Following their 2-1 away win against Mainz 05, FC Bayern heads into the next international break. Bundesliga play will be on hold for just under ten days. For many of Munich’s pros, however, this doesn’t mean a breather. A total of 16 players from the first-team roster have been called up to their national teams.
The German record champions are particularly well-represented in the squad selected by national team coach Jürgen Klopp. No fewer than seven Bayern pros are set to help the DFB squad secure a spot in the knockout stage of the Nations League.
But Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and other key players also have important international duties ahead of them. As FC Bayern announced, a total of nine national teams featuring Munich players will be in action.
Seven Bayern stars are fighting with Germany to advance
The German national team has the largest contingent of Bayern players. Klopp has called up seven Munich-based players: Jonas Urbig, Jonathan Tah, Joshua Kimmich, Tom Bischof, Nathaniel Brown, Lennart Karl, and Aleksandar Pavlovic.
For the German national team, important points are at stake in the two final group stage matches of the Nations League. After four matches, Germany sits in third place in the standings with five points. The Netherlands and Greece have each collected eight points.
On November 13, the German team will first face Serbia on the road in Belgrade. Three days later, they’ll take on the Netherlands in Berlin. Both matches kick off at 8:45 p.m.
France is also represented by two Bayern stars. Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise will face Italy on November 12 and Turkey on November 15. The Équipe Tricolore currently leads its Nations League group with ten points and can secure a spot in the next round early.
Kane faces Bayern teammate Stanisic
Harry Kane also has two important international matches coming up. The England captain will face Croatia on November 12 and Spain on the road three days later.
This will set up a direct showdown with his Bayern teammate Josip Stanisic, who has been called up to the Croatian national team. Croatia will then host the Czech Republic on November 15.
Kane leads the Nations League scoring chart with six goals in four games. England sits in second place in its group with nine points, behind Spain.
Meanwhile, Konrad Laimer is fighting with Austria for promotion to the top division of the Nations League. The Austrian national team will face Ireland and Israel.
Davies is back—Kim and Ito are also on the road
Several Bayern pros are also in action outside of Europe.
Alphonso Davies is returning to the Canadian national team after missing the last international break. The fullback will face Guatemala twice with Canada in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Hiroki Ito is traveling with Japan to Singapore for two friendly matches. The schedule there includes matches against Brazil and Paraguay.
Minjae Kim has also been called up. The center back will play two friendly matches with South Korea against Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
In addition, Bayern youth player David Santos Daiber is in action for Portugal’s U-20 team. The Portuguese will face Italy and England.
For Vincent Kompany, the international break thus means a significantly reduced training squad. At the same time, those in charge at Säbener Straße are likely hoping that all national team players return to Munich healthy.
After all, the next Bundesliga home game against 1. FC Köln is already scheduled for November 20, right after the international break.