Three Chelsea players included as Belgium, Germany and Morocco announce their World Cup squad
Three Chelsea players – Kai Havertz, Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech are included as Germany, Belgium and Morocco announce their World Cup squad respectively.
As per the Mirror, Germany manager Hansi Flick has selected Havertz in the final 26-man squad despite the player’s scratchy form in club football. The 23-year-old has four goals in 19 appearances for the Blues this season so far.
According to the Athletic (subscription required), Morocco have picked up a very experienced squad for the tournament. Ziyech, who returned from international football in February after the AFCON, is back in the team to represent his national team in Qatar.
The former Ajax winger has struggled for game time this season under either Graham Potter or Thomas Tuchel. He has played a total of 253 minutes of club football this season. So, in terms of rhythm and match practice, Ziyech may not have a lot of that going into such a massive tournament.
As per Sky Sports, Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku, who has been struggling with a recurring hamstring injury while on loan at Inter Milan, is fit enough to be included in Belgium’s World Cup squad. Although there are still question marks over his fitness and availability throughout the tournament, manager Roberto Martinez has gone with him.
It is good to see Chelsea players, current or loaned, getting their opportunities to represent their nation in a World Cup. Featuring in this tournament is probably equivalent to playing sport at the highest level. It doesn’t get better than this!
For Havertz, it is a chance to have a good time in Qatar and then maybe replicate that in a Chelsea shirt for the second half of this season. If Lukaku has a good World Cup, either his price tag goes up that can be used by the Blues to sell him, or there could be a door open for the striker to give it another try at Stamford Bridge next season.
Ziyech’s future is more or less out of west London. If he has a good tournament, it would be a reaffirmation of how good he is as a player. Clubs may come for him in January.
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At Chelsea, it has become difficult for him to find regular playing time as a starter. A promising playmaker very much still in his prime years, he would surely think he deserves better than the current situation he is in right now.