The football week: Nations League, World Cup qualifiers, EM squad

Created: 05/30/2022 05:16

The DFB team around national coach Hansi Flick is challenged in the Nations League.

© Federico Gambarini/dpa

Shortly before the summer break, the national football teams are challenged again.

For national coach Hansi Flick and his eleven, the four-pack in the Nations League starts against Italy.

Berlin - Champions, cup winners and premier class champions have been chosen, after the end of the season in Europe's top leagues, the focus is now on the national teams again.

A four-pack awaits the German selection of national coach Hansi Flick in the Nations League, for Ukraine it is still about qualifying for the World Cup.

Ralf Rangnick makes his debut in Austria and national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg nominates her extended squad for the European Championship.

National team:

After a free weekend to catch your breath, national coach Hansi Flick will gather the national team on Monday evening for further preparation for the Nations League in Herzogenaurach.

The fine-tuning for the four upcoming games will take place in Franconia, the first next Saturday in Bologna against European champions Italy.

Other group opponents are England and Hungary.

"After the Nations League, we can draw a conclusion as to how far we have come," said Flick, looking towards the World Cup in Qatar.

The 26 players around captain Manuel Neuer had already completed a short training camp in Marbella last week.

DFL General Assembly:

At the general meeting of the German Football League on Monday in Wiesbaden, the starting shot for the debate on a future and economic strategy should be given.

The goal is to ensure the competitiveness of the Bundesliga.

The DFL has set up a working group for this purpose, but this is only at the beginning of its work.

It should be considered whether, after the sale of the national television rights from the 2025/26 season, more free-to-air Bundesliga games will be shown live and fewer on pay-TV.

The preparation of the season of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga is also on the agenda.

Among other things, it should be decided whether there will be five change options.

The rule was introduced during the corona pandemic.

U21:

One point from two games is still missing for the German youth selection to ensure participation in the European Championship.

On Friday, the opponent is Hungary in Osnabrück (6.15 p.m. / Sat.1), four days later the away game in Poland follows.

"Thanks to the results in March, we have developed an optimal starting position in our group," said coach Antonio Di Salvo.

Offensive player Ansgar Knauff announced: "Now it's important that we tackle the last two games as clearly and bring home the group win."

World Cup qualification:

The Ukrainian national team wants to take the penultimate step to the World Cup in Qatar in Scotland.

Coach Oleksandr Petrakow's team will play in the playoff semi-finals in Glasgow on Wednesday.

If the Ukrainians prevail against the Scots, they will play against Wales for World Cup participation on Sunday.

"It's very important for our national team and for our country that we make it," former Ukrainian Bundesliga player Andrej Voronin recently said at a charity game in Mönchengladbach.

Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, national players who earn their money in their own country have not been able to play in their clubs for a long time.

They kept fit with tests and training.

also read

Kroos bursts after CL win because of ZDF reporter's collar: "Such shitty questions"

DFB Cup draw: Borussia Dortmund has to go to Munich, FC Bayern travels to Cologne

EM squad:

A good month before the start of the European Championship against Denmark on July 8, the DFB women's anticipation of the tournament in England is slowly growing.

On Tuesday, national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will call up her extended squad of 28 players from the previous group of 35 candidates.

One thing is certain: Playmaker Dzsenifer Marozsan will not be there, the 30-year-old will miss the tournament due to a cruciate ligament tear.

Rangnick debut:

The first games as Austria's national coach were tough for Ralf Rangnick: World Cup finalist Croatia, world champion France and the Danes, who were so strong at the European Championship, are the opponents in the Nations League.

"I'm really looking forward to the task," said the 63-year-old.

Before making his debut against Croatia on Friday, the former Manchester United coach wants to have a lot of talks to bring "the will to win" and "energy" to the pitch.

dpa