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The world of football never lacks excitement or surprises. Season after season we see results which no one could have ever predicted. 2019 has come to an end and the last 12 months were filled with memorable comebacks and unexpected yet astonishing results.
It is almost impossible to predict things accurately and that is the beauty of this game. What makes this game so amazing is that extraordinary things keep happening every year. Keeping that in mind, here are 5 bold predictions for World Football in 2020.
5. Argentina to win Copa America 2020
Oh for how long have we been saying something like this? An international trophy for Lionel Messi and Argentina has always been a matter of 'so close yet so far'. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was the best chance for La Albiceleste but they could not make the most of that golden opportunity. Consecutive losses in Copa America finals to Chile was a big setback for them. That being said, Argentina have another chance and that too at home soil this time. The 2020 Copa America starts on 12th June and the tournament will take place in Colombia and Argentina.
Talent and quality have never been an issue for Argentina. With the likes of Paulo Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Mauro Icardi and many others having an amazing season, international success isn't really beyond them. Squad selection has been one of the major concerns for the South American country and the fans would be hoping that the team management gets it right this time.
It could be Lionel Messi's last best chance to get his hands on an international trophy and he'd be looking to make the most of that opportunity. The little magician is hailed by many as the world’s best player ever and he will be looking to lead his team to International glory. Despite their many disappointments, it is hard to write them off. Argentina will begin their title hunt against Chile in the tournament opener on 12th June this year.
4. New Champions in Italy and Germany
Yes, you heard it right and this there is finally a chance for this to happen. It has been that kind of a season in both Italy and Germany.
The tides are changing in Serie A as Conte's Inter Milan and others look to push the defending champions right down to the wire. Juventus have been Italy's powerhouse for eight consecutive years and only a few have come close to them. Antonio Conte is one of the major reasons for Juventus being the team they are today. The Italian won three consecutive titles with bianconeri and he is back to take their place with his new team.
Should Inter Milan, along with fellow potential challengers like Lazio and Roma, keep winning at their current pace we are in for an incredible season.
Something similar is happening in Germany's Bundesliga too. A league dominated by Bayern Munich could finally see a new champion after seven years. It has been a strange season for Bayern who currently sit on third place. Just four points off first place, the defending champions can still find form and win their eighth consecutive domestic title. But Julian Nagelsmann's RB Leipzig and Marco Rose's Borussia Mönchengladbach are making the most of Bayern's bad form. The world has waited for a long time to see who will finish above Bayern in Bundesliga and now we have two very worthy contenders this season.
3. Manchester City to win the UEFA Champions League
It has not been the season that Pep Guardiola and Manchester City had hoped for. The league race seems almost over as Liverpool have been rampant while Manchester City have shown massive inconsistency. While not being able to win the league three times in a row is going to be a difficult pill to swallow, the Manchester side have the perfect opportunity to go for the biggest prize. Both Pep and Manchester City have been aiming for the UCL trophy for years now, and this could finally be their season.
There is no reason why City can not win UCL. They have one of the best squads in Europe and one of the best managers too. Sheikh Mansour had the UCL in mind when he appointed Pep Guardiola and this could be the year for them.
Earlier this season, the Spanish manager warned that his Manchester City side are not yet ready to win the UEFA Champions League as they are not clinical enough in front of goal. Pep has had 3 promising yet failed UCL campaigns with the England champions and he will be looking to finally win the prestigious European trophy after 8 seasons. Though for this, they first have to get the better of Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
Will Manchester City finally win the UEFA Champions League? It could be the case, but only time will tell.
2. Invincibles Part 2: Liverpool Football Club
This just seems too good to be true. No Liverpool fan could possibly have thought that Jürgen Klopp would turn their fortunes this way. It had been heartbreaks and tears for Liverpool fans in this last decade but oh how times have changed. Liverpool have gotten better and better and now they stand at the top. It would take something really dramatic to stop Liverpool from winning the title this year but we might be looking at something bigger here. Can Liverpool go unbeaten throughout the season?
Klopp's men have won 32 of the 37 games since their last defeat, taking 101 points from a possible 111. These are insane numbers and their consistency is incredible. Liverpool have seven more points than Manchester City have managed in the same time-frame despite playing a game less.
Klopp was quick to rule out any such possibility but the comparisons with Arsenal's invincibles are inevitable if Liverpool continue to deliver such relentless and amazing performances. The reds keep finding ways to win games and that quality is what makes the world think they can go the season unbeaten. With Champions League and FA Cup commitments still to come, fatigue is likely to become more of an issue as the season progresses but Klopp and his men seem to have the formula for winning games.
1. Italy to win Euros 2020
Italy reached one of the lowest points in their footballing history in November 2017. They failed to score against a brave Swedish defence, as a 0-0 draw made sure that Italy would miss the World Cup only for the second time ever. A lot has changed since then, and the Italian renaissance has well and truly been underway. New manager Roberto Mancini has changed the Italian side for good and there is no turning back for them.
Now to why the Italians suddenly serious contenders?
In front of the immensely talented Gianluigi Donnarumma, they have arguably the best centre-back pairing of the 21st century with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini at the back. If Euro 2016 was any indication, Italy will have a chance in most games. They reached the quarter-finals with Graziano Pelle and Eder leading the forward line (no disrespect). Now the electric duo of Stefano Sensi and Nicolò Barella along with two world-class midfielders in Marco Verratti and Jorginho support a very strong defence and a very exciting forward line.
While his national team record is not up to the mark, there is absolutely no way any striker is better than Ciro Immobile at the moment. He often rotates the role with Andrea Belotti, also a proven prolific Serie A goalscorer. Both of them have been a little unflattering with Italy but their goalscoring pedigree cannot be taken away from them. With Insigne joining them, Gli Azzurri now have three amazing performers in their front-line. Federico Chiesa, Nicolo Zaniolo and Federico Bernardeschi highlight the depth the Italians have in their ranks.
Two world-class centre-backs supported by the best midfield and forward line they have had in a decade - do not be surprised if Italy go all the way through.
