6 predictions for World Sport in 2024
18/01/2024
By James Hyde
2023 has brought us some extraordinary sporting moments. Those moments only sport can bring, those that get you circling round your living room fuelled with adrenaline, those that get you in endless discussion with your friends and those that the most talented script writers could only dream of coming up with. I’m talking about Liverpool putting seven past Manchester United who had won the Carabao cup just a week previously. I’m talking about the best leg of darts ever, finished off with a nine darter by Michael Smith accompanied by the best commentary of all time by Wayne Mardle. Most of all, I’m talking about Stockport County’s incredible 8-0 win over Sutton United! The last one may be disproportionately important to me, yet is nonetheless an example of the shock and excitement sport can bring.
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I believe Sport in 2024 will be no different in bringing even more amazement, joy and eventual pain. In the following article, I am predicting six sporting events that could happen this year, and that will bring the emotions only sport can bring.
1. Connor McGregor will return
Image Credits: Andrius Petrucenia. Licensed under CC-BY-ND 2.0
Having recently returned to the USADA drug testing pool, it looks like only a matter of time until we see the former lightweight champion return. Specifically, this will have to be after April 8th due to a six month drug testing lag time. We have not seen the Irishman in the octagon since his fight vs Dustin Poirier in July 2021 where he suffered a leg break. Potential fights touted for McGregor have been Michael Chandler and Rafael dos Anjos. However, the fight I want to see is Paddy Pimblet vs Conor McGregor, two of the best talkers in the game and an interesting encounter of Conor’s striking style and Paddy’s Jiu-Jitsu style. Whoever the opponent, McGregor's return will happen and it is one not to be missed.
2. Joshua will not fight Fury
Despite the hype dying down due to Joshua’s losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the fight people want to see is Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury. However, this won’t be happening in 2024.This is because the focus to create an undisputed champion will go towards Fury vs Usyk and because boxing is unable to create the spectacles everyone wants to see. There is no other sport that consistently fails to give the fans what they want, instead providing filler fight after filler fight. Therefore, I find it hard to believe that USYK vs Fury will happen, never mind Fury vs Joshua.
3. Mercedes will continue to struggle
With the introduction of Turbo-hybrid engines in the 2010’s, Mercedes established itself as the best constructor in the game winning 8 straight constructors championships between 2014 – 2021.However, since 2022 and the failure of W13 and W14 models Mercedes have lagged behind Red Bull and by a considerable margin. Significant losses to key staff such as Engine Boss Andy Cowel in 2020 and chief aerodynamicist Eric Blandin in 2021 mean that Mercedes is in a rebuild. Mercedes has told fans they are not going to “Panic and make knee-jerk reactions”, suggesting they are looking to advance the current concept of car for long term success. This will mean in the next couple of years, Red Bull dominance is likely to continue.
4. Djokovic will win his 25th Grand slam
A new era of tennis away from the big three of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic has been emerging in tennis. However, a certain Serbian is defiant in letting the new generation of stars such as Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev dominate. At the age of 36 and 20 years since his competitive debut, Novak is still at the peak of his powers, winning three out of four 2023 grand slams and finishing as runner up at Wimbledon. Consequently, he has broken the record for grand slams; but his relentless desire to win will mean he will want more. Therefore, in 2023 I expect him to make it 25 grand slams to his name and at the earliest opportunity: The Australian Open.
Image Credits: Peter Menzel licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
5. England to end Australian Dominance
Australia’s women’s cricket team is on a streak, having won three T20 World Cups in a row. Out of the last seven, they have won 6. The only time Australia did not win was in 2016 when they were bested in the final by the West Indies in India. Similarly, this World Cup is in Subcontinent conditions, being held in Bangladesh. This fact would lend itself to the conclusion that India may have the biggest chance of winning, as the conditions are most familiar to them. However, my prediction for usurper of the Aussies is England. The momentum from the last year of T20 action is firmly with England, with series wins against Australia in England and, crucially, against India in Indian subcontinent conditions. England also possesses a match-winner in Sophie Ecclestone, whose spin bowling proved decisive in the series win against India, taking 7 wickets in three games. Therefore, England will end Australian dominance and their 15-year wait to reclaim the trophy.
6. England will win Euro 2024
It may seem there is English bias seeping into my predictions. However, I truly believe that it is finally England’s year to win a major competition after 58 years. This is the strongest England team we have seen since 1966, surpassing even the ‘golden generation’ of 2002. There is world-class quality in every position, and on the bench, which cannot be matched by any team other than perhaps France. England’s world class talent is also coming into the tournament in incredible form, with shining examples being incredible starts to the season from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Despite his vocal critics, Gareth Southgate has built a settled culture around the England set up, providing generational players the best platform to fulfil their potential and finally win a major tournament.