soccer

It's World Cup audition time in the Bundesliga as Bayern nears the title

By JAMES ELLINGWORTHโ€ขYahoo Sports

Bayern Munich 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl is fighting to keep his spot for Germany, Deniz Undav's scoring streak for Stuttgart has put pressure on coach Julian Nagelsmann to take him to the U. S. in June, and Alejandro Grimaldo's form for Bayer Leverkusen could help him earn a spot for Spain.

Oh, and there's still a title to be won.

It's crunch time for a host of Bundesliga players with ambitions of playing at the World Cup . Bayern Munich 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl is fighting to keep his spot for Germany , Deniz Undav's scoring streak for Stuttgart has put pressure on coach Julian Nagelsmann to take him to the U. S.

in June, and Alejandro Grimaldo's form for Bayer Leverkusen could help him earn a spot for Spain. Oh, and there's still a title to be won. Bayern comes back into action after the international break with a vast 11-point lead over Borussia Dortmund.

If Bayern wins its next two games and Dortmund loses both, the title could be Bayern's as soon as April 11. Key matchups Dortmund heads to Stuttgart needing points to keep pace with Bayern. Stuttgart's third, chasing Champions League qualification, and with a host of players chasing World Cup spots for Germany like Undav, Angelo Stiller, Jamie Leweling and Chris Fรผhrich.