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Tuesday, May 22, 2018

The Week that was (in Football (Soccer)): Review of the top Leagues in Europe-part 6 (Week of May 15-May 21, 2018)


Note:
The purpose of this section is to summarize the week in question, it is not meant to give a full statistical analysis of the matches.
We live in a viral age and all that information can be accessed.
I welcome all contributions from anyone, even for the Leagues that I did not cover.

I.  England
On Saturday, Chelsea defeated Manchester United (1-0) to lift the FA Cup. Despite winning, Antonio Conte’s future as Chelsea Manager is still unclear.
Jose Mourinho criticized Chelsea’s defensive tactics.
The focus is now on the CL Final next Saturday when Liverpool take on Real Madrid.
There have been ongoing debates about Gareth Southagte’s World Cup squad and whether Wilshere and Hart, etc deserved to be cut or not.


Photo From: L’Equipe, May 20, 2018
(Eden Hazard after scoring)



Diary:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Jlloyd Samuel, a former Aston Villa defender, was killed in a car accident aged 37. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Former Watford Manager Marco Silva was linked with the Everton job given Sam Allardyce’s likely departure from the club  (Source BBC Football Online)

-Swansea are to set sign Liverpool’s Yan Dhanda. (Source BBC Football Online)

-West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart has been informed that he will not be part of the England World Cup squad. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-OGC Nice’s Jean-Michel Seri has been linked to Arsenal. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Everton have contacted AS Monaco to sign Kevin N’Doram. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Swansea defender Alfie Mawson’s World Cup hopes are over after he underwent a knee surgery. England Manager Gareth Southagte had already told him that his chances of selection were low. (Source Sky Sports Online)

- Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu has been linked to Arsenal. (Source Daily Telegraph Online)

-Tottenham’s Moussa Dembele has been linked with Chinese Club Beijing Guoan. (Source Footnews.be online via Het Nieuwsblad)

-Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos has been linked with Manchester City. (Source Calciomercato.com Online via La Gazzetta Dello Sport)

-Napoli’s Algerian defender Faouzi Ghoulam has been linked with Manchester United. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Davidson Sanchez extended his contract with Tottenham by one more year.  (Source vi.nl online)

-Steve McLaren is set to be appointed as Manager of Queens Park Rangers.  (Source vi.nl online via Sky Sports)

-Brazilian Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk) has been linked to Manchester United.  (Source vi.nl online)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-England Manager Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad for the World Cup. (Source BBC Football Online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).
Standby: Lewis Cook (Bournemouth), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jake Livermore (West Brom), James Tarkowski (Burnley).
-David Moyes has left his post as West Ham United Manager. (Source BBC Football Online)

-1966 World Cup winner Ray Wilson passed away aged 83. he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. (Source BBC Football Online)
-Sam Allardyce was dismissed as Everton Manager. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Manchester City Manager Josip Guardiola was named the League Managers Association’s Manager of the year. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski would like to leave the club. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Manchester United have informally contacted the representatives of Chelsea’s Willian. (Source Sky Sports Online via Manchester Evening News)

-Napoli’s Jorginho has been linked to Manchetser City. (Source Sky Sports Online via Manchester Evening News)

-Borussia Dortmund’s Sokratis Papasthaopoulos has been linked to Arsenal. (Source Sky Sports Online via Manchester Evening News)

-Stoke City’s Kevin Wimmer has been linked to Hannover. Geoff Cameron is also likely to leave the club. (Source Sky Sports Online via The Sentinel)

-Manchester City’s Patrick Roberts has been linked to Leicester City, as has OGC Nice striker Alassane Plea. (Source Sky Sports Online via Leicester Mercury)

-Nottingham Forest’s 16-year-old Matthew Bondswell has been linked to Liverpool. (Source Sky Sports Online via Nottingham Post)

-AC Milan defender Leonardo Bonucci has been linked to Manchester United. (Source Sky Sports Online via Tuttosport)

-Swansea’s Roque Mesa is about to sign for Sevilla. (Source Sky Sports Online via El Desmarque)

-Patrick Vieira (currently managing MLS’s New York City FC) expressed disappointment following meeting Arsenal representatives about the coaching position. He felt it was merely a token gesture’ to a former player. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Huddersfield’s Terence Kongolo will likely return to Monaco from his loan. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Brighton Manager Chris Hughton has extended his contract with the club until 2021. (Source France Football Online)

-Wolvermapton Wanderers Portuguese Manager Nuno Espirito Santo was named as the Manager of the year for the Championship.  (Source Maisfutebol online)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Tottenham ‘s Harry Winks extended his contract by five years. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Arsenal are to hold talks with Mikel Arteta about the vacant Manager’s position. The club also intends to speak with Thierry Henry. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Liverpool released three U-23 players: Paulo Alves, Toni Gomes and Mich’el Parker. Chelsea’s Isaac Christie-Davies has been linked to Liverpool.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Liverpool Echo)

-Newcastle United’s Chancel Mbemba will leave the club and he has been linked with Celtic.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Newcastle Chronicle)

-West Ham United would like to sign Rafa Benitez as Manager.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Newcastle Chronicle)

-Abel Hernandez has been linked to Aston Villa.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Birmingham Mail)

-Porto defender Ricardo Pereira has been linked with Leicetser City.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Leicester Mercury)

-Arsene Wenger stated that at one point he was close to signing both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Mohamed Salah’s boots are to be on display at the Egypt Collection at the British Museum.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc extended his contract by one more year.  (Source Sky Sports Online)
-Everton have contacted Marco Silva to be their next Manager. (Source Daily Telegraph Online)

-Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp has allegedly inquired about AC Milan goalkeeper Donnarumma . (Source Calciomercato.com Online via Tuttosport)

- Manchester United’s Anthony Martial has been linked to Atletico Madrid. (Source AS.com Online via Le10sport)
-Cameron Carter-Vickers has extended his contract with Tottenham. (Source vi.nl Online)

-Telstar goalkeeper rody de Boer has been linked to Bournemouth. (Source vi.nl Online)
-Josip Guardiola extended his contract with Manchester City by three more years.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Swansea Manager Carlos Carvalhal officially left the club. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Manuel Pellegrini has been linked to the West Ham United Manager position. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Jack Wilshere used twitter to express his disappointment at missing the World Cup squad.  Joe Hart similarly stated that his omission was “hard to take”. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Monaco’s Kevin N’Doram has been linked to Everton  (Source Sky Sports Online via L’Equipe)

- Leicetser City has agreed on a fee for Porto defender Ricardo Pereira.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Daily Mirror)

-Goalkeeper Robert Green will leave Huddersfield at the end of the season.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Monaco’s Djibril Sidibe has bene linked to Manchester United.  (Source Calciomercato.com Online via Le10Sport)

-Stoke City Manager Paul Lambert has left the club.  (Source vi.nl Online)

-Atletico Madrid and Croatia’s Sime Vrsaljko has been linked to Manchester United.  (Source vi.nl Online via Daily Mail)

-Darren Moore has been mamed WBA Manager on permanent basis. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Steve McClaren was confirmed as QPR Manager.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Manchester City will not pursue Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets due to the high buy-out clause. (Source Sky Sports Online via Marca)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:

-Jack Wilshere’s representatives have ‘offered him’ to PSG. (Source Sky Sports Online via L’Equipe)

-Mick McCarthy has expressed interest to Manage Stoke City. (Source Daily Telegraph online)

-WBA’s Jony Evans has been linked to Leicester City. (Source vi.nl Online)

-After the FA Cup Final loss, Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho stated that Chelsea did not deserve to win, since they defended with nine men. (Source BBC Football Online)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:

-Liverpool cancelled an August 7th friendly with Moenchengladbach after the German club’s interest over Liverpool teenager Rhian Brewster. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-West Ham United’s James Collins will leave the club. (Source BBC Football Online)

Monday, May 21, 2018:

-Manchester United have offered a professional contract to Northern Irish teenager Ethan Galbraith. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla will leave the club at the end of the season. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Unai Emery is set to become the new Arsenal Manager. (Source BBC Football Online)

FA Cup-Final (May 19, 2018):

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
Chelsea 1-Manchester United 0 (Eden Hazard 22 pen)

II.  Italy

On Thursday, as expected Gianluigi Buffon announced that he was leaving Juventus after 17 years. It was still unclear whether he would retire or play elsewhere. There has bene some chatter that he might join PSG.
Another ongoing debate centered on Lazio’s Dutch defender Stefan De Vrij. He has signed for Inter for next year and they happened to be their final opponents for the remaining CL spot. In the end, he played on Sunday, but Inter won in Rome (3-2) in dramatic fashion to clinch the CL spot. Had inter not won, some believed that they would have had to sell Mauro Icardi among others.
The day before on Saturday, Buffon played his last match for Juventus in (2-1) win over Verona.
In the end, Crotone were relegated along with Verone and Benevento.


Photo From: L’Equipe, May 20, 2018
(Gianluigi Buffon)



Diary:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-PSG’s Marco Verratti has been linked to Juventus, as has Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Genk defender Omar Colley has been linked to Sampdoria.  (Source Footnews.be online)
-Leonardo Spinazzola will return to Juventus from his two season loan at Atalanta. Likewise, defender Mattia Caladra will also return to Juventus from his loan at Atalanta. Meanwhile, Manchetser United’s Matteo Darmian is also linked to Juventus. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-AS Roma’s Dutchman Kevin Strootman has been linked with Internazionale Milano. (Source Calciomercato.com Online via La Gazzetta Dello Sport)

-Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella has been linked with Internazionale Milano. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Juventus’ Kwadwo Asamoah is set to sign for Internazionale Milano and is undergoing his medical. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Juventus will debut their new kit in the last home match of the season this weekend vs. Verona. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Napoli’s Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina is due to sign for AC Milan. (Source AS.com)

- Sampdoria have been fined 20,000 Euros for crowd trouble during their match vs. Napoli on Sunday. (Source Corriere dello Sport Online)

-Slovenian goalkeeper Rok Vodisek (Olimpia Ljubljana) has been linked to Napoli. (Source Corriere dello Sport Online)

-New Italy Manager Roberto Mancini hinted that Mario Balotelli was part of his plans.  (Source vi.nl online)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Inter Manager Luciano Spalletti would like to sign Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan if Inter qualifies for the CL. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin has agreed to join Juventus. (Source Sky Sports Online via La Gazzetta Dello Sport)

-AS Roma want to extend the contract of Edin Dzeko by one year (he has been linked with MLS’s Los Angeles FC). (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Fiorentina’s Jordan Veretout has been suspended for three matches after being sent off over the weeknd vs. Cagliari. (Source France Football Online)

-Uruguay and Genoa’s Diego Laxalt has been linked to Fiorentina, Roma and Torino. (Source Calciomercato.com Online via Tuttosport)

-Domenico Criscito signed for his former club Genoa after seven years at Zenit St. Petersburg. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Napoli Manager Maurizio Sarri had a meeting with club President Aurelio de Laurentis to discuss his future. (Source vi.nl online)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Juventus goalkeeper Ginaluigi Buffon announced that he was leaving Juventus after 17 years. (Source BBC Football Online)

- Ginaluigi Buffon took the opportunity to apologize to English Refere Michael Oliver after verbally attacking him following his sending off in the CL match vs. Real Madrid.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Fabio Borini will make his transfer to AC Milan (from Suncdeland) permanent on July 1st.   (Source Sky Sports Online via Sunderland Echo)

-Lucien Favre, tipped to be the new Dortmund Manager, has allegedly vetoed the transfer of Juventus’ Stephan Lichsteiner.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Sport Bild)

Stephan Lichsteiner revealed that he has not reached an agreement with Dortmund and ruled out a move to China. (Source Calciomercato via Sport Bild)

-Lyon’s Kenny Tete has been linked to AS Roma. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

- Due to the growing controversy regarding Lazio’s Dutch defender Stefan De Vrij signing with Internazionale Milano just before their key encounter, it has been decided that he will skip the match. (Source Calciomercato.com via Corriere dello Sport)

-Celta Vigo intend to sign Torino’s on-loan player Lucas Boye on permamnent basis. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Cagliari’s Joa Pedro has been banned for six months for doping violations. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Maurizio Sarri appears to remain at Napoli instead of joining Chelsea. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-Juventus have signed Barcleona’s teenage star Pablo Moreno. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Juventus’ Kwadwo Asamoah released a statement signaling his departure from the club. He is to join Internationale Milano. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Everton’s Davy Klaassen has been linked to Napoli  (Source Sky Sports Online via La Gazzetta dello Sport)

-Porto’s Ivan Marcano has been linked to Roma. (Source Calciomercato.com online)

-Arsenal’s Lucas Perez has been linked to Lazio. (Source Calciomercato.com online via Corriere dello Sport)

-Arsenal’s Yunus Musah is about to sign with Juventus. (Source Calciomercato.com online via La Gazzetta dello Sport)

- Lazio’s Dutch defender Stefan De Vrij expressed that he does want to play the key match vs. Inter. (Source Corriere dello Sport)

-Juventus Manager Massimiliano Allegri criticized Napoli for showing a lack of respect to Juventus. (Source La Gazzetta Dello Sport)

- Juventus do not intend to sell Mattia Caldara to PSG. (Source vi.nl via Corriere dello Sport Online)

-Parma were promoted to the Serie A after an away win (2-0) at Spezia. (Source BBC Football Online)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:

-Sampdoria’s Dennis Praet is linked to AS Roma. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Juventus unveiled their new home jerseys in their last match of the season. This was also Gianluigi Buffon’s last match with Juventus.

-Roberto Mancini’s first selected Italy squad with a recall for Mario Balotelli. (Source L’Equipe online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers : Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino).
Defenders: Leonardo Bonucci (Milan), Mattia Caldara (Atalanta), Domenico Criscito (Zenit San Pietroburgo), Danilo D'Ambrosio (Inter), Mattia De Sciglio (Juventus), Emerson Palmieri Dos Santos (Chelsea), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea).
Midfielders : Daniele Baselli (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Bryan Cristante (Atalanta), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Frello Filho Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Napoli), Rolando Mandragora (Crotone), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma).
Strikers: Mario Balotelli (Nizza), Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Matteo Politano (Sassuolo), Simone Verdi (Bologna), Simone Zaza (Valencia).

-Juventus’ Stephan Lichsteiner is now linked to AS Monaco.  (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:

-Manchester United’s Maroune Fellaini has been linked to AC Milan.  (Source Calciomercato Online via La Derniere Heure)

-Napoli have called out Juventus for a very disrespectful tweet (retweeted by Douglas Costa) celebrating the title win by showing a coffin with Napoli’s colors with Insigne’s name on it. (Source Footnews.be Online)

Monday, May 21, 2018:

-Emerson Palmieri Dos Santos and Claudio Marchisio have withdrawn from Italy squad due to injuries.  (Source Tuttosport Online)

League Matchday (May 19-20, 2018):

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
Juventus 2-Verona 1 (Daniele Rugani 49, Miralem Pjanic 52 / Alessio Cerci 76)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Genoa 1-Torino 2 (Goran Pandev 80 / Iago Falque 30, Daniele Baselli 58)
AC Milan 5-Fiorentina 1 (Hakan Calhanoglu 23, Patrick Cutrone 41, 59, Nikola Kalinic 49, Bonaventura 76 / Giovanni Simeone 20)
Cagliari 1-Atalanta 0 (Luca Ceppitelli 87)
Chievo Verona 1 –Benevento 0 (Roberto Inglese 49)
SPAL 3-Sampdoria 1 (Mirko Antenucci 4 pen, 52, Alberto Grassi 50 / Dawid Kownacki 65)
Napoli 2-Crotone 1 (Arkadiusz Milik 23, Jose Maria Callejon 32 / Marco Tumminello 90)
Udinese 1-Bologna 0 (Seko Fofana 30)
Lazio 2-Internazionale Milano 3  (Ivan Perisic (own goal) 9, Felipe Anderson 41 / Danilo D’Ambrosio 29, Mauro Icardi 78 pen, Matias Vecino 81)
Sassuolo 0-AS Roma 1 (Gianluca Pegolo (own goal) 45)

Top Goalscorer:
Ciro Immobile (Lazio) 29 goals
Mauro Icardi (Internazionale Milano) 29 goals

Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Juventus
38
30
5
3
86
24
62
95
2
Napoli
38
28
7
3
78
29
49
91
3
AS Roma
38
23
8
7
61
28
33
77
4
Internazionale
38
20
12
6
66
30
36
72
5
Lazio
38
21
9
8
89
49
40
72
6
AC Milan
38
18
10
10
56
42
14
64

18
Crotone
38
9
8
21
40
66
-26
35
19
Verona
38
7
4
27
30
78
-48
25
20
Benevento
38
6
3
29
33
84
-51
21

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

III.  Spain

During the week, Atletico Madrid defeated OM (3-0) to win the Europa League with Griezmann scoring twice. Atletico Manager Diego Simeone watched from the stands.
On Saturday, Zinedine Zidane’s son Luca made his debut as goalkeeper in Real Madrid’s last match of the season (2-2) with Villareal.
On Sunday, Andres Iniesta played his last ever match for Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad. A photograph of him circulated as he remained on the pitch until the morning hours at the Camp Nou pitch barefoot.
Fernando Torres likewise played his last match for Atletico Madrid vs. Eibar (2-2) and scored twice.
Lionel Messi (34 goals) has now won the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top goalscorer for the fifth time, the first player to do so.



Photo From: L’Equipe, May 17, 2018
(Antoine Griezmann)



Photo From: L’Equipe, May 21, 2018
(Andres Iniesta)



Diary:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Sevilla defender Clement Lenglet has been linked to Barcelona. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Andres Iniesta disclosed that he had been approached by Manchester City. (Source Calciomercato.com Online)

-A stand collapsed during a talk show with Andres Iniesta as guest. Eighteen people were injured. (Source AS.com)

-Former Real Madrid player Guti has been linked with the management of Leganes (Asier Garitano will leave the club). (Source AS.com)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Lionel Messi said it would be “terrible” if Neymar were to join Real Madrid. (Source Sky Sports Online via TyC Sports)

-Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone’s appeal to stay on the bench for today’s Europa League Final was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (Source Marca.com online)

-Andres Iniesta commented on the reports of Sergio Busquets’ departure. He said it would be a ‘huge mistake’ were he to leave the club. (Source Marca.com online)

-Maurico Pellegrino has been listed as a possibility to be the next Leganes Manager . (Source AS.com Online)

-Barcelona are likely to pay the buy-out clause for Sevilla defender Clement Lenglet . (Source AS.com Online)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Andres Iniesta has been linked to Japanese side Vissel Kobe. (Source Calciomercato.com online)

-Gerard Pique revealed that when he was 21 he could have joind Juventus but decided to go back to Barcelona. (Source Calciomercato.com online)

-AC Milan’s Mateo Musacchio has been linked to Sevilla. (Source Calciomercato.com online)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:

-Inter’s Milan Skriniar has been linked to Barcelona (Source AS. Com online via La Gazzetta dello Sport)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:

-Javi Calleja will remain as Villareal Manager and was given a one year extension. (Source AS.com Online)

-Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy has been linked to Atletico Madrid. (Source Calciomercato Online)

Monday, May 21, 2018:

-Villareal President Fernando Roig announced that Rodri would leave the club (probably to Atletico Madrid). Roig also stated that he believed the player is leaving too soon and should have stayed longer. (Source AS.com Online)

-Spain Manager Julen Lopetegui’s 23-man World Cup squad. The biggest name missing is Alvaro Morata. (Source Sky Sports Online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao).
Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad), Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Isco (Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), David Silva (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid), Koke (Atletico Madrid).
Forwards: Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia), Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid).



European Matches involving Spanish Teams:

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:
Europa League, Final:
Olympqiue Marseille 0-Atletico Madrid 3 (Antoine Griezmann 21, 49, Gabi 89)

League Matchday (May 19-20, 2018):

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
Celta 4-Levante 2 (Maximilano Gomez 29, 63, Iago Aspas 41, 48 / Ruben Rochina 12, Jose Luis Morales 74)
Leganes 3-Real Betis 2 (Dimitris Siovas 28, Jose Naranjo 64, Nordin Amrabat 79 / Joel Campbell 20, Antonio Sanabria 76)
Las Palmas 1-Girona 2 (Jonathan Calleri 14 pen / Cristhian Stuani 5, 42 )
Malga 0-Getafe 1 (Loic Remy 73 pen)
Sevilla 1-Alaves 0 (Wissam Ben Yedder 28)
Villareal 2-Real Madrid 2 (Roger Martinez 70, Samuel Castillejo 85 /Gareth Bale 11, Cristiano Ronaldo 32)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Valencia 2 –Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Simone Zaza 28, Goncalo Guedes 77 / Lucas Perez 80)
Athletic Bilbao 0-Espanyol 1 (David Lopez 9)
Atletico Madrid 2-Eibar 2 (Fernando Torres 42, 60 / Kike 35, Ruben Jimenez Pena 70)
Barcelona 1-Real Sociedad 0 (Phillipe Coutinho 57)

Top Goalscorer:
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 34 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 26 goals
Luis Suarez (Barcelona) 25 goals

Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Barcelona
38
28
9
1
99
29
70
93
2
Atletico Madrid
38
23
10
5
58
22
36
79
3
Real Madrid
38
22
10
6
94
44
50
76
4
Valencia
38
22
7
9
65
38
27
72
5
Villareal
38
18
7
13
57
50
7
61
6
Real Betis
38
18
6
14
60
61
-1
60


18
Deportivo La Coruna
38
6
11
21
38
76
-38
29
19
Las Palmas
38
5
7
26
24
74
-50
22
20
Malaga
38
5
5
28
24
61
-37
20

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

IV.  Germany

Joachim Low named the World Cup provisional squad. The players who failed to make the cut included Mario Gotze (who scored the 2014 winning goal), Emre Can and Sandro Wagner. Wagner afterwards retired from the National Team and attacked Low. The injured Manuel Neuer surprisingly was included but it remains to be seen whether he will make the final 23.
On Saturday, Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Bayern Munich (3-1) in an upset in the Final of the DfB Pokal. Frankfut Manager Nico Kovac is set to take over at Bayern. This was Jupp Heynckes’ final act as Bayern Manager in his fourth and final stint with the club.


Photo From: France Football, Issue 3758, May 22, 2018
(Nico Kovac)




Diary:

 Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Germany coach Joachim Low’s 27-man preliminary squad for the World Cup  (Source Sky Sports online)
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (FC Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
Forwards: Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Nils Petersen (SC Freiburg), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

-Mario Gotze, who scored the 2014 World Cup winning goal, was left off Joachim Low’s preliminary squad for the World Cup. Low expressed how sorry he was for the decision but that Gotze was out of form for the Tournament. (Source BBC Football Online)

-National Team Manager Joachim Low extended his contract until 2022. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Hoffenheim Manager Julian Nagelsmann will remain at the club, ending any speculation with the Arsenal job. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Eintracht Frankfurt’s Marius Wolf has been linked with Dortmund. (Source Sky Sports Online via Bild)

-Hoffenheim have signed the Algerian striker Ishak Belfodil from Standard Liege (had been on loan to Werder Bremen). (Source Sport Bild online)

-Wolfsburg coach Bruno Labbadia defended his Belgian player Divock Origi who in an interview appeared unaware of their relegation opponent Holstein Kiel. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Koln have sigend Lasse Sobiech from St Pauli. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Fortuna Dusseldorf have signed Alfredo Morales from Ingolstadt. (Source Kicker.de online)

-Werder Bremen have signed Kevin Mohwald from Nuremberg. (Source Kicker.de online)

-SV Hamburg have signed Kaiserslautern’s Christoph Moritz. (Source Kicker.de online)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Ralph Hasenhuttl has left his post as RB Leipzig Manager. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Bayern Munich’s Sebastian Rudy has been linked with Stuttgart. (Source Sky Sports Online via Sport Bild)

-Adolf Hutter will be the new Eintracht Frankfurt Manager for the next season. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Bayern Munich have offered a professional contract to Thorben Hoffmann. (Source Kicker.de online)

-Koln’s Japanese player Yuya Osako has signed with Werder Bremen, (Source Kicker.de online)

-Koln have signed Louis Schaub from Rapid Vienna. (Source Kicker.de online)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Tottenham’s Keanan Bennetts has been linked to Moenchengladbach.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Sport Bild)

-Sandro Wagner has retired from the National Team after being overlooked for the World Cup.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Sport Bild)

-Jurgen Klinsmann stated that had he not been sacked, USA would have qualified for the World Cup. (Source France Football Online)

- Renato Sanches has returned to Bayern Munich from his loan and will not be loaned out again. Goalkeeper Michael Netolitzky also returned to Bayern from his loan at Halleschen FC. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Schalke have signed Suat Serdar from Mainz . (Source Kicker.de online)

-Augsburg have offered a professional contract to Simon Asta. (Source Kicker.de online)

-Cameroon and Angers’ Karl Toko Ekambi has been linked to Hoffenheim. (Source Kicker.de online)

-Japan and Stuttgart player Takuma Asano has been linked with Hannover. (Source Kicker.de online)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Tottenham’s Keanan Bennetts has signed with Moenchengladbach.  (Source Sky Sports)

-Atalanta defender Hans Hateboer has been linked to Dortmund. (Source Calciomercato.com online)

-Sandro Wagner had criticized Joachim Low for discarding him for the World Cup. He believed Low had dropped him because of his strong character. Joachim Low hit back by saying he has shown disrespect to his teammates. Low stated that he understands Wagner’s disappointment but his reaction has ben excessive.  Uli Hoeness and Jupp Heynckes also felt that he over-reacted.  (Source Kicker.de online)

-Werder Bremen have offered a professional contract to Idrissa Toure. (Source Kicker.de online)

-SV Hamburg have offered a professional contract to Moritz-Broni Kwarteng. (Source Kicker.de online)

-Kaiserslautern have signed Theodor Bergmann from Rot-Weiss Erfurt. (Source Kicker.de online)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:

- Bayern Munich’s David Alaba has been linked to Real Madrid according to the player’s father.  (Source AS. Com online)

-Markus Babbel has been appointed as Manager of Austalian side Western Sydney Wanderers. (Source AS. Com online)

-Valencia’s Rodrigo has been linked to Bayern Munich. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Fortuna Dusseldorf have signed Kenan Karaman from Hannover. (Source Kicker.de online)

- Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey has been linked to Bayern Munich. (Source vi.nl online via ESPN)

Promotion Playoff  (May 17, 2018):

Thursday, May 17, 2018:
Wolfsburg 3-Holstein Kiel 1 (Divock Origi 13, Josip Brekalo 40, Yunus Malli 56 / Kingsley Schindler 34)
 

DfB Pokal-Final  (May 19, 2018):

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
Bayern Munich 1-Eintracht Frankfurt 3 (Robert Lewandowski 53 / Ante Rebic 11, 82, Mijat Gacinovic 90)

V.  France

OM failed in its attempt to win Eurpean silverware and were defeated by Atletico Madrid (0-3) in the Europa League. OM’s Dimitri Payet left the field injured and in tears as he knew his World Cup dreams were dashed as well.
He missed Didier Deschamps World Cup cut along with the likes of Rabiot, Martial, Coman and Laczaette.
In the League, Monaco and Lyon joined PSG in the CL, while OM had to settle for the Europa League after the final round. Troyes were relegated along with Metz, while Toulouse had to face a playoff to stay with the elite.
Finally, Thomas Tuchel was officiallity unveiled as the new PSG Manager.


Photo From: L’Equipe, May 21, 2018
(Thomas Tuchel)




Diary:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Patrick Vieira has been linked with the Management of Nantes if Claudio Ranieri leaves. Jocelyn Gourvennec and Ricardo Sa Pinto have also been linked with the job. (Source Sky Sports Online)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been linked with PSG. (Source Sky Sports Online via L’Equipe)

-Metz Manager Frederic Hantz will leave at the end of the season. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Patrick Vieira has also been linked with the management of OGC Nice. (Source France Football Online)

-OGC Nice have offered a professional contract to Diaby Fadiga. (Source France Football Online)

-St Etienne have offered professional contracts to Mahdi Camara and Wesley Fofana. (Source France Football Online)

-Anderlecht’s Adrien Trebel has been linked to Stade Rennais.  (Source footnews.be online)

-The World Cup hopes of OM’s Dimitri Payet may have been damaged as he left the field injured and in tears in OM’s loss in the Final of the Europa League.  (Source BBC Football online)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Italian Manager Claudio Ranieri left Nantes by mutual consent. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Atleico Madrid’s French striker Kevin Gameiro has become the first Frenchman to win four European trophies.  (Source Sky Sports Online via L’Equipe)

-Bordeaux’s Jaroslav Plasil has extended his contract by one year. (Source France Football Online)

-Stephane Ruffier was voted as St Etienne’s player of the season by the team’s fans. (Source France Football Online)

-France Manager Didier Deschamps’s 23-man squad for the World Cup. (Source BBC Football Online)
The Full List:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Adil Rami (Marseille), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Florian Thauvin (Marseille)


Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Deprtaing Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been linked with PSG. (Source L’Equipe online)

-The French League’s Disciplinary Comission rescinded OM goalkeeper Steve Mandanda’s red card vs. Guingamp this past week. Caen’s Ismael Diomande was suspended for three matches after a sending off, while Moanco’s Rachid Ghezal was suspended for three matches (one suspended) for a sending off. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Michel Platini claimed that “a little trickery” was used to keep Brazil and France separate from one another until the Final during the 1998 World Cup that he helped organize.. (Source Daily Telegraph online)

-Bordeaux have offered a professional contract to Over Mandanda. He is brother of OM’s Steve and a goalkeeper like him as well. (Source France Football Online)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:

-St Etienne would like to sign Remy Cabella on permanent basis. (Source Sky Sports Online via L’Equipe)

-OGC Nice’s Adrien Tameze has been linked to Porto. (Source France Football Online)

-Caen Manager Patrice Garande left the club after ensuring survival on the last day. (Source L’Equipe online)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:

-OGC Nice announced the departure of Manager Lucien Favre. (Source L’Equipe online)

Monday, May 21, 2018:

-Bayer Leverkusen’s Brazilian defender Wendell has been linked to PSG. (Source L’Equipe online)

 European Matches involving French Teams:

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:
Europa League, Final:
Olympqiue Marseille 0-Atletico Madrid 3 (Antoine Griezmann 21, 49, Gabi 89)

League Matchday (May 19, 2018):

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
Caen 0- Paris St. Germain 0
Dijon 2-Angers 1 (Pierrick Capelle (own goal) 22, Julio Tavares 75 / Flavien Tait 53)
Lyon 3-OGC Nice 2  (Memphis Depay 48, 65, 86 / Alassane Plea 18, 89)
Olympique Marseille 2-Amiens 1 (Morgan Sanson 10, Kostas Mitroglou 18 / Moussa Konate 30)
Metz 0-Bordeaux 4 (Martin Braithwaite 11, Malcolm 17, Francois Kamano 44, Nicolas De Preville 78)
Nantes 1-Strasbourg 0 (Leo Dubois 32)
Rennes 1-Montpellier 1 (Adrien Hunou 13 / Isaac Mbenza 17)
St Etienne 5-Lille 0 (Jonathan Bamba 7, Romain Hamouna 13, 40, 61, Kevin Malcuit (own goal) 65)
Toulouse 2-Guingamp 1 (Max-Alain Gradel 59, Yaya Sanogo 63 / Clement Grenier 66)
Troyes 0-Monaco 3 (Rony Lopes 22, 71, Jordi Mboula 90)

Top Goalscorer:
Edinson Cavani (Paris St. Germain) 28 goals
Florian Thauvin (Olympique Marseille) 22 goals
Neymar (Paris St. Germain) 19 goals

Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Paris St. Germain
38
29
6
3
108
29
79
93
2
AS Monaco
38
24
8
6
85
45
40
80
3
Lyon
38
23
9
6
87
43
44
78
4
Marseille
38
22
11
5
80
47
33
77
5
Rennes
38
16
10
12
50
44
6
58
6
Bordeaux
38
16
7
15
53
48
5
55

18
Toulouse
38
9
10
19
38
54
-16
37
19
Troyes
38
9
6
23
32
59
-27
33
20
Metz
38
6
8
24
34
76
-42
26

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

VI.  Holland

Diary:

Wednesday, May `6, 2018:

-PSV Eindhoven Technical Director Marcel Brands left his post to take a similar post at Everton. (Source vi.nl online)

-VVV’s German goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall has been linked to PSV Eindhoven. (Source vi.nl online)

-Heracles have signed Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Janis Blaswich. (Source vi.nl online)

-Utrecht have signed Leon Guwara from Werder Bremen. (Source vi.nl online)

-Willem II have signed Dries Saddiki from Fortuna Sittard. (Source vi.nl online)

-AZ have extended the contract of Thomas Ouwejan by two years. (Source vi.nl online)

-Mitchell van der Gaag is the new Manager of NAC replacing Stijn Vreven. (Source vi.nl online)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Robin van Persie stated that when in the English Premier League, away matches at Stoke were the toughest ones.  (Source Sky Sports Online via The Sentinel)

-Jan Olde Riekerink has been appointed as the new Manager of SC Heeenveen. (Source vi.nl Online)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

- Ajax’s Justin Kluivert is thinking about leaving the club, accusing the club of forcing him to sign a new contract. (Source AS.com online)

- PSV Eindhoven have signed VVV’s goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall. He will stay at VVV on loan for one year. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Utrecht have signed Simon Gustafson from Feyenoord. (Source vi.nl online)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:

-Ajax have offered a professional contract to Jaymillo Pinas. (Source vi.nl online)

Europa League-Playoff  (May 15-19, 2018):

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:
 Vitesse 3-Utrecht 2 (Mason Mount 42, Bryan Linssen 78, Guram Kashia 90 / Ramon Leeuwin 62, Zakaria Labyad 86)

Satursday, May 19, 2018:
 Utrecht 1- Vitesse 2 (Mark van der Maarel 46 / Ramon Leeuwin (own goal) 18, Matt Miazga 38)
Dutch Eredivisie Playoffs  (May 17-20, 2018):
Thursday, May 17, 2018:
Emmen 0-Sparta 0
Almere City 1-De Graafschap 1 (van van der Water 84 / Fabian Serrarens 90)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Sparta 1-Emmen 3 (Stijn Spierings 28 / Michael Chacon 38, Anco Jansen 59, Alexander Bannink 66)
De Graafschap 2- Almere City 1 (Tarik Tissoudali 45, Fabian Serrarens 68 / Jerge Hoefdraad 36)

VII.  Scotland

On Saturday, Celtic clinched the domestic treble for the second year in a row after defeating Mother well (2-0) in SFA Cup Final.

Diary:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers was named the Scottish Premiership Manager of the year and Celtic’s Scott Brown was named as the Player of the Year.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Celtic’s Kieran Tierney has been linked with Atletico Madrid. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Ryan Fraser, Mat Ritchie and Barry Douglas have withdrawn from the upcoming Scotland squad due to injuries, while John Souttar may also be doubtful. Stephen O’Donnell was called up as a replacement. (Source BBC Football Online)
Revised squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer (Millwall), Allan McGregor (Hull City) Jon McLaughlin (Hearts)
Defenders: Jack Hendry (Celtic), Scott McKenna (Aberdeen), Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock), Callum Paterson (Cardiff City), John Souttar (Hearts), Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian).
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Dylan McGeouch (Hibernian), John McGinn (Hibernian), Kenny McLean (Aberdeen), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Jamie Murphy (Brighton & Hove Albion, on loan at Rangers), Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), Ryan Christie (Celtic, on loan at Aberdeen).
Forwards: Oli McBurnie (Swansea City, on loan at Barnsley), Lewis Morgan (Celtic, on loan at St Mirren), Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion), Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City).

-Hearts have signed Luton’s Olly Lee to a pre-contract. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Former Scotlsnd Manager Craig Brown expressed regret for not including Ally McCoist for the 1998 World Cup. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Dundee released Kevin Holt, Jon Autenetxe, Julen Etxabeguren, Kostadin Gadhalov and Jordan Piggott. Nicky Low and Jeremy Malherbe will also leave the club and Simon Murray and A-Jay Leitch-Smith will returm to their clubs from their loans (Hibs and Shrewsbury respectively). (Source BBC Football Online)

- Hull City goalkeeper Allan McGregor ahs returned to Rangers Glasgow. (Source BBC Football Online)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Dundee signed Elton Ngwatala from Kidderminster Harriers. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Rangers would like to sign Nottingham Forest’s Jason Cummings on permanent basis.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Nottingham Post)

-Rangers intend to sign Brighton’s Connor Goldson.  (Source Sky Sports Online via The Argus)

-Motherwell’s Chris Cadden has been called up to the Scotland squad to make up for a number of withdrawals.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Steven Gerrard is interested in signing Jermain Defoe. (Source vi.nl Online via Scottish Daily Record)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Rangers have signed Jamie Murphy from Brighton. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Celtic’s Australian midfielder Tom Rogic has extended his contarct by five years. (Source BBC Football Online)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:

-Celtic clinched the domestic treble for the second year in a row after defeating Mother well (2-0) in SFA Cup Final.  (Source BBC Football Online)

Premiership Playoff (May 17-20,  2018):

Thursday, May 17, 2018:
Livingstone 2-Patrick Thistle 1 (Keaghan Jacobs 13, Scott Pittman 74 / Kris Doolan 10)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:
 Patrick Thistle 0- Livingstone 1 (Keaghan Jacobs 46)

Scottish FA Cup-Final (May 19, 2018):

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
Celtic 2-Motherwell 0 (Callum McGregor 11, Olivier Ntcham 25)

VIII.  Portugal

Sporting Cp ended a miserable week that had started with their players being attacked by losing the Cup Final vs. Aves.

Diary:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Sporting CP’s Fabio Coentrao has taken himself out of World Cup contention due to a tiring season. (Source Sport Bild online)

-Colon Santa Fe’s Argentinean striker German Conti has been linked to Benfica. (Source Maisfutebol online)

-Porto have extended the contract of 18 year old goalkeeper Diogo Costa. (Source Maisfutebol online)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Sporting CP have condemned the acts of vandalism and aggression against its players carried out by some “fans”. They had attacked the players and damaged the club’s training ground. (Source BBC Football online)

-Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas has expressed solidarity with the Sporting CP players after the attacks on the players. (Source Maisfutebol online)

-Benfica’s Brazilian player Douglas will return to Barcelona from his loan. (Source Maisfutebol online)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Benfica have signed German goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos from Panathinaikos.  (Source Maisfutebol online)

-Porto have extended the contract of Senegal goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye. (Source Maisfutebol online)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas has extended his contract by one year.  (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Benfica have signed Tyronne Ebuehi from Den Haag. (Source Maisfutebol online)

Sunday, May 21, 2018:

- Yuri Ribeiro has returned to Benfica from his loan at Rio Ave. (Source Maisfutebol online)

Portugal Cup-Final (May 20 2018):

Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Aves 2-Sporting CP 1 (Alexandre Guedes 16, 72 / Fedy Montero 85)

IX.  Belgium

Standard Liege Manager Ricardo Sa Pinto has left the club after guiding them to second place behind Club Brugge.
Radja Nainggolan was left off of Roberto Martinez’s World Cup squad. He immediately retired from the National Team.

Diary:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Igor De Camargo has left APOEL Nicosia and will sign for KV Mechelen. (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Ostend’s Croatian defender Antonio Milic is a target for Anderlecht.  (Source Walfoot.be online)

-English defender Oscar Threlkeld has signed for Waasland-Beveren.(Source Walfoot.be online)

-Milos Kosanovic will return to Standard Liege from his loan at Goztepe.  (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Antwerp have signed Ivo Rodrigues (on loan from Porto) on permanent basis. (Source Maisfutebol online)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Lamine Ndao has signed for Beveren from Quevilly-Rouen. (Source France Football Online)

-Anderlecht would like to sign Newcastle’s on-loan goalkeeper Matz Sels on permanent basis.  (Source Walfoot.be online via Het Laatste Nieuws)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:

-Despite the fact that Everton and Anderlecht had agreed that the Nigerian Henry Onyekuru would spend an extra season at loan at Anderlecht, he may join Borussia Moenchengladbach instead.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Liverpool Echo)

-Charly Musonda returned to Chelsea from his disappointing loan at Celtic. Belgium U-21 Manager Johann Walem criticized his behavior by referencing how he had even refused a selection with the U-21 squad.  (Source Sky Sports Online via Evening Times)

-The Greek Federation approved the cancellation of Guillaume Gillet’s contract from Olympiakos. (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Club Brugge have offered a professional contract to Lois Openda. (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Metz have signed Sami Lahassaini. He will stay with Seraing United until January before joining Metz. (Source Footnews.be online)

- KV Mechelen have signed Laurent Lemoine from Club Brugge. (Source Walfoot.be online)

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Belgium Manager Roberto Martinez has extended his contract by two years. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-The Nigerian Henry Onyekuru has accused Anderlecht Manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck of not playing him to damage his chances of going to the World Cup. In protest he has refused to train. (Source Footnews.be online)

-Red Star Belgrade’s 19 year old winger Luka Adzic is on the verge of signing with Anderlecht. (Source Footnews.be online)

-Krasnodar has made an offer for Anderlecht’s Uros Spajic. (Source Footnews.be online via Het Laatse Nieuws)

-Anderlecht denied it was ending its 37 year old sponsorship with BNP Paribas (Generale de Banque, that change its name to Fortis before being called PNB Paribas. (Source Footnews.be online via Het Laatse Nieuws)

-Ricardo van Rhijn has returned to Club Brugge from his loan at AZ. (Source Footnews.be online)

Monday, May 21, 2018:

- Belgium Manager Roberto Martinez unveiled the World Cup Finals squad. Radja Nainggolan was not selected and retired from the National Team afterwards. (Source BBC Football online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Matz Sels (Newcastle United).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC), Christian Kabasele (Watford), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Jordan Lukaku (Lazio), Thomas Meunier (Paris St-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur).
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), Nacer Chadli (West Brom), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United).

-Waasland-Beveren have signed Serbian defender Aleksandar Vukotic from FK Krupa. (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Beerschot-Wilrlijk have signed Loris Brogno from Sparta Rotterdam. (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Ricardo Sa Pinto announced his departure as Manager of Standard Liege.   (Source MaisFutebol Online)

League Matchday (May 20, 2018):

First Division A
Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Anderlecht 1-Genk 2 (Lukasz Teodorczyk 53 / Dries Wouters 35, Leandro Trossard 37)
Club Brugge 0-Gent 1 (Yuya Kubo 28)
Charleroi 0-Standard Liege 0

Top Goalscorer:
Hamid Harbaoui (Zulte-Waregem) 22 goals
Teddy Chevalier (Kortrijk) 21 goals

Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Club Brugge
10
3
3
4
17
12
5
46
2
Standard Liege
10
6
3
1
20
9
11
43
3
Anderlecht
10
4
0
6
12
15
-3
40
4
Gent
10
4
2
4
8
8
0
39
5
Genk
10
4
4
2
13
13
0
38

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

Diary (extra):

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:

-Colombia coach Jose Pekerman’s 35-man preliminary squad for the World Cup  (Source France Football online)
Goalkeepers: 
David Ospina (Arsenal, ENG)
Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali)
Ivan Arboleda (Banfield, ARG)
José Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas)

Defenders: 
Yerri Mina (Barcelone, SP)
Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven, HOL)
Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham, ENG)
Farid Diaz (Olimpia, PAR)
Bernardo Espinoza (Gérone, SP)
Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors, ARG)
Stefan Medina (Monterrey, MEX)
Johan Mojica (Gérone, SP)
Oscar Murillo (Pachuca, MEX)
William Tesillo (Leon, MEX)
Cristian Zapata (Milan AC, ITA)

Midfielders: 
James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich, GER)
Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate, ARG)
Abel Aguilar (Deportivo Cali)
Wilmar Barrios (Boca Juniors, ARG)
Edwin Cardona (Boca Juniors, ARG)
Yimmi Charra (Junior)
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Juventus Turin, ITA)
Gustavo Cuellar (Flamengo, BRA)
Jefferson Lima (Levante, SP)
Giovanni Moreno (Shanghai Shenhua, CHI)
Sebastian Perez (Boca Juniors, ARG)
Carlos Sanchez (Espanyol, SP)
Mateus Uribe (America, MEX)

Forwards: 
Radamel Falcao (Monaco, FRA)
Carlos Bacca (Villareal, SP)
Luis Fernando Muriel (FC Sevilla, SP)
Miguel Borja (Palmeiras, BRA)
Teofilo Gutierrez (Junior)
José Heriberto Izquierdo (Brighton, ENG)
Duvan Zapata (Sampdoria, ITA)

Wednesday, May 16, 2018:

-Diego Maradona was appointed as the Chairman of Belarus club Dinamo Brest. (Source BBC Football online)

-Wales will not have Gareth Bale and Joe Allen, as well as Aston Villa pair of James Chester and Neil Taylor in their end of the month International vs. Mexico. (Source BBC Football online)
Wales squad:
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Chris Maxwell (Preston North End), Adam Davies (Barnsley), Luke Pilling (Tranmere Rovers)
Defenders: Ashley Williams (Everton), Ashley Richards (Cardiff City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Gunter (Reading), Declan John (Rangers), Connor Roberts (Swansea City), Christopher Mepham (Brentford), Regan Poole (Manchester United), Joe Rodon (Swansea City), Adam Matthews (Sunderland), Cameron Coxe (Cardiff City), Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers)
Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Joe Ledley (Derby County), Dan James (Swansea City), George Thomas (Leicester City), George Williams (St Johnstone, on loan from Fulham), Matthew Smith (Manchester City), Lee Evans (Sheffield United), Andy King (Leicester City), Ryan Hedges (Barnsley), Marley Watkins (Norwich City)
Forwards: Tom Lawrence (Derby County), Harry Wilson (Liverpool), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley), David Brooks (Sheffield United), Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion).

-Shakhtar Donetsk Manager Paul Fonseca has extended his contract by two years . (Source France Football Online)

-The Saudi Arabian Federation have banned referee Farhad Mirdasi for accepting a bribe for the Final of the King’s Cup. He was due to referee in the 2018 World Cup. (Source Maisfutebol online)

-Michael O’Neill’s selected Northern Ireland squad for matches against Panama and Costa Rica. (Source BBC Football online)
Full squad:
Northern Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Carson (Motherwell), Hazard (Celtic - loan Falkirk), Peacock-Farrell (Leeds).
Defenders: Cathcart (Watford), J. Evans (West Brom), Hodson (Rangers), Hughes (Hearts), McAuley (West Brom), McCullough (Doncaster), McLaughlin (Millwall).
Midfielders: Dallas (Leeds), C. Evans (Blackburn), Ferguson (Millwall), McGeehan (Barnsley - loan Scunthorpe), McNair (Sunderland), Norwood (Brighton - loan Fulham), Saville (Millwall), Whyte (Crusaders).
Forwards: Boyce (Burton), Magennis (Charlton), McCartan (Bradford), Smyth (QPR).


-Sweden’s 23-man World Cup Finals squad. (Source BBC Football online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Robin Olsen (Copenhagen), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea).
Defenders: Mikael Lustig (Celtic), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United), Andreas Granqvist (Krasnador), Martin Olsson (Swansea), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Filip Helander, Emil Krafth (both Bologna), Pontus Jansson (Leeds United).
Midfielders: Sebastian Larsson (Hull), Albin Ekdal (Hamburg), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders), Oscar Hiljemark (Genoa), Viktor Claesson (Krasnador), Marcus Rohden (Crotone), Jimmy Durmaz (Toulouse).
Forwards: Marcus Berg (Al Ain), John Guidetti (Alaves), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse), Isaac Kiese Thelin (Waasland-Beveren).


-Uruguay Manager Oscar Washington Tabarez’s 26-man Provisional squad for the World Cup. (Source France Football Online)
Goalkeepers: 
Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray, TUR)
Martin Silva (Vasco de Gama, BRA)
Martin Campana (Independiente, ARG)
 
Defenders:
Diego Godin (Atlético Madrid, SP)
Sebastian Coates (Sporting, POR)
José Maria Gimenez (Atlético Madrid, SP)
Maximiliano Pereira (Porto, POR)
Gaston Silva (Independiente, ARG)
Martin Caceres (Lazio, ITA)
Guillermo Varela (Peñarol)

Midfielders:
Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors, ARG)
Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria, ITA)
Matias Vecino (Inter, ITA)
Federico Valverde (Deportivo La Coruna, SP)
Rodrigo Betancur (Juventus, ITA)
Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey, MEX)

Strikers:

Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro, BRA)
Diego Laxalt (Genoa, ITA)
Cirstian Rodriguez (Peñarol)
Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey, MEX)
Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders, USA)
Gaston Ramirez (Sampdoria, ITA)
Christian Stuani (Girona, SP)
Maximiliano Gomez (Celta Vigo, SP)
Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA)
Luis Suarez (Barcelone, SP)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:
-Chile Manager Reinaldo Rueda’s selected squad for matches against Romania (May 31), Poland (June 4), Serbia (June 8)
Goalkeepers: Gabriel Arias (Unión La Calera), Gonzalo Collao (Cobreloa) y Cristopher Toselli (Atlas-MEX). –
Defenders: Miiko Albornoz (Hannover 96-ALE), José Bizama (Huachipato), Paulo Díaz (San Lorenzo-ARG), Benjamín Kuscevic (Universidad Católica), Igor Lichnovsky (Necaxa-MEX), Guillermo Maripán (Alavés-ESP), Gary Medel (Besiktas-TUR), Erick Pulgar (Bolonia-ITA), Enzo Roco (Cruz Azul-MEX), Francisco Sierralta (Parma-ITA), Sebastián Vegas (Monarcas Morelia-MEX). –
Midfielders: Ángelo Araos (Universidad de Chile), Cristián Cuevas (Twente-HOL), Víctor Dávila (Necaxa-MEX), Pablo Galdames (Unión Española), Jimmy Martínez (Huachipato), Lorenzo Reyes (Universidad de Chile), Diego Valdés (Monarcas Morelia-MEX). –
strikers: Nicolás Castillo (Pumas-MEX), Junior Fernandes (Alanyaspor-TUR), Ángelo Henríquez (Atlas-MEX), Felipe Mora (Cruz Azul-MEX), Martín Rodríguez (Cruz Azul-MEX) y Ángelo Sagal (Pachuca-MEX).

Friday, May 18, 2018:

-Senegal Manager Aliou Cisse’s provisional World Cup Finals squad. (Source FIFA.com online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Abdoulaye Diallo (Rennes, France), Alfred Gomis (SPAL, Italy), Khadim Ndiaye (Horoya, Guinea);
Defenders: Lamine Gassama (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Saliou Ciss (Valenciennes, France), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Italy), Kara Mbodii (Anderlecht, Belgium), Youssouf Sabaly (Bordeaux, France), Salif Sane (Hannover, Germany), Moussa Wague (Eupen, Belgium);
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton, England), Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham United, England), Alfred Ndiaye (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Badou Ndiaye (Stoke City, England), Cheikh Ndoye (Birmingham City, England), Ismaila Sarr (Rennes, France);
Forwards: Keita Balde (Monaco, France), Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City, England), Moussa Konate (Amiens, France), Sadio Mane (Liverpool, England), Mbaye Niang (Torino, Italy), Diafra Sakho (Rennes, France), Moussa Sow (Bursaspor, Turkey).

-Morocco Manager Herve Renard’s provisional World Cup Finals squad. (Source FIFA.com online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Mounir El Kajoui (Numancia, Spain), Yassine Bounou (Girona, Spain), Ahmad Reda Tagnaouti (Ittihad Tanger);
Defenders: Mehdi Benatia (Juventus, Italy), Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Manuel Da Costa (Basaksehir, Turkey), Badr Benoun (Raja Casablanca), Nabil Dirar (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Achraf Hakimi (Real Madrid, Spain), Hamza Mendyl (Lille, France);
Midfielders: M'bark Boussoufa (Al Jazira, UAE), Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Youssef Ait Bennasser (Caen, France), Sofyan Amrabat (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Younes Belhanda (Galatasaray, Turkey), Faycal Fajr (Getafe, Spain), Amine Harit (Schalke, Germany);
Forwards: Khalid Boutaib (Malatyaspor, Turkey), Aziz Bouhaddouz (St. Pauli, Germany), Ayoub El Kaabi (Renaissance Berkane), Nordin Amrabat (Leganes, Spain), Mehdi Carcela (Standard de Liege, Belgium), Hakim Ziyech (Ajax, Netherlands).

-Japan Manager Akira Nishino’s 27-man provisional World Cup Finals squad. (Source France Football online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers:
Eiji Kawashima (Metz)
Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka)
Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa)

Defenders:
Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray/TUR)
Gotoku Sakai (Hambourg/GER)
Tomoaki Makino (Urawa)
Gen Shoji (Urawa)
Wataru Endo (Urawa)
Maya Yoshida (Southampton/ENG)
Hiroki Sakai (Marseille)
Naomichi Ueda (Kashima)

Midfielders: 
Makoto Hasebe (Francfort/GER)
Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund/GER)
Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe/SP)
Toshihiro Aoyama (Hiroshima)
Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka)
Ryota Oshima (Kawasaki)
Keisuke Honda (Pacheco/MEX)
Genki Haraguchi (Düsseldorf/GER)
Yuto Misao (Kashima)
Takashi Inui (Eibar/SP)
Takashi Usami (Düsseldorf/GER)
Yosuke Ideguchi (Cultural Leonesa/SP)

Forwards:
Shinji Okazaki (Leicester/ENG)
Yuya Osako (Brême/GER)
Yoshinori Muto (Mayence/GER)
Takuma Asano (Stuttgart/GER).

-Saudi Arabia Manager Juan Antonio Pizzi’s 28-man provisional World Cup Finals squad. (Source France Football online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: 
Assaf Al-Qarni (Ittihad FC)
Mohammed Al-Owais (Al Ahli SC)
Yasser Al-Mosailem (Al Ahli SC)
Abdullah Al-Mayouf (Al-Hilal)

Defenders: 
Mansoor Al-Harbi (Al Ahli SC)
Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal)
Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal)
Saeed Al-Mowalad (Al Ahli SC)
Motaz Hawsawi (Al Ahli SC)
Osama Hawsawi (Al Ahli SC)
Omar Hawsawi (Al-Nasr)
Mohammed Jahfali (Al-Hilal)
Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Fateh SC)

Midfielders: 
Abdullah Al-Khaibari (Al-Shabab)
Abdulmalek Al-Khaibri (Al-Hilal)
Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal)
Taiseer Al-Jassim (Al Ahli SC)
Houssain Al-Mogahwi (Al Ahli SC)
Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal)
Nawaf Al-Abed (Al-Hilal)
Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal)
Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab)
Mohammed Al-Kwikbi (Al-Ettifaq)
Salem Al-Dawsari (Villarreal, SP)
Yahya Al-Shehri (Léganes, SP)

Forwards:
Fahad Al-Muwallad (Levante, SP)
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi (Al-Nasr)
Muhannad Assiri (Al Ahli SC).

-Portugal’s 23 man World Cup Finals squad. (Source Walfoot.be online)
Full squad:
Goalkepers:
 Anthony Lopes (Lyon/FRA), Beto (Goztepe/TUR), Rui Patrício (Sporting/POR)
Defenders: Bruno Alves (Rangers/SCO), Cédric Soares (Southampton/ENG), José Fonte (Dalian Yifang/CHI), Mário Rui (Naples/ITA), Pepe (Besiktas/TUR), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund/GER), Ricardo Pereira (FC Porto/POR), Rúben Dias (Benfica/POR)
Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Leicester/ENG), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting/POR), João Mário (West Ham/ENG), João Moutinho (Monaco/FRA), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv/RUS), William Carvalho (Sporting/POR)
Strikers: André Silva (AC Milan/ITA), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/SP), Gelson Martins (Sporting/POR), Gonçalo Guedes (Valence/SP), Nani (Lazio/ITA), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas/TUR)

-Holland Manager Ronald Koeman’s revised squad for matches against Slovakia and Italy: (Source vi.nl online)
Full squad:
Goal: Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona), Sergio Padt (FC Groningen), Jeroen Zoet (PSV)
Defense: Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace), Nathan Aké (AFC Bournemouth), Daley Blind (Manchester United), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Hans Hateboer (Atalanta Bergamo), Daryl Janmaat (Watford), Terence Kongolo (Huddersfield Town) , Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Lazio)
Midfield: Donny van de Beek (Ajax), Davy Pröpper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marten de Roon (Atalanta Bergamo), Kevin Strootman (AS Roma), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Ruud Vormer (Club Brugge), Georginio Wijnaldum ( Liverpool)
Attack: Ryan Babel (Besiktas), Steven Berghuis (Feyenoord), Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyon), Eljero Elia (Istanbul Basaksehir), Quincy Promes (Moscow Spartak), Wout Weghorst (AZ)



-Revised Scotland squad: (Source BBC Football online)
Allan McGregor has withdrawn, Scott Bain has been called up.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer (Millwall), Scott Bain (Celtic), Jon McLaughlin (Hearts)
Defenders: Jack Hendry (Celtic), Scott McKenna (Aberdeen), Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock), Callum Paterson (Cardiff City), John Souttar (Hearts), Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian).
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Chris Cadden (Motherwell), Dylan McGeouch (Hibernian), John McGinn (Hibernian), Kenny McLean (Aberdeen), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Jamie Murphy (Brighton & Hove Albion, on loan at Rangers), Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), Ryan Christie (Celtic, on loan at Aberdeen).
Forwards: Oli McBurnie (Swansea City, on loan at Barnsley), Lewis Morgan (Celtic, on loan at St Mirren), Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion), Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City).

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
-Romania squad selected for friendly vs. Chile (May 31st) (Source frf.ro online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Ciprian Tătărușanu (FC Nantes, 49/0), Florin Niță (Sparta Praga, 2/0), Silviu Lung (Kayserispor, 3/0), Bogdan Lobonț (AS Roma, 85/0)
Defenders: Cristian Manea (CFR Cluj, 2/0), Romario Benzar (FCSB, 11/0), Cristian Săpunaru (Kayserispor, 25/0), Ionuț Nedelcearu (UFA, 1/0), Mihai Bălașa (FCSB, 2/0), Alin Toșca (Benevento, 11/0), Nicușor Bancu (CS U Craiova, 2/0)
Midfielders: Alexandru Cicâldău (FC Viitorul, 1/0), Tudor Băluță (0/0), Paul Anton (Anji Mahacikala, 2/0), Dragoș Nedelcu (FCSB, 1/0), Constantin Budescu (FCSB, 9/4), Nicolae Stanciu (Sparta Praga, 21/7), Dorin Rotariu (Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz, 5/1), Dennis Man (FCSB, 1/0), Alexandru Chipciu (Anderlecht, 34/4), Alexandru Mitriță (CS U Craiova, 2/0), Ciprian Deac (CFR Cluj, 14/1), Adrian Stoian (Crotone, 1/0), Gheorghe Grozav (Bursaspor, 25/5)

Strikers: George Țucudean (CFR Cluj, 4/1), George Pușcaș (Novara, 0/0), Alexandru Băluță (CS U Craiova, 4/1)


Sunday, May 20, 2018:

-Ryan Giggs’ revised squad trimmed from 32 to 23 (for friendly vs, Mexico 0n May 29th):
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Chris Maxwell (Preston North End), Adam Davies (Barnsley).
Defenders: Ashley Williams (Everton), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Gunter (Reading), Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers), Declan John (Rangers), Connor Roberts (Swansea City), Christopher Mepham (Brentford), Ashley Richards (Cardiff City).
Midfielders: Lee Evans (Sheffield United), Andy King (Leicester City), Ryan Hedges (Barnsley), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Matthew Smith (Manchester City), Joe Ledley (Derby County), George Thomas (Leicester City),
Forwards: Sam Vokes (Burnley), Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley), Tom Lawrence (Derby County), David Brooks (Sheffield United), Harry Wilson (Liverpool).

Monday, May 21, 2018:

-Croatia Manager Zlatko Dalic’s 24 man Provisional squad for the World Cup. Ivan Santini, Karlo letica, Borna Sosa, Borna Barisisc, Zoran Nizic, Mario Pasalic, Marko Rog and Duje Cop have been discarded. (Source Sky Sports Online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo).
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kiev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Mitrovic (Club Brugge), Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter), Nikola Kalinic (Milan), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebic (Eintracht)


-Iran Manager Carlos Queiroz’s 24 man Provisional squad for the World Cup. Kaveh Rezaie has been discarded. (Source Sky Sports Online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Seyed Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo, Portugal);
Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende, Belgium), Voria Ghafouri (Esteghlal), Steven Beitashour (Los Angeles FC, USA), Seyed Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Padideh), Morteza Pouraliganji (Alsaad, Qatar), Mohammad Ansari (Persepolis), Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Seyed Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny, Russia), Omid Norafkan (Esteghlal), Saeid AGhaei (Sepahan), Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal);
Midfielders: Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm, Russia), Masoud Shojaei (AEK Athens, Greece), Ahmad Abdolahzadeh (Foolad), Saman Ghoddos (Ostersunds, Sweden), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Ashkan Dejagah (Notthingham Forest, England), Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (Olympiacos, Greece), Ali Karimi (Sepahan), Soroush Rafiei (Al Khor, Qatar), Ali Gholizadeh (Saipa), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis);
Forwards: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos, Greece), Mahdi Taremi (Al Gharafa, Qatar), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen, Netherlands), Kaveh Rezaei (Charleroi, Belgium).


-The players union FifPro has petitioned FIFA to allow Perus suspdended player Paolo Guerrero to participate in the World Cup. (Source France Football Online)

-Iceland’s 23-man World Cup squad. (Source BBC Football online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Hannes Thor Halldorsson (Randers FC), Runar Alex Runarsson (FC Nordsjælland), Frederik Schram (FC Roskilde).
Defenders: Kari Arnason (Aberdeen), Ari Freyr Skulason (K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen), Birkir Mar Saevarsson (Hammarby), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (FC Rostov), Hordur Magnusson (Bristol City), Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (Maccabi Haifa), Ragnar Sigurdsson (FC Rostov).
Midfielders: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Arnor Ingvi Traustason (Malmo FF), Emil Hallfredsson (Udinese), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Olafur Ingi Skulason (Kardemir Karabukspor), Rurik Gislason (FC Nurnberg), Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Alfred Finnbogason (FC Augsburg), Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson (FC Rostov), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Reading), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV Eindhoven).


-Argentina Manager Jorge Sampaoli’s 23-man squad for the World Cup. Mauro Icardi has bene ommitted from the squad.(Source Sky Sports Online)
The Full List:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Wilfredo Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate).
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Federico Fazio (Roma), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Hebei China Fortune), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Giovani Lo Celso (Paris Saint-Germain), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Angel di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).

-Czech Republic squad for friendly vs. Auatralia (May 31st)
Brankáři: Tomáš Koubek (Stade Rennes), Jiří Pavlenka (Werder Brémy), Tomáš Vaclík (FC Basilej)

Obránci: Jan Bořil, Jakub Jugas (oba SK Slavia Praha), Vladimír Coufal (FC Slovan Liberec), Václav Jemelka (SK Sigma Olomouc), Tomáš Kalas (Fulham FC), Filip Novák (Trabzonspor), Marek Suchý (FC Basilej)

Záložníci: Antonín Barák, Jakub Jankto (oba Udinese Calcio), Vladimír Darida (Hertha BSC), Tomáš Hořava, Jan Kopic (oba FC Viktoria Plzeň), Tomáš Souček, Jan Sýkora, Josef Hušbauer (všichni SK Slavia Praha), Michal Trávník (FK Jablonec)

Útočníci: Michal Krmenčík (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Patrik Schick (AS Řím), Josef Šural (AC Sparta Praha)

Monday, May 21, 2018:

-El Salvador Manager Jorge ‘Zarco’ Rodriguez selected squad: (Source es.besoccer.com online)
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Óscar Arroyo (Alianza) y Benji Villalobos (Águila).
Defenders: Alexander Larín (Alianza), Jonathan Jiménez (Alianza), Iván Mancía (Alianza), Mario Jacobo (Alianza), Rudy Clavel (Alianza), Alexánder Mendoza (Santa Tecla), Bryan Tamacas (Santa Tecla) y Raúl Renderos (FAS).
Midfielders: Narciso Orellana (Alianza), Isaac Portillo (Alianza), Óscar Cerén (Alianza), Juan Portillo (Alianza), Marvin Monterroza (Alianza), Marlon Cornejo (Santa Tecla) y Diego Coca (Limeño).

Strikers: Dennis Pineda (Santa Clara-POR), David Díaz (Alianza), Harold Alas (Santa Tecla) y José Ángel Peña (Limeño)


Club friendlies:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:
Hallescher SC (Germany) 5-Stuttgart (Germany) 3 (Emiliano Insua (own goal) 10, Stenzel 28, Daniel Bohl 42, 63, Braydon Manu 47 / Daniel Ginczek 5, Caniggia Elva 73, Jan Ferdinand 88)

Wedneday, May 16, 2018:
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) 1-Barcelona (Spain) 3 (Subusiso Vilakazi 76 / Ousmane Dembele 3, Luis Suarez 19, Andre Gomes 66)
FSV Zwickau (Germany) 1-Stuttgart (Germany) 4 (Bentley Bahn 90 pen / Erik Thommy 1, Chadrac Akolo 3, Berkay Ozcan 23, Jacob Bruun Larsen 84)
Hessen Kassel (Germany) 1-Hannover (Germany) 2 (Admir Saric 28 / Ilhas Bebou 65, Kenan Karaman 74)

Thursday, May 17, 2018:
SC Westfalia Herne (Germany) 1-Dortmund (Germany) 0 Sebastian Mutzel 33)
DSC Wanne-Eikel (Germany) 1-Dortmund (Germany) 4 (Dawid Ginczek 30 / Marcel Schmelzer 15, Alexander Isak 22, Gomnzalo Catrso 23, Andriy Yarmolenko 25)
SV Ahlerstedt/Ottendorf (Germany) 3-Werder Bremen (Germany) 9 (Carsten Dammann 28, Heins 52, 74 / Johannes Eggestein 10, 88, Yuning Zhang 20, 45, 62, Robert Bauer 26, Jerome Gondorf 38, Zlatko Junuzovic 54, Mihot Rashica 86)

Monday, May 21, 2018:
Linares Deportivo (Spain) 0-Sevilla (Spain) 6 (Nolito 25, Alejandro Pozo 26, Sebastien Corchia 50, Mariano Konyk 63, Pejino 75, 78)


International friendlies:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018:
Saud Arabia 2-Greece 0 (Salem Al-Dawsari 20, Mohammed Kanoo 79)

Saturday, May 19, 2018:
Iran 1-Uzbekistan 0 (Roozbeh Cheshmi 17)

Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Jordan 3-Cyprus 0 (Anas Bani Yassen 18, Jaime Siaj 37, Yusel Al Rawashdeh 86)
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