'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Despite being heavily trolled by the Mayans, the world is moving on and so does football. Here is a look at the 10 possible story lines that will dominate the beautiful game in 2013.
Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, West Brom Albion and Arsenal. Four teams with the same number of points on Christmas. The race to the fourth place this season is two times tighter than the race to the title.
If Arsenal lose out, it will hurt them badly. If Everton or West Brom get it, then it will certainly boost the status of their teams. As far as Tottenham are concerned, getting to the fourth is a mandatory if they don’t want to lose their top stars. In the long run, the fight should be between the two London clubs, but both David Moyes and Steve Clarke’s teams have shown us tremendous potential. It would really be a hard ask to pick the winner now.
Yes. The Europa League might not be the most glamorous competition in the world but dissolving it would cause huge and I mean HUGE changes in the world of football. A single unified European competition would take ages to finish and the group stages would be a yawn fest.
Will the Europa League be dissolved?
But, if Michel Platini wants something, he usually gets it.
Not exactly a major “World Football” story but still it is an intriguing one. Harry Redknapp, the man who saves teams from getting the boot takes over a team which hasn’t won in 16 games and saves it from getting relegated.
Will Harry do the escape job once again?
A story worthy of a movie.
We all love good old ‘Arry. We are all rooting for him to do it. Will he? Let us hope so.
FIFA needs to get tougher. Punishments have to be made severe and they need to be done. So, will FIFA implement strict rules for Financial Fair Play, and punishment against racism and diving?
Will FIFA kick out Racism and Diving?
FIFA has recently commented that they consider diving as Football’s ‘cancer’ and so by looking at that, it wouldn’t be a huge shock if FIFA goes all guns blazing at divers.
Huge money has been spent in buying players in 2012. PSG, Manchester City and Chelsea are prime players in this. Chelsea and Manchester City are already out of the Champions League. But, they still have the league and cups to play for.
Will Money bring in Titles?
So, will money bring titles? We will have to wait and see.
There are the usual suspects – Barcelona, Real Madrid (or Manchester United, remember?) and Bayern Munich. Then there are teams that could pull off a surprise – Schalke, Porto and Borussia Dortmund.
Will Dortmund oust the Top teams?
The draw of this year’s Champions League makes it very impossible to predict a winner. The most stable team is obviously Barcelona but even they are not immortal these days. In the end, it could be a battle for supremacy between the Spanish and German teams.
Will we have a new successor to the Throne? Or will Lionel Messi go all guns blazing and take the top spot once again. Arguably, Lionel Messi is the best footballer in the world today and Cristiano Ronaldo is a close second.
Falcao – Neymar – Threat to Messi and Ronaldo?
Players like Radamel Falcao and Neymar (if he moves to Europe, that is) are posing a big threat to the throne. So, will they overtake the awesome twosome?
AC Milan is looking to offload most of its stars, Mario Balotelli is reportedly on the move, Robert Lewandowski is also speculated to move away from Dortmund. Radamel Falcao, Wesley Sneijder and a handful of other stars are also on the move.
Return of the King?
The one transfer that will take the Football world by storm is Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United. Will Real Madrid sell him? Does Manchester United have the funds to pay? Uff. This is so exciting.
Okay. It is still early days to predict Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. But, if the Gaffer wins a 20th league title and possibly a Champions League, will he be tempted to call it quits? Possibly.
Who will replace Sir Alex?
Even if he does, the real dilemma will only begin. If Sir Alex retires at the end of this season, both Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho (given he gets the sack from Real Madrid, which is looking likely every minute) will be available. Both managers have expressed their interest in managing Manchester United and Sir Alex is friends with both of them.
Or, in a further twist, both Jose and Pep could end up in Manchester managing the blue and red halves of the City. Sounds interesting!
Before you get any skeptical, read out the names – Hazard, Dembele, Benteke, Fellaini, Witsel, Kompany, Vertonghen, Vermaelen, Mirallas and the list goes on and on.
The team that can beat Spain?
The top young and entertaining talents in the world bundled into a single national team. Will they make themselves ready for the 2014 World Cup this year? Or will they succumb to the pressure?
If they play and rise to the occasion, they might be the team that can match Spain.
