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Raitala and Lappalainen Miss Nations League Games With Finland.

Covid-19 regulations rule Impact’s Finnish pair out, along with Minnesota’s Robin Lod.

Impact pair, Lassi Lappalainen (2nd left), Jukka Raitala (3rd left) and Minnesota’s Robin Lod (extreme right) were all ruled out of Finland’s two Nations League games this weekend due to the restrictions. Other player pictured is Rasmus Schuller (formerly of Minnesota United, now back in Finland with HJK Helsinki)

Covid-19 travel regulations have put paid to Montreal Impact’s Finnish pair adding to their international caps tally over the next few days.

Nations League matches dominate Europe’s football landscape this weekend, with the Euros-qualified Finns due to meet Ryan Giggs’ Wales in Helsinki this afternoon and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Sunday (6 Sept).

Another MLS Finnish international, 38-times capped, Robin Lod of Minnesota United also misses out.

Raitala and Lappalainen aim to catch the games LIVE via a Finnish channel obtainable here in Montreal.

Today’s game against the Welsh could have been a particularly busy and intense one for Raitala, who would likely have found himself face to face with one Gareth Bale at some stage throughout the proceedings.

Jukka Raitala has 51 caps for Finland, and Lassi Lappalainen 7, as well as being caped at every level from u16 up.

Both players played an integral part in Finland’s first-ever qualification for a finals tournament, the 2020 Euros, which have been postponed until next summer due to the pandemic.