Football

The main interest for now is in club football after an appetising draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League. Stories abound: José Mourinho takes on his old adversary, Sir Alex Ferguson, when Inter Milan play Manchester United; Rafael Benítez returns to Spain with Liverpool to play Real Madrid; and Claudio Ranieri, now with Juventus, visits his old club, Chelsea. Don’t write off Arsenal progressing against Roma, either, but it is hard to see three English clubs in the semi-finals again this year.

Rugby union

Picking a winner of the Six Nations is going to be tough. Wales and Ireland have the most settled sides and many expect the men in red to defend their title. France are always worth considering, but their club sides have not been doing that well in the Heineken Cup and they must play England in Twickenham rather than Paris. Despite a difficult autumn, Martin Johnson’s side may well challenge for the title. Even Scotland could win a match or two.

Cricket

Most fans will be thinking about the Ashes, but the series does not start until July and England have home and away battles against West Indies first. This could be a good way for the team to rebuild their confidence after heavy defeats last year and despite the resignation of Kevin Pietersen as captain and the departure of Peter Moores, the coach. Whitewashes of West Indies at home and away in 2004 set England up nicely for the 2005 Ashes and, despite embarrassment in the multimillion-dollar Stanford match in November, England should win both again.

Tennis

After Andy Murray’s superb end to 2008, the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of 2009, beckons. Murray has had little success in Melbourne in the past, losing twice in the first round, but his seeding and confidence should be enough to carry him into the quarter-finals for the first time.

Formula One

Lewis Hamilton’s defence of his drivers’ title does not begin until the end of March but before then there will be great interest in the cars built under new aerodynamic rules, which could narrow the gap between teams. Renault and Toyota, despite reaffirmed commitment to Formula One, are under threat in these straitened times and we should know by the end of January if Honda will be bought or wound up.

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