Scotland national team roster announced, Villarreal’s struggle in the Spanish League, and Nairobi to host the 2029 World Athletics World Cup

Sebastian Bocconioli, the new coach of the Scottish national football team, announced his first list since assuming responsibility for coaching the team, today, Tuesday, and the list witnessed the call-up of five players for the first time, including Robbie Orr, the Sevilla striker, and Louis Binks, the Brondby player.

Sky Sports reported that Colby Donovan, Celtic defender, Josh McPeek, Hearts winger, and Stephen Welsh, Swansea player, were also included in preparation for the team’s matches in the European Nations League.

Hull City striker Ollie McBurnie, who was last called up to the Scottish national team in 2021, has also been re-called.

Goalkeepers Scott Payne and John McCracken returned to the squad, following Craig Gordon's decision to retire after the World Cup.

Billy Gilmour, the Napoli player, returned to the national team after a knee injury forced him to miss the team during his participation in the World Cup.

The team will be absent from the team, Scott McTominay, the Napoli midfielder, as he is recovering from a minor heart surgery, and Lawrence Shankland, the Rangers striker, will also be absent due to a hamstring injury, and Che Adams, the Torino player, will also be absent due to injury.

The goalkeeper list included Scott Bain, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly, and John McCracken, and in defense, Lewis Binks, Josh Doig, Colby Donovan, Luke Graham, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Scott McKenna, Nathan Patterson, Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, and Stephen Welsh.

In the middle are Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Kenny, Robbie Orr and James Wilson. McLean, Josh McPeek, Lennon Miller, and in attack, Kieron Bowie, Findlay Curtis, and Ben Gannon Duke.

The Scottish national team is preparing to face Slovenia on the 26th of this month, then face Switzerland three days later in the European Nations League.

Villarreal continued to suffer from its disappointing start in the Spanish Football League this season after losing 1-2 to its guest, Real Betis, yesterday evening (Monday), in the fifth stage of the competition, placing it in the relegation zone.

Villarreal's score froze at only two points after playing its first five matches in the competition, placing it in eighteenth place (third from the bottom), after achieving two draws and three defeats, without achieving any victory so far in the tournament.

Villarreal also lost 2-3 to its German host, Borussia Dortmund, last Tuesday, at the start of its matches in the league stage of the Champions League.

Goals from Cucho Hernandez and Nathan contributed to Betis giving the three points, after Gerard Moreno had opened the scoring for Villarreal.

Moreno told Moistar after the match: “Right now, everything is going against us, and the other teams are punishing us for our mistakes.”

The Villarreal player added: “We must come together and demand more from ourselves. Maybe when we are late with the result, anxiety creeps in and things become more difficult.”

Moreno concluded his statements by saying: “It is difficult to explain the lack of points we currently have. “We have to be one team now more than ever.”

It is noteworthy that Villarreal will be a guest of Malaga, the day after tomorrow (Thursday), in its next match in the Spanish League.

The Kenyan capital, Nairobi, will host the 2029 World Outdoor Athletics Championships for the first time on the African continent, according to what the International Federation announced on Tuesday.

The German city of Munich will host the 2031 edition, according to what the International Federation (World Athletics) added, following its council meeting in Budapest, which recently hosted the “Ultimate” tournament.

FIFA President Sebastian Coe said during a press conference: “We were fortunate to receive four distinct nomination files to host the 2029 and 2031 editions (Nairobi, Munich, London, and Rome), and the decision was not easy for the Council to make.”

The Briton added: “The Council’s decision today means that we will be able to hold the World Athletics Championships in Asia (Beijing 2027), Africa, and Europe during the next three editions.”

The former Olympic champion continued: “Transferring our championship to Africa for the first time will be a historic event. Nairobi presented a convincing and influential candidacy file. “It was important for Africa to host the World Championship when the right host, the right file, and the right conditions were available.”

He explained: “Nairobi has proven conclusively that this is its moment to advance the development of our sport in Kenya, and across Africa, and leave an inspiring legacy for the continent.”

Kenya, which failed to obtain the right to host the 2025 World Championships, previously hosted the World Cross Country Championships in 2007 in Mombasa, the Under-18 World Championships in Nairobi in 2017, and the Under-20 World Championships in the capital in 2021.

Nairobi also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships.

Coe said: “Having also participated in the nomination process to host the 2025 edition, the (Nairobi) team realized the required requirements, assimilated them, and returned with a stronger file, and with a renovated Kasarani Stadium, which is currently undergoing a comprehensive modernization process in preparation for hosting the 2027 African Cup of Nations (football).”