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Around the World in 80 Takes
Phileas Fogg bet he could go around the world in 80 days. To launch The Take, we're doing it in 80 takes.
Eighty strong(ish) opinions on sport, from the Bernabéu to Melbourne by way of Trabzon, Maranello and Castelnau-Magnoac. Football, but also rugby, basketball, F1, cycling, MMA and plenty more. Calls on this season, a few on the years ahead, and some convictions we've had for a long time.
Some will look obvious, others probably reckless. Each has a date when we'll know whether we were right. Until then, over to you: agree or disagree? And what's your take? Send it in: each week, we publish one in Sunday Service.
You have voted on 0 of 80 takes
- 1
Paul Seixas should ride the 2027 Giro: he would win it.
Settled on 30 May 2027
Share - 2
Crowned in 2026, Antonelli will have to fight Verstappen head to head for the 2027 title: a legendary season awaits.
Settled on 12 December 2027
Share - 3
Wembanyama's Spurs will finish first in the West and win the 2027 NBA title in six games.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 4
Its timing raises questions, but Citizen Pep is one of the most immersive sports documentaries in years.
Settled on 31 December 2026
Share - 5
Karim Benzema is the best number 9 of the 21st century, ahead of Luis Suárez and Ronaldo (R9).
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 6
France is officially and definitively the world's second basketball nation, for men and women alike.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 7
The Sixers will flop and go out before the Conference Finals.
Settled on 31 May 2027
Share - 8
Yes, Marseille will be playing in Europe next season.
Settled on 29 May 2027
Share - 9
The Dakar Youth Olympics are a first step towards an African Olympic Games, in 2036 or 2040.
Settled on 31 August 2027
Share - 10
Marc Márquez will overtake Valentino Rossi and become the greatest rider in MotoGP history.
Settled on 29 November 2026
Share - 11
After Milan–San Remo, Pogačar will complete his set of Monuments by winning Paris–Roubaix.
Settled on 11 April 2027
Share - 12
Lens will be the flop of the Ligue 1 season and miss out on Europe.
Settled on 29 May 2027
Share - 13
PSG will win a third straight Champions League, despite an injury crisis this winter.
Settled on 5 June 2027
Share - 14
Infantino will be re-elected as FIFA president.
Settled on 18 March 2027
Share - 15
Arthur Fils will reach a Grand Slam final before the end of 2027.
Settled on 12 September 2027
Share - 16
France's women will win Olympic basketball gold at LA 2028.
Settled on 29 July 2028
Share - 17
Stade Toulousain will win a fifth consecutive French title.
Settled on 26 June 2027
Share - 18
At least three of the Premier League's top four will have a Basque manager (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or Aston Villa).
Settled on 30 May 2027
Share - 19
Antoine Dupont is already the greatest player in the history of world rugby.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 20
Luka Dončić will have a historic statistical season and lead the league in scoring, but won't be MVP because of the Lakers' results.
Settled on 31 May 2027
Share - 21
France will win their first Grand Slam since 2022, but won't win the World Cup in Australia.
Settled on 13 November 2027
Share - 22
Romain Ntamack will eclipse Matthieu Jalibert and win back his starting place for France.
Settled on 13 March 2027
Share - 23
Despite Josh Allen, the Bills will fall short of the Super Bowl again because of their defence.
Settled on 31 January 2027
Share - 24
Rory McIlroy will complete a hat-trick at Augusta.
Settled on 11 April 2027
Share - 25
Scottie Scheffler will complete his career Grand Slam by winning the US Open at Pebble Beach.
Settled on 20 June 2027
Share - 26
Sam Burns will win a major.
Settled on 18 July 2027
Share - 27
Galthié won't be kept on after the World Cup: welcome, Ugo Mola.
Settled on 31 December 2027
Share - 28
France will finally beat England in women's rugby, for the first time since 2018.
Settled on 15 May 2027
Share - 29
Mirra Andreeva will be world number one before the end of 2028.
Settled on 31 December 2028
Share - 30
French women's tennis will have its first year without a player in the top 100.
Settled on 31 December 2027
Share - 31
Arthur Fils will be in the world top 4.
Settled on 31 December 2027
Share - 32
Novak Djokovic will win another Grand Slam in 2027.
Settled on 12 September 2027
Share - 33
The Thunder of the Shai, Williams and Holmgren era will never win another title.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 34
The war between the EuroLeague and NBA Europe will be bloody and fascinating to watch, and will end with American control of European basketball.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 35
France will reach the Women's World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 15 years.
Settled on 21 July 2027
Share - 36
The 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil will be a commercial success.
Settled on 25 July 2027
Share - 37
Malawi will get out of the group stage in Brazil.
Settled on 5 July 2027
Share - 38
Despite his strong 2026 season, Lewis Hamilton is a burden for Ferrari: his arrival has put a glass ceiling over Charles Leclerc.
Settled on 12 December 2027
Share - 39
Pierre Sage won't last the winter at Crystal Palace and will return to coach in France.
Settled on 21 March 2027
Share - 40
Lille will finish second, behind PSG.
Settled on 29 May 2027
Share - 41
PSG will be the only French club in the Champions League top 24.
Settled on 27 January 2027
Share - 42
Trabzonspor will win the Conference League with Salah named player of the tournament, and Monaco, Brighton and Ajax will make up the rest of the final four.
Settled on 2 June 2027
Share - 43
Paris FC will qualify for Europe at the end of the season.
Settled on 29 May 2027
Share - 44
There will be a genuine Bundesliga title race.
Settled on 22 May 2027
Share - 45
Como will finish in the Champions League top 8.
Settled on 27 January 2027
Share - 46
Roma will win Serie A for the first time since 2001.
Settled on 30 May 2027
Share - 47
France will be men's handball world champions again.
Settled on 31 January 2027
Share - 48
Mbappé will be La Liga's top scorer after a historic race with Raphinha.
Settled on 30 May 2027
Share - 49
Thomas Coville will finally win the Route du Rhum.
Settled on 10 November 2026
Share - 50
Parnasse will overtake Saint-Denis in the UFC lightweight rankings and finish 2027 in the top 5.
Settled on 31 December 2027
Share - 51
Pogačar will win his sixth Tour de France.
Settled on 25 July 2027
Share - 52
Marseille will have a new owner before the end of 2027.
Settled on 31 December 2027
Share - 53
Sébastien Loeb will break the curse and win the Dakar.
Settled on 23 January 2027
Share - 54
The Raptors will reach the Eastern Conference Finals with a real shot at the NBA Finals.
Settled on 31 May 2027
Share - 55
Cameron Boozer will be the most impactful rookie of his draft class: big numbers from day one, and a winning Grizzlies team.
Settled on 30 April 2027
Share - 56
Either the Jazz or the Grizzlies will make the West play-in.
Settled on 16 April 2027
Share - 57
Gabby Williams has just had one of the greatest individual seasons in women's basketball history (EuroLeague, World Cup, WNBA), and deserves to be recognised for it.
Settled on 31 December 2026
Share - 58
Marseille will go out of the Europa League in the league phase.
Settled on 28 January 2027
Share - 59
Usman Nurmagomedov will sign with the UFC.
Settled on 31 August 2027
Share - 60
Alexander Zverev will win no Grand Slam in 2027.
Settled on 12 September 2027
Share - 61
AFCON 2027 will go ahead, and it will be the last dance for Africa's giants (Mané, Salah…).
Settled on 17 July 2027
Share - 62
Brighton will finish in the Premier League top six.
Settled on 30 May 2027
Share - 63
AC Milan will win the Europa League, with Rabiot named player of the tournament.
Settled on 26 May 2027
Share - 64
Morocco will host the 2030 World Cup final.
Settled on 31 December 2028
Share - 65
Ecuador is establishing itself as South America's third football nation, for clubs and the national team alike, behind Argentina and Brazil.
Settled on 31 August 2027
Share - 66
Palmeiras will win the Copa Libertadores.
Settled on 28 November 2026
Share - 67
Whatever he achieves before he retires, LeBron James will never be considered the GOAT: the debate with Jordan is settled.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 68
An East Asian club will finally beat Saudi money and win the AFC Champions League, after two straight final defeats.
Settled on 1 May 2027
Share - 69
In a few years, Cristiano Ronaldo will drop out of the football GOAT conversation: he won't even make the top 5.
Settled on 31 December 2030
Share - 70
With no alternative business model, multi-club ownership is a necessary evil for Ligue 1 in 2026.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 71
Demi Vollering has just had the greatest individual season in cycling history, men and women included.
Settled on 31 December 2026
Share - 72
Emmanouil Karalis will beat Mondo Duplantis at a major championship before LA 2028.
Settled on 30 July 2028
Share - 73
OL Lyonnes will win the Champions League this season.
Settled on 29 May 2027
Share - 74
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will never win the Tour de France Femmes again.
Settled on 7 August 2027
Share - 75
France will be women's handball European champions.
Settled on 20 December 2026
Share - 76
In Los Angeles, Faith Kipyegon will become the first woman to win the same Olympic athletics event four times.
Settled on 23 July 2028
Share - 77
Michele Kang is becoming one of the five most important figures in world football.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 78
Saint-Étienne will win promotion back to Ligue 1 this season, and stay up!
Settled on 31 May 2028
Share - 79
Found guilty on 114 charges, Manchester City will escape heavy punishment: no relegation, no titles stripped, but a penalty spread out over time.
Settled on 30 June 2027
Share - 80
Désiré Doué will win the 2027 Ballon d'Or.
Settled on 31 October 2027
Share