The Scottish Premiership title race, which has somehow managed to be both inevitable and completely chaotic, comes down to one final game on Saturday as Hearts travel to Celtic Park with a one-point lead. Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who last night won the Scottish Football Writers Association manager of the year award, is not one to shy away from the absurdity of the situation. "We're still the underdog," he said, despite his team having been top of the league since September. "Even though we've been top of the league since September, we're still the underdog. For us to be competing with Celtic, with the money they've got and everything they've got at their disposal, it's a huge effort for our team." A Hearts victory would mark the first time a club outside the Old Firm has won the Scottish top tier since Aberdeen in 1985 under Sir Alex Ferguson. Only 752 Hearts fans will be at Celtic Park to witness it, which seems like a weirdly small number for a title decider, but here we are.
Meanwhile, Southampton's 'Spygate' drama continues to cause chaos, with a Hull supporter named Jack Gorbert, who spent around £2,000 to fly from Australia to attend the Championship play-off final, saying the EFL has "no regard for fans." The 27-year-old former Tigers season-ticket holder, now living in Melbourne, spent nearly £1,300 on a return flight plus £700 on hotels and travel, only to face ongoing uncertainty over whether the fixture against Southampton will even go ahead on May 23. Classic EFL efficiency.
In other football news, Romelu Lukaku's injury recovery has paid off enough for him to be included in Belgium's World Cup squad, alongside Kevin de Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois. Lukaku, who hasn't played for Belgium in almost a year and has only five Serie A appearances for Napoli this season, all as substitute, is somehow still one of the most experienced players on the team. Coach Rudi Garcia left out 17-year-old midfielder Nathan de Cat, who would have been one of the youngest players at the World Cup, and forward Lois Openda, who has spent too much time on the Juventus bench. Belgium starts its World Cup campaign in Group G against Egypt on June 15, followed by Iran and New Zealand.
Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies is struggling to be fit for the World Cup, according to sporting director Max Eberl, after suffering an injury to the back of his left thigh during Bayern's Champions League elimination by Paris Saint-Germain on May 6. Canada, who play all three group games at home starting with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12, will announce their 26-man World Cup squad on May 29. "It's tragic enough that he's picked up an injury ahead of the World Cup on home soil," said Eberl, who is probably not thrilled about it either.
Brentford have announced their first summer signing in the shape of teenage defender Jannik Schuster from RB Salzburg on a contract until June 2031. Keith Andrews called it, whatever that means.
And finally, Séamus Coleman will end his 17-year career with Everton when his contract expires next month, but he hasn't decided whether to retire or continue playing elsewhere. The Everton captain, famously signed for £60,000 from Sligo Rovers in January 2009, has been offered a coaching role at the club but is considering another club or the Republic of Ireland. He has made 433 appearances for Everton, including a club-record 372 in the Premier League. A true legend, though we're not sure if Dixie Dean would approve of being overtaken by a full-back.