Austrian Alaba to miss Euro qualifier vs. Russia

David Alaba will miss next month's Euro 2016 qualifier against Russia following a left knee injury. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

VIENNA — Austria playmaker David Alaba will miss next month’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Russia following a left knee injury.

Alaba resumed training at Bayern Munich last week but hasn’t played a match since damaging collateral ligaments in March during Austria’s friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Austria coach Marcel Koller says on Monday that he met with Bayern Munich’s director of sport Matthias Sammer before deciding not to call up Alaba for the June 14 game in Moscow as "that’s the best solution for him."

Koller adds "even though it’s tough for the team as he is one of the leading players, it’s important to think about the health of the player."

After five matches, Austria leads Group G with 13 points ahead of Sweden with 9 and Russia with 8.

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