Friday brought welcome and happy news for Bayern’s Rafinha, as the right-back has been recalled to the Brazil national team. National coach Carlos Dunga has named 30-year-old Rafa in his 23-strong squad for the first two 2018 World Cup qualifiers against reigning Copa America champions Chile on 8 October and the meeting with Venezuela on 13 October. Rafinha has two Seleção caps to his name, most recently in March 2014 when Brazil beat South Africa 5-0. FC Bayern newcomer Douglas Costa is also in the South Americans’ squad
Zwayer to ref Darmstadt clash
Felix Zwayer will referee Saturday afternoon’s meeting between FC Bayern and SV Darmstadt 98, the first time in 33 years the clubs have crossed swards in the Bundesliga. The 34-year-old estate agent from Berlin has previously taken charge of matches involving Bayern 19 times, most recently in early April when FCB beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-3 on penalties in a DFB Cup quarter-final. Zwayer’s assistants are Florian Steuer and Mark Borsch and the fourth official is Timo Gerach.
