The difference between success and failure in football is often minimal. With twelve minutes to play, Croatia were on course for a win in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley Stadium with a 1-0 lead over the hosts England. If the World Cup runners-up had held on to their lead then Croatia would have been through to the finals in Portugal next June. However, a brilliant strike by TSG Hoffenheim forward Andrej Kramaric was not enough in the end. Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane sealed the comeback for England with their late goals. With far-reaching consequences: The Three Lions secured top spot in the group with the last-gasp victory while Croatia join Germany in being relegated from Group A. Tin Jedvaj (pictured above with Raheem Sterling), who was the match-winner against Spain on Thursday with his two goals in a 3-2 victory, again started at left-back before moving across to the right side of defence after half an hour. In the first half, the Bayer 04 pro cleared on the line with a header after the Croatia keeper was beaten.
Captain Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic were winners with Austria in a 2-1 win away to Northern Ireland as the Hertha Berlin player Valentino Lazaro sealed the victory with a goal in added time. Both Werkself pros played the full 90 minutes in Belfast. Regular first-choice keeper Lukas Hradecky, rested by Finland for this game, watched a 2-0 defeat in Hungary from the bench. The Finns were able to accept defeat as they were already group winners and promoted from Group B in the Nations League.
The last two Bayer 04 pros in action, in addition to Julian Brandt, Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz, who are set to play for Germany against Holland on Monday night, are Isaac Kiese Thelin and Paulinho. The central striker is due to play for Sweden against Russia on Tuesday, following a 1-0 win in Turkey on Saturday. Kiese Thelin came on in the final minute of the game. A win by two or more goals could see Sweden, currently on three points, overtaking the group leaders Russia to seal promotion to Group A. Paulinho and the Brazil U20s have a second friendly against their contemporaries from Colombia on Tuesday following a goalless draw on Thursday.
Ibrahim Maza joined Bayer 04 from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2025. The youngster from Berlin developed into a difference-maker in his first season with the Werkself. Find out what makes the highly talented player tick in this very personal interview. Among other things, Maza talks about his Algerian-Vietnamese-German home, the role of his family and the importance of Islam for him both in his private life and in football...
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Bayer 04’s Ibrahim Maza is among the three nominees for the Bundesliga’s 2025/26 Rookie of the Season award. Fans have until 23:59 CEST on Thursday, 7 May to cast their votes in the official Bundesliga app.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Bayer 04 Women have kept their chance of qualifying for the Champions League alive in the Bundesliga run-in. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 4-0 at SGS Essen on Sunday afternoon, improving their record from last season to 14 wins this term. With 43 points, the Werkself equalled another record from the 2024/25 season and at the same time reduced the gap to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt to two points, at least for tonight. Loreen Bender (4’), Kristin Kögel (41’, 68’) and Cornelia Kramer (89’) scored for the Black and Reds, who dominated the game to record their fourth win on the bounce.
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