The arrival of Bazball
Free-flowing with attacking intent from ball one, England’s run rate is the highest it has ever been in the last 20 years.
The triumph of women’s football
Football did, in fact, come home in 2022. England claimed European Championship glory and in the meantime set a new record for the highest attendance in the women’s competition.
England men’s rugby decline
Eddie Jones was removed as the England rugby union head coach after winning just four of his last 10 matches. The Australian failed to build from reaching the final of the World Cup in 2019 and a disappointing Six Nations performance in 2021 put Jones under immense pressure.
Lewis Hamilton’s fall from grace
For the first time in his career, Lewis Hamilton failed to win a single grand prix in the 2022 Formula One season. He finished sixth, the lowest he has ever placed.
Roger Federer retirement
The tennis and sporting world lost a great when Roger Federer decided to retire from tennis. Federer won 20 men’s singles titles, including eight Wimbledon triumphs, in his career. The Swiss has the third-most singles titles in the open area only behind Novak Djokovic (21) and Rafael Nadal (22).
Advertisement
Serena Williams retires
Another huge loss to tennis was Serena Williams, whose retirements ended two decades of grand-slam dominance.
The rapid rise of Carlos Alcaraz
En route to winning the US Open this year, Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest ever world number one. The Spaniard was also the seventh youngest grand slam winner.
Argentina win the World Cup
Victory in Qatar was the third time Argentina won the Fifa World Cup. Their last triumph came in 1986.
AJ’s fall from the top
After losing three out of his last five fights, Anthony Joshua’s boxing career is in a difficult position.
The rising debt of Premiership rugby clubs
The financial woes of Worcester Warriors was not the end of the monetary struggles for Gallagher Premiership clubs. In 2021, debt for all the clubs was £470 million, including over £110m for Wasps alone.
