copa America 2021, WC 2022)
Tina Theone w/ Germany Women (WC 2003, Euro 1997, 2001 AND 2005)
Silvia Neid w/ Germany Women (WC 2007, Euro 2009 AND 2013)
Norio Sasaki w/ Japan Women (WC 2011, AFC Cup 2014)
Jill Ellis w/ United States Women (WC 2015 AND 2019, CONCACAF Championship 2014)
Whatever happens, this World Cup looks to be the most competitive ever, with the US looking to retain their title and become the first ever side to win any World Cup 3 times in a row. England, Germany and Sweden will obviously be contenders too, and Marta, the greatest women’s player in history, could say a potential farewell to a glittering career by winning the trophy that has constantly eluded her with Brazil. Also, the joint hosts will each want to please a home crowd, with Chelsea’s Sam Kerr being the star player in an Australia team that is full of quality, and New Zealand captain Ali Riley being a standout player in another very good side.
Number 3 – IFCPF Men’s European Championships (29th May to 14th June)
After being defeated by Iran in the quarter finals of last year’s World Cup, England’s Cerebral Palsy side are looking to claim a European Championship that will be more than just a summer vacation in Sardinia. With Russia out of the running (due to their ongoing war in Ukraine and ban from all sports internationally), World Cup holders Ukraine will look to turn their silver from the 2018 edition in the Netherlands into treasured gold, and Ireland, who came third in 2018, will once again be looking to claim a medal. England, meanwhile, have even more quality both on and off the pitch, with former captain (and arguably, the greatest player in England CP history) Jack Rutter taking on a role as assistant coach.
Also important is the Scotland National Team’s presence at this edition of the games, coming off an excruciating 3-2 defeat to Colombia in the final of the IFCPF World Championship back in October. However I have a lot of faith in this Scotland side captained by Jamie Mitchell to go and give the other teams a run for their money. Perhaps they could squeeze themselves back into the top 15 teams in the world? With 15th-ranked Russia’s suspension and Scotland sitting in 18th it may just happen. Perhaps most importantly, however, is the potential for a tantalising all-British clash between Andy Smith’s England and Greig Taylor’s Scotland. And if it does happen, will the Para Lions emerge victorious, or will CP football’s Tartan Terriers tear their way to a massive victory? All this could happen, so roll on May!
Number 4 – Rugby World Cup (8th September to 28th October)
This year’s Coupe du Monde du Rugby (sorry, I had to get some French in there, they are the host nation after all) will be thrilling, and and that question is of course…
HOW WILL STEVE BORTHWICK DO IN HIS FIRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT?
Okay. First of all I apologise for the massive print. But second of all that isn’t the question I’m going on about, as important as it is. That would be…
WILL ENGLAND AVENGE THEIR LOSS TO THE SPRINGBOKS IN THE FINAL IN 2019?
Right, that’s enough of the massive print. But this IS that all important question, and a layer of doubt has certainly been cast over it since the removal of Eddie Jones as head coach in December leaves Steve Borthwick with little time to test and implement his tactics and visions for the squad. Admittedly South Africa find themselves in a similar predicament, with Rassie Erasmus having stepped down straight after the World Cup win in 2019 and his replacement being Jacques Nienaber, a man who, prior to taking the job of Springboks boss in 2020, had never had a role as head coach of a team (although he was Erasmus’s deputy for two years). New Zealand also have a different coach, as Steve Hansen was given the boot following their unexpected 19-7 defeat to England in the last World Cup semi-final, who was then replaced by Ian Foster straight after. With England, however, Borthwick has not had those two years to prepare that those aforementioned have. He has been plucked from high-flying Leicester Tigers mid-season and is getting thrown into the deep end immediately, with the 6 Nations in February. But, if he can win that then that could be a MASSIVE boost for an England side that have struggled in recent months.
Elsewhere, Ireland’s Johnny Sexton has confirmed that he is going to retire following this World Cup, so Ireland will be desperate to win it with potentially their greatest player ever. France will also look to win it for the first time, and Argentina will want a similar success story to their football miracle, as their manager was only appointed recently. It is going to be ridiculously competitive, and I am here for it.
Number 5 – ICC ODI Cricket World Cup (October to November – Exact Dates TBC)
Finally, we come to the one trophy on this list that England are looking to retain. And while the final may not be as tense as the previous one in 2019 (where England beat New Zealand in what is easily the best Super Over in cricket history), the 2023 tournament is once again going to be just as competitive as the last. For England, recent call ups in both ODI and Test cricket (such as Rehan Ahmed’s ludicrous 5-wicket Test debut against Pakistan in December and Matthew Potts brilliant ODI debut vs South Africa in July) are proof that England are hell-bent on defending the crown. However, it will not be easy. Hosts India have players like Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma, who are still hitting ridiculous figures in their mid-30s. Australia ooze quality in their ranks, with Steve Smith, David Warner and captain Pat Cummins being standouts in a brilliant team. New Zealand will desperately want to avenge that excruciating final defeat from 4 years ago and Pakistan are not to be underestimated either, with very good showings in recent T20, ODI and Test matches and a noticeably young squad. NO matter who you think will win or want to win, this is going to be an extremely competitive World Cup, and it could, perhaps, be the best sports event of the year.
The Sports Insider 