World Cup, Mbappé and PSG: our football predictions for 2022

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The third star for the France team?

ATfter a disappointing Euro and an early elimination in the round of 16 against Switzerland, the Blues caught up slightly by winning the League of Nations last October. After having learned from his mistakes, Didier Deschamps went back on some of his convictions and especially on his tactical plan to lead this team to victory again. Young people have been integrated such as Théo Hernandez, Jules Koundé and Aurélien Tchouaméni; the return of Karim Benzema was unanimously welcomed. With these good dispositions, the Blues will try to keep their title of world champion in Qatar. However, the march promises to be delicate: since Brazil in 1958-1962, no selection has managed to keep its coronation.

Editor’s forecast: yes, the Blues have learned from their mistakes after the Euro and the Mbappé-Benzema duo is already irresistible.

READ ALSOAfter the Euro fiasco, are the Blues healed?

Will PSG finally win their long-awaited European crown?

With its fiery recruitment last summer, the capital club hoped to finally defeat its demons in the Champions League. However, Messi, Ramos, Wijnaldum & cie have not yet given full satisfaction, and before the knockout phase, PSG does not appear as a big favorite next to Liverpool, Bayern or Manchester City. The round of 16 will also be a moment of truth with opposition to Real Madrid. A qualification would give dynamism and confidence to this team which still dreams of lifting this famous cup with big ears.

Editor’s forecast: no, the game background proposed by Mauricio Pochettino is still illegible and the individualities will probably not be enough.

READ ALSODegreasing, opportunities and Mbappé: what transfer window this winter for PSG?

Will Losc reach the last four of the Champions League?

What if the Mastiffs achieved a course worthy of Ajax 2019? Predicted in last place in their group, Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men surprised everyone by finishing in the lead and with the manner. If, in Ligue 1, Lille are struggling after the intoxication of their title, European evenings are much more intoxicating. However, the draw was not favorable with Chelsea, the reigning European champion. With nothing to lose, Losc, led by Ligue 1 top scorer Jonathan David, will try to play his role of spoiler until the end.

Editor’s forecast: no, we can hardly imagine the Losc achieving the feat against Chelsea, but the two meetings will undoubtedly be close.

READ ALSOChampions League: Chelsea, the immense challenge of the Mastiffs

Will a French club win the Europa League or the Conference League?

With Lyon, Monaco, Rennes and Marseille, France finally has the opportunity to get its first European Cup at the XXIe century. After years of disappointments and early eliminations, Ligue 1 achieved a very interesting first game on the continental scene. For Monaco and OL, the picture is higher with Dortmund, Barça and Porto in contention, but the group stage showed how much these two teams played the blow thoroughly. In the new European Cup, the Conference League, adversity will be less for OM and Stade Rennes, and we are probably betting more on this C4 to see a French club go to the end.

Editor’s forecast: yes, with a small particular piece on the Stade Rennes by Bruno Genesio.

Will Lyon finally find stability and results?

The Europa League is the only clearing up for OL at the moment, coming out of a grueling first game on the pitch, but also behind the scenes. Sporting director Juninho has announced his upcoming departure, and the whole sporting project has become unclear on the Rhône side. Lagging behind in the league with a 13e provisional place while waiting for the match to be replayed against OM, Lyon was excluded from the Coupe de France after the incidents that occurred in Charléty against Paris FC. It’s hard to be optimistic at this stage, but coach Peter Bosz still retains the confidence of his president, Jean-Michel Aulas. The winter transfer window which has just opened will be an opportunity to rectify the situation for the Lyonnais. The Iranian Sardar Azmoun is strongly expected in this direction. Enough to fill all the gaps in this team?

Editor’s forecast: no, there are still too many uncertainties in Lyon today, especially internally.

Will Algeria keep its throne in Africa?

In a delicate health context and great mistrust of most clubs, the African Cup of Nations will open on Sunday January 9 in Cameroon. Three years after its success in Egypt, Algeria hopes to remain untouchable on the African continent. With an impressive series of 32 consecutive games without defeat, Djamel Belmadi’s team are a well-established machine with many individual strengths, like Riyad Mahrez and Youcef Belaïli. Is another selection capable of depriving her of this double? Sadio Mané’s Senegal and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt are fine rivals on paper, but with cases of Covid gradually affecting all selections, the cards could be quickly reshuffled.

Editor’s forecast: yes, the Algerian collective is impressive and Belmadi has managed to manage the strong media pressure since his arrival in 2018.

READ ALSOThe Monday tackle – We must respect the African Cup of Nations!

Will Kylian Mbappé sign for Real Madrid?

At the end of his contract next June, the French football star has still not extended his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid could thus achieve a big blow by making him sign free, without transfer fees. Despite a failed Euro, Kylian Mbappé had an impressive 2021 with 52 goals scored and 22 assists. We are already rubbing our hands on the side of the Spanish capital, unless Leonardo manages to convince the player and his entourage with an offer coupled with guarantees on the Parisian sports project.

Editor’s forecast: yes, even if PSG will undoubtedly try everything for everything, Real seems to have a big head start in this matter.

READ ALSOPSG-Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappé has an appointment with his destiny

Will Neymar’s transfer record be broken in the transfer window?

With an amount of 222 million euros in the summer of 2017, the Brazilian had been recruited by PSG for an amount still unmatched to date. Can we do better over the next two mercatos? Following the Covid crisis, English clubs and Paris Saint-Germain seem to be the only ones able to take this type of blow. With its new unlimited ambitions thanks to a Saudi fund, the Newcastle club have the profile to achieve follies. It remains to be seen who will be the lucky winner, but, to date, no player has stood out to reach the same amount as Neymar. Erling Haaland has a clause to leave at a much lower cost, and Mbappé is at the end of his contract.

Editor’s forecast: no, no player to date has stood out to exceed Neymar’s 222 million euros.

READ ALSO“Neymar is the best paid half-time in the world”

Will Lewandowski finally win his Golden Ball?

After its cancellation in 2020 when the mythical reward was promised to him, the Bayern Munich striker thought to triumph this year in view of his exceptional statistics. It was without the first Copa America won by Lionel Messi, which allowed the Argentine to set a new record with his seventh Golden Ball. Undoubtedly revenge, the Pole remains the scorer of a team which is still as impressive in Germany, but also in Europe. However, 2022 is a World Cup year and his selection is not yet guaranteed to play it, with the play-offs next March. Lewandowski will have to work twice as hard if he wants to finally be chosen by the jury.

Editor’s forecast: no, the World Cup will undoubtedly be decisive in the attribution of the Golden Ball.

Will the Superleague project be relaunched?

It is a sequence that turned the football world upside down last April: 12 big clubs broke away from their championships and European Cups to set up an exclusive league. Less than 48 hours later, faced with the rebellion of supporters and authorities, the founding members ended up abandoning this project… momentarily. Indeed, the dream of Superleague is still present in the minds of some leaders, like Florentino Perez of Real Madrid and Andrea Agnelli of Juventus, with the economy and the rescue of their clubs as the main argument. In response, UEFA proposed an insipid reform of the Champions League, enough to see the Superleague come back to the fore.

Editor’s forecast: not in 2022, but this project will come back more successfully in the coming years.






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