World Cup blog: Palacios in defending champions' squad - Tillman, Grimaldo, Quansah and Co. also called up

+++ 29 May: Palacios in Argentina squad +++

The defending champions have announced their squad for the World Cup - and Exequiel Palacios is in it! The 27-year-old midfielder will face Austria, Jordan and Algeria in Group J with his compatriots Lionel Messi and Co. It will be Palacios' second appearance at a World Cup, after winning the tournament four years ago.

+++ 27 May: Flekken in Netherlands goalkeeping trio +++

The next Werkself player is heading to the World Cup: Mark Flekken is one of three keepers in the Dutch squad for the tournament. In Group F, the Oranje face Japan (in Dallas), Sweden (in Houston) and Tunisia (in Kansas City).

+++ 26 May: Tillman in hosts USA squad +++

Werkself player Malik Tillman is in final USA World Cup squad. The hosts face Paraguay (in Los Angeles), Australia (in Seattle) and Turkey (in Los Angeles) in Group D. Incidentally, the USA will play their last warm-up game against Germany in Chicago on 6 June.

+++ 25 May: Grimaldo in Spain squad +++

¡Vamos! Werkself player Alejandro Grimaldo - like former Leverkusen player Borja Iglesias - is in the World Cup squad of European champions Spain. In Group H, they face World Cup newcomers Cape Verde (in Atlanta), Saudi Arabia (in Atlanta) and Uruguay (Guadalajara).

+++ 22 May: Quansah named in Three Lions squad +++

England head coach Thomas Tuchel is counting on Jarell Quansah for the World Cup! The Werkself player, who has made one appearance for the Three Lions to date, was part of the 26-man squad announced by the FA on Friday morning. In Group L, Quansah and his teammates will face Croatia (in Dallas), Ghana (in Boston) and Panama (in New York).

+++ 21 May: Czechia with Schick and two former Leverkusen players +++

Following the emotional and ultimately successful World Cup qualification campaign, Czechia national team coach Miroslav Koubek has announced his squad for the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Among those making the cut is the Werkself's Patrik Schick. Currently the fourth-highest Czech goalscorer of all time, he and his teammates – including former Leverkusen players Matej Kovar and Adam Hlozek – will face South Korea (in Guadalajara), South Africa (in Atlanta) and hosts Mexico (in Mexico City) in Group A.