Earthquake on world football! These 5 crazy predictions for 2024

Bayer Leverkusen crowned German champions

Borussia Dortmund knows this better than anyone: you will have to pinch yourself to believe it, until the last second of the last day… But halfway through the season, the photograph of the Bundesliga ranking is a bit of a sensation. It is not Bayern Munich that rules the roost, but Bayer Leverkusen. The Ruhr club has always cultivated a reputation as an eternal loser. Often placed, never winning. But this 2024 vintage could finally crown this important club in German football embodied by a rising star on the coaching market: Xabi Alonso.

The Spaniard was a magnificent strategist during his early playing life. He has evolved into an outstanding tactician since the start of his coaching career. His perfectionism, his offensive precepts and his calm management fit perfectly with the demands of modern football. His Bayer, embodied by a generational talent, Florian Wirtz, has the assets to break the hegemony of the great Bayern.

Girona finishes ahead of Barça

In the same vein, how can we not evoke the feeling of La Liga? With its modest means and its flamboyant game, Girona seduced all observers on the other side of the Pyrenees. At the end of the first leg, the small Catalan team achieved the feat of totaling the same number of points as the powerful Real Madrid, who are only ahead of them on goal difference. It’s very strong.

So, there is no question of drawing plans on the comet. Faced with the dinosaurs of the Spanish championship, it will be difficult for Little Thumb to go the distance. But even without finishing first on the finish line, seeing Girona ahead of the great institution of the region, FC Barcelona, ​​would already be an insolent performance. A feat which would not be incongruous given the Barça construction site. After all, Girona humiliated Xavi’s side in this first leg (4-2).

Kylian Mbappé scores 10 goals at Euro 2024 and beats Michel Platini’s record

“ Happy New Year everyone. I wish health, happiness and fulfillment to you and your loved ones. 2024 will be big!!!“. By expressing his wishes three minutes after the transition to 2024, Kylian Mbappé announced the color. At the age of 25, the Bondy prodigy is at the dawn of a pivotal year in his rich career. Beyond the saga of its contractual situation, 2024 will above all be a year of challenges for the phenomenon. We obviously think of the Champions League, with a Paris Saint-Germain team built for him. We also think of these Paris Olympics, which he lists in each of his speeches. But Mbappé’s major challenge could be Euro 2024, considering that the captain of the France team has a very special relationship with his selection.

A year ago, the striker reached the stars by scoring a hat-trick in an epic World Cup final against Argentina (3-3, 2-4). We had to go back to the 2002 edition with the great Ronaldo Nazario’s Brazil to find traces of a player totaling at least 8 goals in a World Cup. So why not imagine Mbappé beating Michel Platini’s record in a European championship? 9 or 10 goals in 7 games if the Blues climb to the bottom step… This record is within their reach.

Aston Villa climbs onto the Premier League podium

In England, the great Sir Alex Ferguson used to say that if the title was not decided during the holidays, it could be lost in this very special period. Unai Emery will not contradict him. Not spared from criticism during his stints on the benches of PSG or Arsenal, the Basque technician found a tailor-made project in Birmingham. To the point of making Aston Villa a small sensation in a homogeneous and thrilling Premier League season.

Second behind Liverpool on the evening of January 1, Emery’s Villans are set like clockwork, both in their offensive animation and in their defensive organization (special mention to their offside strategy). The Big 5 period seems to be over, Newcastle confirmed this last season. And then, a team that brings down Manchester City and Arsenal in a matter of days cannot be underestimated.

Lille reaches the final of the Europa Conference League

The revival of French football on the European scene could come through this Europa Conference League. With its two European trophies in its history, France has a record that is far too modest to play the snob. And this season, the picture seems clear for Paulo Fonseca’s LOSC. Less spectacular, but also less naive than a year ago, the Mastiffs will have a real card to play in this tournament, where the number 1 seed certainly remains… Aston Villa. An exciting challenge, indeed.