14 FCB players on international duty
The first international break of the new Bundesliga campaign is here and FC Bayern pros face important challenges in the coming days. 14 Bayern players have been called up by their countries and nearly all of them are involved in the battle for important points in the World Cup qualifiers. fcbayern.com provides an overview of where Bayern pros are in action.
Mats Hummels, Thomas Müller, Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Süle and Sebastian Rudy are away with Germany for two World Cup qualifying matches. National coach Joachim Low's team (18 points) are away to the Czech Republic (9 points) in Prague on 1 September (20.45 CET). That is followed on 4 September (also 20.45 CET) by the meeting with Norway (4 points) in Stuttgart.
Group A promises to be really exciting on 31 August (20.45 CET) when three Bayern players face each other in Saint-Denis: Corentin Tolisso and Kingsley Coman for France (13 points) and Arjen Robben for Holland (10 points) meet in what could be a decisive encounter. Both teams are then at home on 3 September: Holland entertain Bulgaria (18.00 CET) and France host Luxembourg (20.45 CET).
Crucial week for Alaba
This international break is almost make or break for David Alaba with Austria (8 points). Points are crucial on 2 September (20.45 CET) away to Wales (8 points) and at home to Georgia (3 points) on 5 September (20.45 CET) to reduce the gap to Serbia and Ireland (both on 10 points).
The situation looks much more comfortable for Robert Lewandowski with Poland (16 points) clearly leading Group E with a six-point advantage over Montenegro and Denmark (both on 10 points). Lewy and Co. take on the Scandinavians in Copenhagen on 1 September (20.45 CET) before Kazakhstan (2 points) visit Warsaw on 4 September (20.45 CET).
Showdown in Madrid
There promises to be a cracker in Madrid! Thiago and Spain (16 points) face Italy (also on 16 points) in a clash of the titans. The match is on 2 September at 20.45 CET. Spain face an easier ride three days later on 5 September (20.45 CET) against Liechtenstein (on zero points to date).
South America also provides a stage to win vital points in the battle to reach the World Cup in Russia. Arturo Vidal and Chile (23 points) face Paraguay (18 points) on 1 September (00.30 CET) in Santiago de Chile. The Confed Cup finalists are then away to Bolivia (10 points) on 5 September (22.00 CET). Colombia (24 points) will be without James Rodriguez for the match against Venezuela (6 points) on 31 August (23.00 CET) and it remains to be seen whether the FC Bayern new signing will be available for the prestigious encounter with group leaders Brazil (33 points) on 5 September.
Renato Sanches has been called up to the Portugal U21 squad. The junior side of the European Champions play Wales in a Euro qualifer. The game on 5 September kicks off at 20.15 CET.