Bundesliga side Wolfsburg canceled its trip to the Florida Cup to "focus on turning around" its season, with a winter training camp in Spain now planned instead. Wolfsburg confirmed that it canceled its trip to the Florida Cup in January and "instead will go to La Manga in Spain." However, Wolfsburg will "still be present at the Florida Cup and will instead send a squad" of U19 and U23 players for the games against Brasileiro side Flamengo and United Soccer League side Tampa Bay Rowdies. Wolfsburg's withdrawal from the competition means that "only Bayer Leverkusen will be present at the Florida Cup with their first team" (ESPN.com, 12/21).
Scotland will compete in the Toulon Tournament for the "first time in 20 years next summer." Scot Gemmill will lead a U20 side to the south of France in May for the 12-team competition. The Scottish FA received an invite last week and "agreed to participate as Gemmill looks to test his young players against top-class opposition from around the globe." England holds the Toulon trophy after its victory over France in June (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 12/21).
New Zealand baseball players will have the "opportunity to train with one of the best young players in the business next month" when MLB N.Y. Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius lands in the country. After six months of negotiations, Baseball New Zealand has secured a visit by Gregorius, "who will visit Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland in mid-January" (STUFF, 12/22).
