Bayern Munich Block Robert Lewandowski And David Alaba From World Cup Qualifiers

England will not have to face Robert Lewandowski when they take on Poland in their World Cup qualifier in 11 days time, and Austria will be without David Alaba vs Scotland.

The World Cup qualifiers start next week and it's a tough time for all international teams with different Covid-19 regulations in different countries.

Jurgen Klopp was the first Premier League manager to say he would ban his players from travelling to countries that would mean players quarantining for 10 days on their return to Liverpool.

The same sort of regulations in Germany mean that Gareth Southgate will not have to ready his team to play against Lewandowski on March 31st.

Germany have listed the UK as a 'mutation zone' meaning players arriving back would have to quarantine for two weeks and Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic confirmed that means he would ban players from those games.

"If it remains the case that the returnees from England have to go into quarantine, we will not be able to put Lewandowski down," Salihamidzic told German press.

Lewandowski will be a huge miss for Poland. Image: PA Images

The former Borussia Dortmund striker will be allowed to play for his national team against Hungary and Andorra, in their other World Cup qualifiers before returning to Bayern.

With 63 goals to his name, Lewandowski is by far and away Poland's most potent weapon up front, and with questions about his squad selections in defence, Southgate will be very happy not to face him.

Alaba is in the same boat with Austria, as they travel to Scotland for a World Cup qualifier, and that'll be an issue for several of their players who play in Germany.

Again the centre back, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer, is available against Faroe Islands and Denmark in his national sides two other qualifiers.

Alaba's absence will be a life for Steve Clarke's side. Image: PA Images

As well as serving as the first qualifiers for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the upcoming games are the last chance for the national teams to get ready for Euro 2020.

There will be pre tournament friendlies but by that point managers will have at least chosen their preliminary squads.

England and Scotland face Croatia and Czech Republic in the group stage, Poland have Spain, Sweden and Slovakia in their group and Austria come up against Netherlands, Ukraine and North Macedonia.

Topics: Football, Robert Lewandowski, David Alaba, Bayern Munich, Austria, World Cup, Bundesliga

Ryan Sidle

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