With the international break upon us, a number of national teams will be without their top stars ahead of this weekend’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
England left-back Ashley Cole, 32, will miss the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier against Montenegro on Friday.
The 32-year-old defender aggravated the injury against Norwich City, and has been replaced by Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs in Roy Hodgson’s squad.
Cole has not been ruled out for the Poland match on 15 October, but remains a doubt, with Leighton Baines expected to start both qualifiers.
England are currently sitting atop Group H with 16 points, one point clear of Ukraine and Montenegro, respectively.
The Three Lions, who are 2/5 to defeat Montenegro at Wembley Stadium on Friday night, can only guarantee automatic qualification for the 2014 Word Cup by winning Group H.
Germany
Lars Bender and Borussia Dortmund duo Marco Reus and Sven Bender will be sidelined for Germany’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.
Reus (ankle) and Sven Bender (abductor muscle, back) were injured in Dortmund’s shocking 2-0 defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach at the weekend, while Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender picked up a muscle injury against Bayern Munich.
As a result, Joachim Löw has recalled versatile Hamburg SV midfielder Heiko Westermann.
Germany need just two points from their final two qualifiers to reach the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer.
Their first chance to book their rightful place in the 2014 World Cup will come on Friday against Ireland, with the bookmakers backing Nationalmannschaft to win at 9/50.
On Tuesday, Germany are scheduled to face Sweden at the Friends Arena. The last time these two sides met (on 16 October 2012), Sweden came from four goals down to earn a 4-4 draw against Germany at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
United States
United States boss Jurgen Klinsmann has confirmed Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley will miss the World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica and Panama.
Dempsey, who joined MLS side Seattle Sounders from Tottenham from Hotspur for a reported fee $9 million this summer, has been out with a strained hamstring since 13 September.
Meanwhile, Bradley, 26, has not featured since spraining his ankle during pregame warmups against Costa Rica on 6 September.
The U.S. squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Jamaica and Panama is as follows.
USMNT Roster
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron, Edgar Castillo, Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman Alejandro Bedoya, Mix Diskerud, Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljestan, Graham Zusi
Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Landon Donovan, Aron Johannsson, Eddie Johnson
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