ZURICH: Austria got permission from FIFA to select former England and Germany youth internationals ahead of playing at the World Cup against Argentina and Lionel Messi.
Borussia Dortmund winger Carney Chukwuemeka and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Paul Wanner both were born in Austria and eligible under FIFA rules to change their eligibility.
Chukwuemeka’s switch from England and Wanner’s transfer of eligibility from Germany were approved by FIFA late Monday.
Austria, coached by Ralf Rangnick, are in a World Cup group with defending champion Argentina, Algeria and Jordan.
The 22-year-old Chukwuemeka played for Aston Villa and Chelsea before moving to Dortmund. He was an England youth international who also was eligible through his parents to play for Nigeria.
The 20-year-old Wanner came through the Bayern Munich academy and played on loan last season with Heidenheim. He moved last August to PSV, which gave him the playmaker’s No. 10 jersey.
Austria will play at a men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998. The team open against Jordan on June 16 at the San Francisco 49ers’ stadium, then play Argentina at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium and Algeria at the Kansas City Chiefs’ home.
Chukwuemeka and Wanner will first be eligible for warmup games this month when Austria host Ghana and South Korea, which both qualified for the World Cup.
Austria get FIFA approval ahead of World Cup to pick Dortmund’s Chukwuemeka and PSV’s Wanner
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Austria get FIFA approval ahead of World Cup to pick Dortmund’s Chukwuemeka and PSV’s Wanner
- The 22-year-old Chukwuemeka played for Aston Villa and Chelsea before moving to Dortmund
- The 20-year-old Wanner came through the Bayern Munich academy
Lens have transformed from surprise package to genuine title threat to PSG in Ligue 1
- Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger
- PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday
PARIS: With nine rounds remaining in Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain still have not managed to shake off Lens in the title race.
Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger and, with PSG not playing this weekend, coach Pierre Sage’s side can move two points ahead at the top with a win at mid-table Lorient on Saturday.
PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday in order to give PSG better preparation for the Champions League second leg against Chelsea next week.
It seems PSG hardly need it, leading 5-2 from the last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
The decision hardly pleased Nantes fans, who are facing yet another relegation scrap with a third coach this season. Ahmed Kantari was sacked this week and replaced by Vahid Halilhodzic.
Kantari was in charge for just three months. He was hired in mid-December after Nantes fired Luís Castro, who lasted 15 games.
Key matchups
After scraping a narrow win at Toulouse last weekend, Marseille moved back into third place on goal difference from Lyon.
But Marseille’s fans are still angry at facing another trophyless season and coach Habib Beye’s players need a strong performance at home against Auxerre on Friday to appease them.
Monaco are at home to Brest on Saturday and the players are on a roll under attack-minded Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli. Monaco have won their past four league games, including impressive away wins against PSG and Lens.
Lyon look to snap a four-game winless streak when they travel to lowly Le Havre and fifth-placed Rennes seek a fifth straight win when they host Lille, with both of those games on Sunday.
Players to watch
Monaco’s turnaround in fortunes have coincided with American forward Folarin Balogun finding form. He looked at his best last Friday against PSG, where his movement and hold-up play stood out, and he has 13 goals overall this season.
Lens winger Florian Thauvin is in fine form after scoring in Ligue 1 and the French Cup last week.
Rémi Himbert has caught the eye on the left side of Lyon’s attack and the 18-year-old forward’s form has earned him a first professional contract until 2028.
Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul looks to add to his 13 league goals this season.
Out of action
Lyon’s goalscoring midfielder Pavel Šulc remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Marseille central defender Nayef Aguerd requires an operation to treat pubalgia — a chronic groin injury problem — which has been troubling the Morocco international for months.
Nice midfielder Everton is expected to miss the rest of the season. The 18-year-old broke into the team this year but suffered a serious ankle injury in training this week.
Off the field
PSG’s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was grounded in Qatar this week amid the intensifying Iran war.
Flights in and out of the Middle East have been impacted by the Iran war, started by the US and Israel on Feb. 28.
PSG have been bankrolled by Qatari backer QSI since the club’s takeover 15 years ago.
