Minnesota United midfielder Robin Lod and three other starters leave Monday to join their national teams for FIFA international play and none — including Jan Gregus, Romain Metanire and Kei Kamara — is due back for a first-round playoff game against Colorado in two weeks.
Lod said he's "hoping" he won't miss any MLS Cup playoff games. But unless a nine-day quarantine period coming back from Europe is changed, he will.
He hasn't participated in Finland's past two camps. Finland has qualified for its first major tournament, the 2020 European championship delayed until next summer.
"Such a pride thing to play for your country," Lod said. "That's something I love to do, especially with the Euros coming next year. There's not that many camps before that. So if there's a chance, I need to go and show my face. It's a tough situation because obviously I want to be here and I want to be there."
Tied with teammate Kevin Molino with nine goals in all competitions, Lod played a new role Sunday: up front when the Loons played without injured strikers Kei Kamara and Aaron Schoenfeld.
Lod played forward with midfielders Emanuel Reynoso, Molino and Ethan Finlay just behind him and assisted on all three goals, two by Molino and on Reynoso's first MLS goal.
The Loons also played without captain Ozzie Alonso (leg/hamstring) and defender Michael Boxall (knee) aimed toward being fit for the playoffs.
Stand up
Loons defender Brent Kallman has worn since July an "End Racism" warmup shirt while teammates wear "Black Lives Matter" shirts. He has stood during a silent pause before games while his teammates kneel, some with fists raised, in protest for racial equality.
