Dubois tests positive as Europe’s covid spike casts eerie atmosphere over national teams

October 7 – French defender Leo Dubois has joined Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri as testing positive for the coronavirus on the eve of international friendlies and Nations League obligations.

Dubois was placed in isolation and sent home after his positive test and will miss France’s upcoming matches against Ukraine, Portugal and Croatia, the French FA said. The right back from Olympique Lyon has featured five times for Les Bleus. French coach Didier Deschamps called up Real Madrid’s Ferlan Mendy  to replace Dubois.

Ukraine have included 45-year-old goalkeeping coach Oleksandr Shovkovskiy in their squad to face France, after two of their keepers tested positive for Covid-19. He retired eight years ago.

After a year-long absence, Shaqiri’s return to the Swiss national team was abruptly derailed after he tested positive for Covid-19 as the only member of the squad. Last year, the Liverpool player had asked to be left out of Switzerland matches to focus on his club career, but Shaqiri has barely featured in Jurgen Klopp’s team since. This season, he has only been in action in the Carabao Cup. Club colleagues Sadio Mano and Thiago Alcantara also tested positive in the last week.

On Wednesday, Switzerland host Croatia in a friendly before playing both Spain and Germany in the Nations League. The Swiss team will be submitted to an extra round of coronavirus tests in the hours leading up to the Croatia match.

Last week, Switzerland loosened restrictions inside stadiums with 10,000 allowed for a domestic league in St Gallen from October 1, the same venue for the Swiss – Croatia match.

UEFA guidelines allow a maximum of 5,000 spectators at the Kybunpark in St. Gallen. All available tickets have been sold. “Playing in front of empty stands is like playing in the cold winter. With the emotions, joy and passion of our fans, the warmth returns to the stadium,” said national coach Vladimir Petkovic.

Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1711723932labto1711723932ofdlr1711723932owedi1711723932sni@o1711723932fni1711723932