Bernd Leno and Julian Brandt have been called up by Joachim Löw For Wednesday's friendly against England in Dortmund (20.45 CET) and the World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan (18.00 CET) on Sunday 26 March. The match against the Three Lions at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund is also a farewell appearance for Lukas Podolski who is set to make his 130th and last appearance for Germany. ‘Poldi’ made his full international debut in 2004 under the then national coach Rudi Völler.
Several Bayer 04 pros will face each other in these internationals. That applies to the World Cup qualifier in Group I between Turkey and Finland to be played on Friday 24 March at 18.00 CET in Antanya: Ömer Toprak and Joel Pohjanpalo could line up as direct opponents. And the same could apply in the following friendly for the Finns away to Austria on Tuesday 28 March when 'Danger' Pohjanpalo could face team-mates Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger in the Austrian team..
Tin Jedvaj and Croatia also have one World Cup cup qualifier and one friendly. In Group I, the leaders Croatia meet second-placed Ukraine and a victory would give them breathing space in top spot. Fourth-placed Turkey have to beat Finland to still be in with a chance of qualification.
Austria with Dragovic and Baumgartlinger – Bayer 04 keeper Ramazan Öczan announced his international retirement last week – are also under pressure against bottom-placed Moldova. Admir Mehmedi and Switzerland have a perfect record to date putting them top of World Cup qualification Group B with a maximum possible 12 points so far. A win in the home game against Latvia would only strengthen their current position. Slovenia, with Kevin Kampl, are also doing well in second place behind England in Group F. On Sunday 26 March they are away to Scotland who currently have four fewer points.
Chile cracker against Argentina
Chile and Charles Aránguiz have two important games in the South American World Cup qualifiers. Three points against bottom of the table Venezuelan are an absolute must in the second match on Wednesday 29 March. The previous game against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Friday night is a tougher prospect for Chile. The Chileans are fourth on 20 points and would qualify with a win while hosts Argentina are a point behind on course for the play-offs.
After two World Cup qualifiers, Mexico are in second place with four points, two behind leaders Costa Rica, who Chicharito and co. face in the Aztec Stadium in the night to Saturday. Following that, Mexico are in action again on Wednesday 29 March against Trinidad and Tobago on zero points.
The Germany U 21's, with Benjamin Henrichs, have friendly fixtures against England on Friday 24 March and Portugal on Monday 27 March. Turkey take on Moldova (Monday 27 March) and Croatia are away to Estonia (Tuesday 28 March). Werkself youngsters Atakan Akkaynak and Sam Schreck are set to play for the Germany U18s in two friendlies in France on 23 and 26 March.
Bayer 04 player Carlotta Wamser is part of a VIP group joining together for the launch of the DFB campaign Punktespiel 2.0. The Germany international, who signed for the Werkself in the summer, will be speaking tonight (Monday) alongside former Leverkusen managing director sport Rudi Völler, now the current DFB sporting director, plus DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth at the FC Grenzwacht Hürtgen club house about the new clubs campaign launched by the German Football Association (DFB).
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The Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Matchday 5 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The game at the Millerntor Stadion will be played on Saturday, 27 September with the kick-off at 15:30 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-2 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 1st matchday of the Bundesliga 2025/26...
The 2025/26 Bundesliga season begins for the Werkself with a home game against Hoffenheim on Saturday. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 1 fixture at the BayArena.
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Edmond Tapsoba is one of the pillars of the Bayer 04 team. The defender is now in his seventh season with the Werkself and taking on a new role as a leader on and off the pitch. Talking to Werkself Magazine, the 26-year-old Burkina Faso international explains the increased demands placed on his position within the team, his role as a “big brother” and why the squad’s overhaul is an opportunity for him and the team.
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