Poland expect England World Cup Qualifier to go ahead despite coronavirus cases
Kamil Piatkowski tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday; Grzegorz Krychowiak to join Poland squad and expected to start on Wednesday after returning "false positive"; Goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and Leeds United's Mateusz Klich previously tested positive and ruled out of Wembley clash
Tuesday 30 March 2021 17:31, UK
Poland's World Cup Qualifier with England on Wednesday is expected to go ahead as planned - despite more Polish players returning positive coronavirus tests on Tuesday.
The latest round of testing had seen midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak and defender Kamil Piatkowski both record positive COVID-19 results on Tuesday.
It meant the total number of positive results in the Poland camp temporarily went up to four after Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and Leeds United's Mateusz Klich were both ruled out due to the virus.
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However, on Tuesday evening, the Polish FA confirmed Krychowiak undertook a second coronavirus test which came back negative.
The Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder will fly to London to join up with the rest of the Poland squad with a private jet and will be expected to start at Wembley on Wednesday.
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The Polish FA believed Krychowiak returned a "false positive" result, because he still has high levels of Covid antibodies in his system after testing positive for the virus in December.
UEFA protocols allow for a player to have what's known as a "UPAP certificate" if they have had the virus. Once they are clear of the quarantine period, the certificate gives them an exemption, should they test positive again in the next 10-12 weeks.
Krychowiak is on the limit of that exemption right now, and thus has been cleared to play by FIFA.
Back-up goalkeeper Skorupski reported symptoms on Thursday night and immediately self-isolated before recording a positive test after Poland's 3-3 draw with Hungary.
Meanwhile, Klich was already unavailable for that game, Sunday's 3-0 win over Andorra as well as the trip to face England at Wembley on Wednesday evening.
The side are already without all-time leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski after the Bayern Munich striker sustained ligament damage in his right knee.
The Bundesliga champions announced on Tuesday the 32-year-old is set to be sidelined for around four weeks, meaning he will miss both legs of their Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain on April 7 and 13.
England currently lead World Cup Qualifying Group I as the only side to have won their first two matches, with Poland tied for second on four points with Hungary.
England thrashed San Marino 5-0 in their opening game on Thursday before easing to a 2-0 win in Albania on Sunday, while Poland drew 3-3 away to Hungary in their first Group I game, before winning at home to minnows Andorra.
