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Germany delays its World Cup squad reveal by 9 days to give injured players more time

BERLIN (AP) — Germany has postponed its World Cup squad announcement by nine days to take account of the last day of the Bundesliga and give more time for injured players to show their fitness.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was due to name his squad in Frankfurt on May 12, but it was pushed back on Tuesday to May 21.

Gathering the squad has also been delayed for two days to May 27.

The last round of the Bundesliga is on May 16, while the German Cup final between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart – likely to feature many Germany call-ups – is on May 23.

World Cup preparations were due to start in the Bavarian resort of Herzogenaurach on May 25, but Nagelsmann likely wants to give his Bayern and Stuttgart players a longer rest beforehand.

If Bayern makes it to the Champions League final on May 30, then any Germany players from the team will join their international colleagues only afterward.

Germany is to play World Cup warmups against Finland in Mainz on May 31, then the United States in Chicago on June 6.

Four-time champion Germany faces Ivory Coast, Ecuador and newcomer Curacao in Group E at the World Cup.

Bayern forward Serge Gnabry has been ruled out of the tournament, while young Bayern teammate Lennart Karl faces a race to be fit.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

NYPD says dozens rescued from human trafficking during World Cup

▶ Watch Video: Inside look at security preparations for World Cup Forty-three people, including seven minors, were rescued from human traffickers during the World Cup matches in the New York City area, according to the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit.The rescue operations were carried out between June 11 and July 19 by specialized NYPD detectives who arrested 89 individuals."The surprise was really the outpouring of support behind the mission and the collaboration with all our partners," said Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit.Those rescued, largely the victims of sex trafficking, are now being supported with an array of social services for the victims, including food, housing and counseling.The 87 operations carried out during the World Cup have generated new leads, officials said, and law enforcement agencies are building more cases based on the investigations already underway."We have ongoing investigations now as a result of these operations," an NYPD official told CBS News.Major sporting events are known to law enforcement as hotbeds of human trafficking.Years in advance, the NYPD devoted significant resources to preparing for the World Cup. Eight matches were played at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, including the final on Sunday."When we talk about the outreach and the prep we do, a large part of that involved visiting the known sex offenders, particularly the known human traffickers, in our registry," Marcus said. "Whether they're on parole or probation for human trafficking, we visited them to make sure they're compliant with the terms of their release, and secondly, to let them know that the NYPD is watching."The matches were held in multiple cities around the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Preparations to secure those games and prepare for crimes like human trafficking were coordinated between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.Police departments in many locations that hosted World Cup matches have made arrests and rescues connected to human trafficking, including in Georgia, New England and Missouri. Nationally, there were more than 673 arrests on human-trafficking charges made during the World Cup, and 61 adults and 13 minors rescued, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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