Since Sunday it has been clear that Charles Aránguiz will not travel to join the Chile squad. The 30-year-old suffered a hairline fracture to his right metatarsal and a thigh injury in the closing stages of the game against Leipzig. As a result he has withdrawn from the international squad due to injury.
Kai Havertz, Jonathan Tah and newcomer Nadiem Amiri are flying the Bayer 04 flag in the Germany squad. The friendly against Argentina, including team-mate Lucas Alario, on 10 October is followed by the third-last Euro 2020 qualifier. The leaders in Group C face Estonia (13 October) who have yet to register a point.
Austria coach Franco Foda has again called up two Werkself players: Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragović are in the Austria squad for the crucial Euro 2020 qualifiers against rivals Israel (10 October) and Slovenia (13 October). With four games to play, Austria are third in Group G (10 points), Israel are in fifth (a) and Slovenia second (11).
Finland, with Lukas Hradecky and returnee Joel Pohjanpalo, also have two important games. As the team lying second in Group J, the Finns (12) meet Bosnia-Herzegovina (12 October) and Armenia (15 October) who are in third and fourth places behind Finland. Two wins against the direct competition would make it virtually impossible for Finland not qualify. After a miserable year, Pohjanpalo could be set to make his first appearance for his national side since the the end of March 2018.
Panagiotis Retsos can also be hopeful of playing for the full international team in the Euro qualifiers: The 21-year-old is first set to help out the Greece U21 team (against the Czech Republic U 21 is on 10 October) and after that, the national coach John van 't Schip has included him in the senior squad for the first time in 18 months for the qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina (15 October). In the same group as Finland, Greece (five points) are only in with an outside chance of qualifying for the Euros.
Also on the road with their international teams are Paulinho (Brazil U23), Moussa Diaby (France U21) and Adrian Stanilewicz (Poland U20). In addition, the U19 players Marcel Lotka (Poland U19) and Hans Anapak (Cameroon U23) have also been called up.
Bayer 04 Women end their record-breaking season away at Wolfsburg on Sunday (kick-off: 2pm CEST). Although the Werkself know they will finish the campaign in fourth for their best-ever finish, head coach Roberto Pätzold has called on his team to produce one final big result.
Show moreBayer 04 Women will be without Caroline Kehrer and Charlotte Voll for the remainder of the season. Striker Kehrer suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during training, while goalkeeper Voll tore the syndesmosis in her right foot.
Show moreBayer 04 are again strongly represented in this year's Bundesliga Team of the Season from the games manufacturer EA Sports. Five Werkself players have been voted into the top XI for the 2024/25 season, a duo from the Bayer 04 Women's team are in the female Bundesliga TOTS. Bayer 04 were well represented last season with six male players in the top eleven, the most players from one club.
Show moreA few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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