
The three Confed Cup winners Julian Brandt, Benjamin Henrichs and Bernd Leno are in the Germany squad for the World Cup qualifiers for the 2018 tournament in Russia with matches against the Czech Republic (1 September in Prague, 20.45 CET live on RTL) and Norway (4 September in Stuttgart, 20.45 CET live on RTL). Löw announced his squad on Friday.
17 of the Confed Cup winners are in the 24-strong Germany squad. They are joined by established players who were rested for the tournament in Russia. In Group C of the World Cup qualifiers, Germany are clearly ahead of Northern Ireland with six victories so far.
Jonathan Tah has been called up to the U21 squad - the Germany team under coach Stefan Kuntz have a friendly against Hungary on 1 September before the European Championship qualifier against Kosovo four days later. Earlier in the week it was announced that Atakan Akkaynak, Kai Havertz and Sam Schreck have been called up by Germany coach Meikel Schönweitz for the U19 international fixtures in Switzerland (31 August) and in England (5 September).
Bayer 04 head coach Heiko Herrlich will also have to make do without six other players during the international break: Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic (both Austria), Admir Mehmedi (Switzerland), Kevin Kampl (Slovenia), Joel Pohjanpalo (Finland) plus Charles Aránguiz (Chile) have also been called up for international duty.

Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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