Sonstige Informationen » "Weve got a lot of skill, but were in need

Riyad Mahrez could miss the start of the 2016/17 season due to the Rio Olympics. Sky Sports News HQ has been told that Leicesters Algerian ace Mahrez, Evertons Argentinian defender Ramiro Funes Mori, Arsenals Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi and his compatriot Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho are all being targeted by their countries.The Olympic football tournament kicks off in Rio de Janeiro on August 4, nine days before the Premier League season, and players could miss two weeks of games, should their country reach the gold or bronze medal matches. Olympic rules could also lead to Liverpools Philippe Coutinho and Man Citys Sergio Aguero being called up. The 16 countries competing in the Olympics will select a squad of players born after January 1, 1993, plus three senior players, who are also eligible for selection. Leicester star Mahrez could play for Algeria at the Olympics Clubs do not have to release players for the tournament because it falls outside of the FIFA calendar, but many players will be keen to represent their country.With Euro 2016 and Copa America 2016 also taking place in the off-season, some players could be facing an extremely busy summer. Below is a country-by-country guide to players in England who could be selected, along with what Sky Sports News HQ has been told by their countries:ALGERIAOver-23 player: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)They say: The Algerian FA has told Sky Sports News HQ that it is extremely keen to name Mahrez as a senior player. It plans to hold talks with the player and Leicester next week.DENMARK Denmark could call on the experience of Christian Eriksen Under-23 players: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Lasse Vigen Christensen (Fulham), Jonas Knudsen (Ipswich)Over-23 players: Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Anders Lindegaard (WBA), Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic), Jores Okore (Aston Villa), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Lasse Vibe (Brentford)They say: The Danish FA, U21 coach and European clubs are in talks about who will be available. The Danish FA will not be drawn on speculation that its keen to call up Schmeichel and Eriksen.Denmark could have the biggest impact on English football with nine players up for consideration.NIGERIA Nigeria hope to select Arsenals Alex Iwobi Under-23 players: Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal)Over-23 players: John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Watford), Efe Ambrose (Celtic)They say: The Nigerian FA has told us it hopes to select Iwobi and Iheanacho. It is in discussions with the clubs and hopes to have a list of players it can select from in a fortnight. Ighalo and national team captain Obi Mikel are also under consideration.GERMANY Arsenals Serge Gnabry could represent Germany Under-23 players: Emre Can (Liverpool), Serge Gnabry (Arsenal)Over-23 players: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United)They say: Sky Sports News HQ has been told Can, although an under-23 player, wont be selected for the Olympics as he will be selected for the Euros earlier in the summer. The DfB wants to select players from outside the Bundesliga 1 to avoid disrupting its season.Germany will not pick players in Champions League or Europa League squads, either. Gnabry is the only Premier League player under serious consideration.ARGENTINA Ramiro Funes Mori is understood to be wanted by Argentina Under-23 players: Tiago Casasola (Roma)Over-23 players: Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur).They say: Argentina head coach Tata Martino has confirmed Ramiro Funes Mori is under consideration for the Olympic team, with Everton manager Roberto Martinez admitting he wants clarity on the issue. Argentina could use the tournament to look at players on the fringes of the senior squad, so the likes of Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta could miss out.BRAZIL Chelsea midfielder Willian may be selected by hosts Brazil Under-23 players: Andreas Pereira (Manchester United)Over-23 players: Willian (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Fernandinho (Manchester City)They say: The Brazilian FA expects Barcelona to release Neymar for the tournament, even if it means he wont play at this summers Copa America in June. Neymar will be the star of the competition as the hosts look to win their first ever Olympic gold. There has been no confirmation of who the other two senior players will be, with Willian and Coutinho linked in the Brazilian press.OTHER COUNTRIESSOUTH AFRICAOver-23 players: Tokelo Rantie (Bournemouth)SOUTH KOREAOver-23 players: Lee Chung-Yong (Crystal Palace)PORTUGAL Southampton captain Jose Fonte is an over-23 option for Portugal Under-23 players: Lucas Joao (Sheffield Wednesday)Over-23 players: Cedric Soares (Southampton), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Fernando (Manchester City)SWEDENOver-23 players: Martin Olsson (Norwich), Marcus Olsson (Derby), Ola Toivonen (Sunderland), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea), Seb Larsson (Sunderland) Martin Olsson, of Norwich, could be called up by Sweden COLOMBIAOver-23 players: David Ospina (Arsenal), Carlos Sanchez (Aston Villa) Also See: Argentina want Funes Mori Olympics news Anthony Beauvillier Islanders Jersey . 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Louis Cardinals for the National League Wild Card, are in the drivers seat as they open the final series of the regular season, but they face a large task in the form of the Philadelphia Phillies.PHILADELPHIA -- Its far from a coincidence that the Edmonton Oilers went big with the third pick in the NHL draft. In taking German centre Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers added some much-needed size and depth at a position of great importance. "Its not a stretch to say were really happy and think that we filled a tremendous need for our hockey club and I think is going to have a real significant impact over time with our team," general manager Craig MacTavish said Friday night. "You combine him with our No. 1 pick last year (Darnell Nurse), and we start to see some size and quite a bit of character continue to come into our dressing room." Beyond 2011 No. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers are thin at centre. And in Draisaitl, the highest-drafted German in NHL history, they get a six-foot-one, 208-pound player who has drawn comparisons to Anze Kopitar and Jaromir Jagr. Playing for the WHLs Prince Albert Raiders, Draisaitl had 38 goals and 67 assists in 64 games this past season as he developed his defensive game and faceoff prowess. Hes from Cologne but came to develop in the Canadian junior system and will remain in North America this summer to train. There are still things Draisaitl believes he needs to improve this off-season but the physically mature 18-year-old also thinks hell be ready to play in the NHL in 2014-15. MacTavish cant make such a guarantee. "Obviously we project the team to be much more productive and much deeper than we were this year, and thatll be a significant factor," he said. "We want to make sure that if we do put young kids into our lineup that they have a chance to have success, and thatll be a big factor along with how well he adapts to the NHL game at training camp." Just having a chance to earn a spot at training camp is a nice opportunity for Draisaitl, who understands he wont just be handed a job playing alongside Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. "Im going to have to do my job and earrn my spot if I want to play in that league and on that team," Draisaitl said.dddddddddddd "I think theyre moving forward for sure and they made some good trades, (David) Perron, and the guys are getting older and more mature. This is just awesome right now." Draisaitl was thrilled to put on the same orange and blue of Edmonton stars of the past, most of whom had their primes before he was born. "Theyve had so many great players on their team: Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, MacTavish -- all those guys are stars in the league, and wearing the same jersey as they do is unbelievable," he said. MacTavish joked that he owed Draisaitl $100 for dropping his name in that group. More importantly for the GMs current job, he hopes Draisaitl can develop into an important piece of this already young core. Draisaitl fills a specific role, too, as the Oilers seek a variety of talent at forward. "(He) protects the puck and is a real offensive-zone player," MacTavish said. "Weve got a lot of skill, but were in need of somebody down low thats capable of sustaining the play. We have David Perron that fits that bill and now Leon will be a guy that can really protect the puck." If Draisaitl develops as scouts expect, he would slot in as the Oilers No. 2 centre of the future. His size mixed with Halls speed could be a tantalizing combination. "Hes probably the fastest skater in the league and hes an exciting player to watch," Draisaitl said. "It might be a good fit, but you never know." MacTavish would love to spend Saturday adding more depth to the organization, but the Oilers dont have a second- or a third-round pick after trades for Perron and goaltender Ben Scrivens. And he doesnt expect to be able to get into the second. "Well be sitting on our hands, it looks like, through the second or third round," MacTavish said. "Hopefully the scouts can pull a few of those impact players out of the later picks." ' ' '