Florian Wirtz is flying the flag for Bayer 04 with the Germany squad for the forthcoming three World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein (2 September, 20.45 CEST), Armenia (5 September, 20.45 CEST) and Iceland (8 September, 20.45 CEST). The new Germany coach Hansi Flick announced his call-up on Friday.
Wirtz, who was in the squad for the first game against Iceland (3-0) plus the matches against Romania (1-0) and North Macedonia (1-2), can again hope to make his senior debut for Germany. There are another 13 Werkself players on international duty in addition to the 18-year-old.
Mitchel Bakker and Jeremie Frimpong have been selected for the Netherlands U21 team. The Bayer 04 duo are with the Oranje for the European championship qualifier against Moldova on Tuesday, 7 September at 18.45 CEST.
The Leverkusen captain Lukas Hradecky and striker Joel Pohjanpalo are with the Finland squad for three matches – a friendly against Wales (1 September) plus two World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan (4 September) and France (7 September). The two Scandinavians will face their teammate Moussa Diaby. France coach Didier Deschamps called up the 22-year-old to the World Cup winners squad for the first time on Thursday.
Also away with their national teams are Charles Aránguiz (Chile) and Piero Hincapie (Ecuador) with the two of them set to face each other in the World Cup qualifier between Chile and Ecuador (5 September). The Bayer 04 South American group is completed by Exequiel Palacios, who has been called up to the Argentina squad: The team around including Lionel Messi play Venezuela (2 September), Brazil (5 September) and Bolivia (9 September).
Also away on international duty other Leverkusen players Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast), Andrey Lunev (Russia), Panagiotis Retsos (Greece), Zidan Sertdemir (Denmark U17) and Emrehan Gedikli (Germany U19s).
Charles Aránguiz (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Chile vs Brazil, Santiago
5.9. Ecuador vs Chile, Quito
9.9. Colombia vs Chile, Bogota
Mitchel Bakker and Jeremie Frimpong (U21 Euro qualifiers)
7.9. Netherlands vs Moldova, Deventer
Moussa Diaby (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. France vs Bosnia-Herzegovina, Strasbourg
4.9. Ukraine vs France, Kiev
7.9. France vs Finland, Lyon
Emrehan Gedikli (U19 friendlies)
3.9. Germany vs Switzerland, Bad Dürrheim
6.9. Germany vs England, Bad Dürrheim
Piero Hincapie (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Ecuador vs Paraguay, Quito
5.9. Ecuador vs Chile, Quito
9.9. Uruguay vs Ecuador, Montevideo
Lukas Hradecky and Joel Pohjanpalo (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Finland vs Wales, Helsinki (Friendly)
4.9. Finland vs Kazakhstan, Helsinki
7.9. France vs Finland, Lyon
Odilon Kossounou (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Mozambique vs Ivory Coast, Maputo
6.9. Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, Abidjan
Andrey Lunev (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Russia vs Croatia, Moscow
4.9. Cyprus vs Russia, Nicosia
7.9. Russia vs Malta, Moscow
Exequiel Palacios (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Venezuela vs Argentina, San Cristobal
5.9. Brazil vs Argentina, Rio de Janeiro
9.9. Argentina vs Bolivia, Buenos Aires
Panos Retsos (World Cup qualifiers)
1.9. Switzerland vs Greece, Basel
5.9. Kosovo vs Greece, Pristina
8.9. Greece vs Sweden, Athens
Zidan Sertdemir (U17 friendlies)
3.9. Denmark vs Austria, Skagen
6.9. Denmark vs Austria, Frederikshavn
Florian Wirtz (World Cup qualifiers)
2.9. Liechtenstein vs Germany, St. Gallen
5.9. Germany vs Armenia, Stuttgart
8.9. Iceland vs Germany, Reykjavik
A new look and new kit supplier for the 2025/26 campaign: Bayer 04 in tandem with sports equipment manufacturer New Balance present the official kit for the Leverkusen eSports players the coming season. New partner Sinology appears on the top right of the jersey. Menswear outfitters Lerros is still the main eSports sponsor and Niedax remains the sleeve partner. The jersey is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
Show moreBosnia U19 international Kerim Alajbegovic is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth set-up to Red Bull Salzburg. The talented attacking midfielder has signed a long-term contract with the Austrian club. At the same time, the works club secured a buy-back option for the 17-year-old, who was one of the mainstays of the Leverkusen U19s.
Show morePreparations for the 2025/26 season at Bayer 04 start next Monday, 7 July, with the first team and youth players training together. Without the international players who were involved with their national teams at the end of last season, new head coach Erik ten Hag will welcome a group of senior and youth players to the first open training session one week ahead of the departure to the training camp in Rio de Janeiro. After the official welcome in the dressing room, the Werkself players will start the session in the shadow of the BayArena on 7 July at 14:00 CEST.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Premier League club Chelsea in the final pre-season friendly. The game against the current holders of the UEFA Conference League is on Friday, 8 August at Stamford Bridge with the kick-off at 20:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
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