Striker Bas Dost, who has scored 13 goals this year, is in line for a Netherlands debut after being named in the final 24-man squad for matches against Turkey and Spain later this month, coach Guus Hiddink announced.
The 25-year-old Dost had been named 10 days ago in a preliminary list of 28 for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Turkey in Amsterdam on March 28 and a friendly against Spain three days later after remarkable scoring form for Wolfsburg.
Crowe doesn’t rule out buying Leeds
Hollywood star Russell Crowe has not ruled out buying Leeds.
Last month the 50-year-old actor ramped up speculation that he may be interested in bidding for the club he has followed since he was a child when he asked his 1.6 million Twitter followers whether or not he should do it.
He said: “Well let’s just see how it goes. The one thing that I’d have to really examine is the work-life balance because that would be a lot of effort... you do not go in and turn these things round in six months.
“You don’t get success on the field just by spending money.”
Newcastle United to spend big in summer
Newcastle are to launch a summer recruitment drive after admitting they made a mistake in not further strengthening a squad which has been ripped apart by injury and suspension.
Head coach John Carver heads into today’s Premier League clash with Arsenal with only 13 fit senior outfield players.
However, he will do so having held talks with managing director Lee Charnley over a rebuilding programme.
Carver said: “Yes, the squad needs to be stronger and Lee has acknowledged that to me.
“I’ve seen who we are looking at and without going into detail, there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes.
“This club will invest in the summer, because it needs it.”
Dates protection
UEFA president Michel Platini has called on FIFA to protect the dates for international matches after it announced the time-table for the 2022 World Cup.
The final in Qatar is to be on December 18 – a decision which will allow traditional Boxing Day club matches to take place in Britain and avoid the fierce heat of June and July. It will be a shortened tournament over 28 days instead of the usual 32, starting on November 21.
Platini said: “December 18 is a good date for the final – we can accommodate any changes to the Champions League.
“But FIFA must now protect the dates for the national associations – there are four internationals that could be affected and those are the lifeblood for the national associations.”
Hull’s Jelavic could be out for season
Hull City’s leading scorer Nikica Jelavic could miss the rest of the season after knee surgery, the Premier League club’s manager Steve Bruce said.
The Croatian striker had hoped to continue playing but it was decided after last weekend’s goalless draw against Leicester City that he needed another operation.
“We hope he’ll do his best to try and play a part but if we’re going to be realistic, it could force him out for the rest of the season,” Bruce told reporters.
No Team GB in Rio without agreement
Great Britain will not be allowed to enter the 2016 Olympic soccer tournaments unless all four British nations agree on sending teams, FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has stated, casting doubts on their participation in Rio.
The FA of Wales was reported to be “livid” with the proposal put forward by the English FA to send a side to Brazil, and the Scottish and Northern Irish associations have also been opposed in the past.
Despite that opposition, Team GB competed in the men’s and women’s events at the London Olympics in 2012.
But Boyce, a former president of the Northern Irish federation, told reporters in Zurich that world governing body FIFA would need to approve such a plan and would only do so if all four British countries were in agreement.
Romanian club to sue ref for ‘robbery’
Relegation-threatened Romanian club Otelul Galati are taking legal action against a referee after his “disastrous performance” in their goalless draw against CSMS Iasi in a domestic league match on Wednesday.
“Otelul Galati will sue referee Marian Balaci because he influenced the outcome of the game,” Otelul said in a statement yesterday.
After seven successive matches without a win, Otelul slumped to 17th place with 15 points from 22 games, nine adrift of safety. CSMS Iasi are 11th with 25 points, four above the relegation zone.
“He came here to rob us. You cannot mock a club who is paying (your fee),” Otelul administrative manager Vlad Rapisca said.