By Tim Stannard
 
 
No room for Morata in Spain’s World Cup super-squad
 
Good news, bad news day for Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata.
 
The good news is that the Spanish forward is going to have a whole summer free to make slightly racy but ever-so self-congratulatory Instagram videos. The bad news that is that it is because Morata won’t be going to the World Cup. Them’s the breaks.
 
A largely indifferent club season for Morata that ended up with the former Real Madrid man playing just one minute in the FA Cup final has had a cherry placed on top with Spanish manager, Julen Lopetegui, announcing his 23-man squad for Russia 2018 but saying that there was no room for Morata despite a “very complete campaign.” However, there was the admission that “it's true he had a challenging end to the season.” Diego Costa, Iago Aspas and Rodrigo are the chosen strikers for Spain.

Another notable absentees are Chelsea teammates Cesc Fabregas, Marcos Alonso and Pedro, along with Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto and Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez. Find out on the Locker Room at 7:30PM ET / 4:30PM PT if our learned panel of elders think that Spain have what it takes to win the World Cup.
 
 

Belgium exile Nainggolan in personality clash
 
Another international side showing off a little by leaving out perfectly serviceable players is Belgium.
 
The perennial dark horses that will ultimately disappoint have left Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan behind. However, head coach Roberto Martinez did not want to go down the road that it was due to personality issues with the fiery midfielder - "It is purely a tactical decision." “Being yourself can be bothering” was the withering response from the Roma man on Instagram, giving an indication as to why the footballer is being left behind.

The squad is still fairly stacked with attacking talent though with Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Dries Mertens all included in the 28-man provisional squad.
 
Jorge Sampaoli is expected to announce his final Argentina 23 for the World Cup and the list is expected to be missing Mauro Icardi, who is fresh from leading Inter back into the Champions League after a dramatic win against Lazio on Sunday as well as racking up 29 Serie A goals this season. Our Matteo Bonetti will not be happy about that on ‘Who’s to blame?’ on the XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT.

 
Chelsea-Napoli-Ancelotti in coaching triangle
 
Time to delve into the coaching carrousel and all ears are pricked in Chelsea’s direction to find out what Antonio Conte is up despite his side lifting the FA Cup on Saturday.
 
The eyes belonging to the same head as those ears are focused on Napoli with Mauricio Sarri reportedly still to decide whether to stick with the Partenopei while the team’s owner rapidly runs out of patience over the dithering.
 
Actually, there could be one giant narrative bundle here if everything falls into place. Conte is expected to depart Chelsea. Sarri is supposedly heading to Stamford Bridge and the man to take over Napoli is Carlo Ancelotti, who once managed Chelsea. Beautiful.
 
 

Lovren needs a little help from his friends
 
All of the above gives the notion that the domestic season is over. Not quite. The Champions League is upon on Saturday with Real Madrid facing Liverpool in a genuinely tantalizing showpiece in Kiev. And rather handily, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been talking about the clash and says that he and his team have been enjoying a bit of time off to get some training done. "We feel really good and we deserve to be where we are. Now we want to bring it to the best possible end," beamed the German.
 

 Also speaking to the media was Dejan Lovren who was asked about how to stop Cristiano Ronaldo – the answer? Get everyone else involved – “when you want to stop Ronaldo we will stop him together.” Wise words.
 
Stay tuned to the XTRA all week with the best possible build up to Saturday’s final.
 
 

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