Veteran strker David Villa is set for an international recall after being named yesterday in Spain’s squad for key 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Villa, aged 35, is Spain’s all-time top scorer with 59 goals from 97 international games.
He last played for his country in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Villa, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2011, plays for New York City and is top scorer in the MLS with 19 goals from 24 games this season. He has been recalled to the squad to play Italy and Liechtenstein on September 2 and 5 respectively. 
Part of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning team, Villa last represented his country in a 3-0 win against Australia in the 2014 edition. The ex-Valencia player left Barcelona for the United States in 2015 and was the MLS MVP last season.
Squad: Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Pepe Reina, Kepa Arrizabalaga. Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Nacho Fernandez, César Azpilicueta, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Marc Bartra, Nacho Monreal. Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Koke Resurreccion, Saul Niguez, Thiago Alcantara, Marco Asensio, Isco Vitolo, Gerard Deulofeu, David Silva, Suso Fernandez.  Forwards: Pedro Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata, Iago Aspas, David Villa.


Loew calls on Confed Cup winners
Germany coach Joachim Loew called up 17 members of his Confederations Cup-winning squad and only seven world champions for next week’s World Cup qualifiers. Germany face the Czech Republic in Prague on September 1 and host Norway three days later. With six wins out of six the 2014 world champions can secure their passage to Russia next year by taking three points in Prague as long as group rivals Northern Ireland fail to win both of their outings against San Marino and the Czechs.
The make-up of Loew’s squad suggests he favours relying on the existing momentum built up by the Confed Cup triumph in Russia this summer rather than on experience and reputation. The seven surviving members of Loew’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad are Thomas Mueller, Mats Hummels, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, and Julian Draxler and Matthias Ginter, who figured in the Confed Cup. Germany’s captain, Manuel Neuer, fractured his foot in April and is rested.  Only the top team in each European qualifying group is guaranteed to qualify for the World Cup, with the eight best runners-up across the nine groups advancing to a play-off round.
Germany squad: Goalkeepers: Bernd Len0o, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp. Defenders: Matthias Ginter, Jonas Hector, Benjamin Henrichs, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule. Midfielders/forwards: Julian Brandt, Emre Can, Julian Draxler, Serge Gnabry, Mario Gomez, Leon Goretzka, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Sebastian Rudy,  Lars Stindl, Timo Werner, Amin Younes. 

Dutch recall for Van Persie
Dutch coach Dick Advocaat recalled record goalscorer Robin van Persie from the international wilderness to a 24-man squad for World Cup qualifiers against France and Bulgaria. The Fenerbahce striker, formerly of Manchester United and Arsenal, hasn’t donned the Dutch jersey since October 2015, having scored 50 goals in 101 matches.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen, Maarten 
Stekelenburg, Jeroen Zoet. Defenders: Nathan Ake, Danny Blind, Wesley Hoedt, Matthijs De Ligt, Karim Rekik, Kenny Tete, Joel Veltman, Stefan De Vrij. 
Midfielders: Donny Van de Beek, Marco Van Ginkel, Tonny Vilhena, Davy Propper, Wesley Sneijder, Kevin Strootman, Georginio Wijnaldum. 
Strikers: Memphis Depay, Bas Dost, Vincent Janssen, Robin Van Persie, Quincy Promes, Arjen Robben.

Bale returns to Wales squad
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale was recalled by Wales for their forthcoming 2018 World Cup qualifying matches against Austria and Moldova. Bale, 28, missed Wales’s last game, a 1-1 draw against Serbia in June, through suspension.
Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen and Aston Villa left-back Neil Taylor were both named in the squad, but are suspended for the game against Austria. Wales play Austria at Cardiff City Stadium on September 2 before tackling Moldova in Chisinau three days later.
Coleman’s side, surprise semi-finalists at Euro 2016, are currently third in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and the Republic of Ireland with four matches remaining. Only the top team in each European qualifying group is guaranteed to qualify for the World Cup, with the eight best runners-up across the nine groups advancing to a play-off round.
Wales squad: Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies.  Defenders: Ben Davies, James Chester, Neil Taylor, Chris Gunter, Jazz Richards, James Collins, Tom Lockyer, Ashley Williams, Ethan Ampadu. Midfielders: Joe Allen, David Edwards, Andy King, Lee Evans, Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey, Jonathan Williams. Forwards: Gareth Bale, Marley Watkins, Hal Robson-Kanu, Sam Vokes, Tom Lawrence, Ben Woodburn.