Even our boldest predictions could not have predicted how 2020 would have been sweating all over the world, let alone in sports. But we are here, hoping to put this turbulent year behind us and looking forward to happier times in 2021 and beyond.
In the hope that this will extend to the sport and in particular to football. With a number of tournaments to move into in the summer following the covid-19 pandemic, it will be crammed a few months for football fans, who will certainly produce shocking results along the way.
Here are five bold predictions for world football in 2021:
1. Canada wins Olympic gold in women’s soccer
It was a prediction for the year 2020 until the pandemic rendered it meaningless.
But there were some notable changes within the women’s team. Coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller is out, former assistant Bev Priestman is in, and she has a wealth of options to choose from with a view to the Olympics.
Several Canadians are successful abroad. Kadeisha Buchanan leaves, winning the Champions League with olympique Lyon, Jordyn Huitema and Ashley Lawrence earning minutes that are used to quality and Paris Saint-Germain, and Adriana Leon and Shelina Zadorsky, West Ham United and Tottenham respectively.
Priestman’s main goal is to get as many rude qualities as possible out of his Pool of players, something Heiner-Moller did not achieve at the 2019 Women’s World Cup. If Priestman injected Huitema’s creativity into a Team that has shown that it is disciplined and hard to break, then Canada will have the tools to jump in a single game against the USA to win Olympic Gold.
2. Canada’s men lift their first Gold Cup since 2000
The loss in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Gold Cup to Haiti and the crushing defeat to the USA at the end of last year would tell us the opposite, but Canada has an excellent opportunity to compete in the Gold Cup next summer.
CONCACAF qualifying in June will probably force Canadian coach John Herdman to select fewer of his stars for the Gold Cup. But the United States and Mexico could leave their brand players at home for similar reasons.
The new European seasons almost began with the end of campaigns delayed by the pandemic. In addition, there are the competitions of the UEFA and the National Cup, and that is 12 months of play every three or four days. Mexico and the United States begin their qualifying rounds for the world championship in September, so it is imperative that these Top starters rest in the summer to recharge their batteries.
Canada has lured the USA into its Gold Cup group, but that will work to its advantage. If the Canadiens finish second in Group B, it will prepare for a likely quarterfinal against Jamaica or Costa Rica. The next semifinal would probably be against Mexico, although the Mexicans could have a B-team. Then it is a possible final against an American ” B ” side for all marbles.
Point games are random, especially in tournaments. A young Team of players desperate to win places on the following lists could lead Canada to silverware in August.
3. Denmark wins Euro 2020
Yes, it is always called Euro 2020, even if it is played in 2021. It is very confusing.
Therefore, a tournament with a confusing name deserves a surprise winner. Denmark fits this bill, especially if some of their players continue to shine with their clubs in 2021.
Defensively Denmark proved to be stingy. Kasper Schmeichel is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the world, Jannik Vestergaard and Simon Kjaer kill him at Southampton and AC Milan respectively, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg quickly became one of Tottenham’s most important players.
Christian Eriksen may have fallen out of favour at Inter, but at least he will be rested and motivated to start the Euro. Even Martin Braithwaite has recently relied on Barcelona, so the Danes have enough rude weapons.
Remember that Denmark knocked Croatia, the World Cup finalist, out of the Ball thanks to its compact blocks. This is threatening story for several Teams likely to be affected by the exhausting national season fatigue.