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20 Bold Predictions for Soccer in 2015

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By @DFresh39

20 Soccer Predictions for 2015

20 Soccer Predictions for 2015
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The year ahead in soccer will feature a heated race for the Champions League title, the Women's World Cup, a Gold Cup and other major competitions. The year will start with a bang as transfer news is expected daily with the calendar rolling over. Let's look at some upcoming events, and do not expect everything to go as expected.

20. Bayern Munich Win the Champions League

Bayern Munich Champions League
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20. Bayern Munich Win the Champions League

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Bayern and Real Madrid are the favorites, although many are backing the Spanish team based on form. If the two were to meet again, Pep Guardiola would want payback and the Bayern players would want to beat former teammate Toni Kroos. Arjen Robben's play of late shows he is ready to take on the spotlight of a Champions League final.

19. Chelsea Win the Premier League

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19. Chelsea Win the Premier League

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Although they are currently tied, Chelsea should find a way to win the Premier League. They were the best team for most of the first half of the season. The Jan. 31 match against Manchester City could settle the league and Chelsea will have the home-field advantage.

18. Club America Wins the CONCACAF Champions League

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18. Club America Wins the CONCACAF Champions League

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Despite losing Miguel Layun, Club America will back up their recent Mexican championship with another title in 2015. MLS clubs are always lacking on form based on the league schedule, so America will be one of the contenders along with Saprissa and Herediano. Oribe Peralta should lead Club America to the title.

17. Costa Rica Wins the Gold Cup

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17. Costa Rica Wins the Gold Cup

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With Tim Howard on the mend, Costa Rica has the top keeper in CONCACAF in Keylor Navas. They ended 2014 on a three-game win streak after a deep, unexpected run in the World Cup. Brian Ruiz, Alvaro Saborio and Joel Campbell will be tough to beat in the summer Gold Cup competition. If healthy, Costa Rica will be a tough out for the USMNT and Mexico.

16. Germany Wins the Women's World Cup

Germany Women's World Cup
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16. Germany Wins the Women's World Cup

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The German Women's National Team will follow up the triumph of the Men's National Team with a World Cup of their own. Melanie Behringer and Nadine Angerer are ready to lead the team to their third title. In the 10 qualifying matches, Germany allowed four goals and cruised to the top spot. They drew a good group and should ease into the knockout round, where they could encounter the USWNT.

15. Orlando City Will Have a Better Season Than NYCFC

Kaka Orlando City
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15. Orlando City Will Have a Better Season Than NYCFC

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With the Frank Lampard news of a delayed arrival to NYCFC taking the headlines, the other expansion franchise is looking good. Orlando City has built a good roster of players to supplement a good core of young guys who will need to catch up to the speed of MLS. They have a solid leader in Kaka and Amobi Okugo could be the best acquisition in all of MLS.

14. Lukas Podolski/ Xherdan Shaqiri Move to Inter & Get Team to Top Five

Lukas Podolski
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14. Lukas Podolski/ Xherdan Shaqiri Move to Inter & Get Team to Top Five

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Pictures of Podolski holding an Internazionale scarf have surfaced today, so his move is all but confirmed. Shaqiri needs out of Bayern and has plenty of suitors. Rodrigo Palacio has struggled to score goals and there is room to integrate Podolski and Shaqiri right away. Inter is six points back of the top five and need a jolt of energy to make a run to the top.

13. MLS CBA Discussions Delay the Start of the Season

MLS CBA
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13. MLS CBA Discussions Delay the Start of the Season

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The current MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement ends this month and negotiations are underway. The players are looking for more fair compensation and a form of free agency. The Players' Union says that the current model is for a developing league, but MLS is entering its 20th year. The league has started its rhetoric saying they have lost money. This is a pivotal negotiation for the league and the talks could drag on.

12. Tottenham Wins the FA Cup

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12. Tottenham Wins the FA Cup

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The Spurs began 2015 with a good win over Chelsea. Harry Kane has the looks of a star and they have moved up in the Premier League table. DeAndre Yedlin's new team has taken points from six straight games in the EPL. To the dismay of Arsenal fans, Tottenham will hoist the trophy this season.

11. Zambia is the Surprise of the Africa Cup of Nations

Zambia Africa Cup of Nations
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11. Zambia is the Surprise of the Africa Cup of Nations

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Zambia will be playing with a heavy heart as three players were injured in an accident that took the life of the bus driver in December. They have drawn a good group against Congo, Tunisia and Cape Verde. The knockout match up looks favorable against Burkina Faso or Congo. A run to the quarterfinals is not out of the question for Zambia.

10. Carli Lloyd wins the World Cup Golden Boot

Carli Lloyd USWNT
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10. Carli Lloyd wins the World Cup Golden Boot

Carli Lloyd USWNT
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If Carli Lloyd is used right by coach Jill Ellis, she has shown the ability to score. She needs to be played in a high position coming in off the back of a striker. The USWNT will figure this out and Lloyd will score the most goals over the tournament.

9. San Jose and Toronto Will Make the MLS Playoffs

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9. San Jose and Toronto Will Make the MLS Playoffs

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Toronto FC has never made the playoffs and San Jose has missed out the last two seasons. Toronto had a slide at the end of the season that moved them from the top team in the Eastern Conference to the outside looking in. San Jose's trajectory is downward, but they have a new coach with the return of Dom Kinnear. MLS is expanding the playoffs as well. Both teams will get in this season.

8. Juventus Wins Serie A

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8. Juventus Wins Serie A

FC Juventus v Calcio Catania - Serie A
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AS Roma is within striking distance of Juventus, but they will not be able to reach them. Paul Pogba has reached a new level on the field and controls the game like no other in Seria A. Carlos Tevez is finding the back of the net at a high rate. This will be their fourth title in a row.

7. Barcelona Wins La Liga

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7. Barcelona Wins La Liga

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It is status quo in La Liga with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top. After a supposed crisis at Barcelona, the team has been clicking. Meanwhile there are questions about Real Madrid's defense. Tired legs show up on the back end easier than they do by the opponent's goal. Barcelona plays Atletico the next-to-last week of the season and a win could clinch the league.

6. Colombia Wins the Copa America

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6. Colombia Wins the Copa America

Copa American Colombia
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Colombia was drawn into group C in the Copa America. This is favorable regardless of if they finish first or second in the group. Finish second and they most likely avoid playing Chile in the quarterfinals. If they finish first they avoid Argentina in the quarterfinals. The tournament sets up well for James Rodriguez and company. Also, they should have a healthy Falcao back on the field.

5. Dzenan Catic Wins MLS Rookie of the Year

Dzenan Catic
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5. Dzenan Catic Wins MLS Rookie of the Year

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MLS has basically established a farm system and many of the players taken in this year's SuperDraft will be sent to USL PRO. However, Catic should be able to find time with the Philadelphia Union. The NAIA star lost his NCAA eligibility after a failed tryout, but could not be stopped at Davenport University. He can win aerial duals as well. The big forward should have an impact in his first year.

4. New England Revolution Hoist the MLS Cup

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4. New England Revolution Hoist the MLS Cup

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The New England Revolution lost in extra time in the MLS Cup this past season, but will keep the core of their team together going forward. Lee Nguyen is still young based on the number of professional games he has played. Teal Bunbury signed a new deal and said he had unfinished business. The five-time runner-ups will get their first Cup.

3. Lyon Wins Ligue 1

2 Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette
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3. Lyon Wins Ligue 1

2 Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette - Copy
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Lyon is in a battle for the Ligue 1 title with PSG on the outside. Four teams are in the conversation as Marseille and St. Etienne sit between Lyon and PSG currently. Alexandre Lacazette could score 30 goals this season for Lyon as the French international has six multi-goal games in league competition. If he keeps that pace up Lyon will claim their first title since 2008.

2. Dortmund Will Avoid Relegation

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2. Dortmund Will Avoid Relegation

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The Bundesliga season will restart at the end of January with Borussia Dortmund in next-to-last place. They have secured only 15 points through 17 games, but Jurgen Klopp is still at the helm. They are getting healthy for the first time in almost two years. Dortmund is still alive in the Champions League and can gain confidence from their performance on the big stage. They are only four points from 10th place and should survive in the top flight.

1. All 3 Sides Promoted to the EPL This Season Will Be Dropped

Premier League Relegation
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1. All 3 Sides Promoted to the EPL This Season Will Be Dropped

Premier League Relegation
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Burnley, QPR and Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League this year and all three find themselves at the bottom of the table. Only Burnley is outside of the bottom three. They are only clear of Hull City by one point. In the end Hull will move out of the bottom three and the newly promoted sides will have to return to the English League Championship.

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