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Germany have been hit with yet another COVID-19 crisis and will be without captain Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka for their Nations League trip to England on Monday. The absence of Neuer and midfield regular Goretzka, who boast 157 international caps between them, is a huge blow to Germany boss Hansi Flick and his team.

Pepe has pulled out of Portugal’s squad this week citing “physical problems”. The 39-yearold defender remains a regular for the country, but struggled after arriving at training earlier this week. He also withdrew from Portugal’s last two Nations League games against the Czech Republic and Spain.

Gareth Bale has vowed to peak fitness for Wales’s World Cup bid even though he has yet to complete 90 minutes for his new club. Bale joined Los Angeles FC in July, when his deal at Real Madrid expired, and has two goals in 11 MLS appearances so far. The 33-year-old said: “Any player will tell you, playing games and being fully fit, match-fit, is the most important thing and makes you feel better, sharper on the pitch.”

France’s lengthy absentee list this week includes Karim Benzema, Hugo Lloris, Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba, who ordinarily would all be starters in the team up against Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday.

Denmark’s charismatic captain Simon Kjaer is back for his country this weekend for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in December.