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The world of football can be a mad arena, but even the beautiful game serves up a number of predictable outcomes. However, as last month’s English FA Cup upsets highlighted, 2015 is set to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable years in living memory with a number of shock conclusions potentially on the horizon.That entertainment is why millions love the game so much and we can’t wait to see if some of these potential shocks materialise over the coming months. Here are seven things that nobody would’ve predicted at the start of the season but could soon become a reality:
#1 PSG not winning Ligue 1
Before the season started, Paris-Saint Germain’s successful title defence was an absolute certainty. However, Laurent Blanc’s men are now trapped in a three-way battle for the Ligue 1 trophy and face a real uphill struggle if they want to retain their crown for the third straight season.
PSG’s financial supremacy gives them a huge advantage but the star-studded squad have dropped silly points in key moments of matches this season and that could quite conceivably come back to haunt the defending champions.
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Blanc’s men have already drawn eight times this term and their Champions League commitments could potentially throw another spanner into the works. The Parisians remain favourites for the domestic title but rivals Lyon and Marseille will be optimistic.
#2 Harry Kane making his debut for England
Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been touted as a future England star for some years now. Nevertheless, even Spurs fans couldn’t have predicted his rapid rise to prominence under Mauricio Pochettino.
Kane started the season as a fringe player who was primarily deployed in the Europa League and Capital One Cup. However, his phenomenal scoring ratio, combined with the continued failings of senior strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado have allowed the England U-21 man to emerge as the new main man at White Hart Lane.
His goals have been a major part in firing Spurs to the Capital One Cup final and the Europa League knockout stages. More impressively though, Kane is currently fifth in the Premier League’s scoring charts – despite the fact that he has only started 13 of Tottenham’s 23 matches.
If he continues this form, a call-up to England’s senior team will just be a matter of time.
#3 Sepp Blatter being replaced as FIFA President
He might be one of the most controversial men in the football world, but up until recently it was largely accepted that Sepp Blatter would enter a fifth term in charge with little opposition. In fact, the situation had become such a joke that Frenchman David Ginola ran for Presidency solely because a bookmaker had paid him to.
However, the recent emergence of Portugal legend Luis Figo seems to carry some real weight and Blatter’s future could be in real jeopardy ahead of the election on May 29. The other two candidates, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and Michael van Praag also possess genuine hopes of becoming Blatter’s successor.
A change at the top would be welcomed by many and could be exactly what the sport needs as it looks to rid itself of corruption.
#4 Celtic missing out on SPL title
The demise of Rangers has ensured a one horse race for the SPL title in recent years as Celtic have enjoyed an unopposed quest to bolster their trophy cabinet further.
In fact, the obvious nature of Celtic’s title victories has led to the SPL becoming rather stale over the past couple of years. However, the emergence of Aberdeen as genuine contenders has at least added an extra interest this season – even if the Pittodrie club look likely to fall just short of the mark.
It has been a truly testing first campaign for new boss Ronny Delia, who also incredibly saw his side eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers twice, but the Hoops have finally found their rhythm in recent weeks.
Still, it would be great to see either Aberdeen or Inverness push Celtic right to the wire and potentially pip them to the title.
#5 Netherlands failing to reach Euro 2016
An impressive Netherlands were just a penalty shootout away from reaching a second consecutive World Cup final in 2014. However, the Oranje have struggled to adjust to life after Louis van Gaal and find themselves in genuine danger of missing out on Euro 2016 altogether.
Guus Hiddink’s men have lost two of their four qualifiers so far and are third in Group A, sitting behind a rejuvenated Czech Republic and a very spirited Iceland. With Turkey also in the mix, the World Cup semi-finalists cannot afford further slip ups.
The increase in the number of teams at the Euros to 24 means that there are now two automatic places up for grabs from each group, which could prove to be their saving grace. Either way, they’ll still need to be at their best if they want to avoid the ultimate humiliation later this year.
#6 Luis Suarez not reaching 10-goal milestone
It was last summer’s biggest transfer in world football, but Barcelona’s £75 million striker has failed to deliver during his opening spell at the Camp Nou. Luis Suarez scored 31 times in 33 Premier League games for Liverpool in 2013/14, but has hit just two in his opening 12 La Liga matches and has yet to emerge from the shadows of Neymar and Lionel Messi.
Missing the opening few weeks through suspension was certainly an added disadvantage, but most fans would’ve expected Suarez to form a perfect fit at the Camp Nou and will be disappointed with his contributions thus far.
If he doesn’t pull his socks up in the coming weeks, the mercurial Uruguayan could fail to reach double figures in his first La Liga season.
#7 Borussia Dortmund getting relegated from Bundesliga
Just 18 months ago, Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund were 90 minutes away from being crowned kings of Europe. Fast-forward to February 2015 and the BVB could be on the verge of falling victim to football’s biggest shock ever.
The summer loss of Robert Lewandowski to fierce rivals Bayern Munich meant that a title push was always going to be difficult in 2014/15, but nobody could have predicted the struggles that the Yellows have endured this term.
We’re now over halfway into the Bundesliga season and Dortmund are currently rock-bottom. Injuries to key men, along with continued speculation regarding the potential exits of star players, have played a huge part, but that still can’t be an excuse for their awful showing this term.
On a brighter note, the Bundesliga giants are only two points away from safety. However, they must improve sooner rather than later if they’re going to avoid the almost unimaginable embarrassment of relegation.
