he Germany players are involved in the start of the European qualifiers for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia. Germany coach Joachim Löw has called up five Leverkusen players so that Bayer 04 and FC Bayern are providing the most players for the DFB squad. Julian Brandt, Kevin Volland, Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah plus newcomer Benjamin Henrichs are hopeful of playing against San Marino. The match in the small stadium in Serravalle on Friday kicks off at 20.45 CET.
More matches follow at the weekend: Chicharito and Mexico face a prestigious encounter in Ohio with the neighbours USA under coach Jürgen Klinsmann. Ömer Toprak and Hakan Calhanoglu are in line to play for Turkey against Kosovo at the same time that Tin Jedvaj and Croatia face Iceland, the surprise package of Euro 2016. The final match on Saturday sees Austria with captain Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic and keeper Ramazan Özcan, who takes over in goal from the injured first choice Robert Almer, play Ireland. Admir Mehmedi is an action with Switzerland on Sunday against the Faroe Islands.
Private audience with the Pope
Robbie Kruse has been a regular choice for the Socceroos for years. Austria play Thailand on Tuesday 15 November and an interesting match in the Asiatic World Cup qualifiers. That evening, Germany play a friendly against Italy at the legendary Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan. Before that, the Leverkusen quintet and the other players in the Germany squad have a unique appointment: Jogi Löw and his players have a private audience with Pope Francis in Rome.
The final fixtures of the international break involving Bayer 04 players will are in America. Chicharito and Mexico play Panama a week on Wednesday, Charles Aránguiz and Chile face Colombia and then Uruguay.
International fixtures involving Bayer 04 players:
Thursday, 10.11., 21.30 CET: Colombia v Chile (Aránguiz)
Friday., 11.11., 20.45 CET: San Marino v Germany (Volland, Brandt, Leno, Tah, Henrichs)
Saturday., 12.11., 1.45 CET: USA v Mexico (Chicharito)
Saturday., 12.11., 18.00 CET: Turkey v Kosovo (Toprak, Calhanoglu)
Saturday., 12.11., 18.00 CET: Croatia v Island (Jedvaj)
Saturday., 12.11., 20.45 CET: Austria v Ireland (Baumgartlinger, Özcan, Dragovic)
Sunday., 13.11., 18.00 CET: Switzerland v Faroe Islands (Mehmedi)
Tuesday., 15.11., 13.00 CET: Thailand v Australia (Kruse)
Tuesday., 15.11., 20.45 CET: Italy v Germany (Volland, Brandt, Leno, Tah, Henrichs)
Tuesday., 15.11., 20.45 CET: Northern Ireland v Croatia (Jedvaj)
Tuesday., 15.11., 20.45 CET: Austria v Slovakia (Baumgartlinger, Özcan, Dragovic)
Wednesday., 16.11., 0.30 CET: Chile v Uruguay (Aránguiz)
Wednesday., 16.11., 3.05 CET: Panama v Mexico (Chicharito)
This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
Show more
Bayer 04 have signed left-back Carolin Simon from champions Bayern Munich for the coming season. The 33-year-old former Germany international, who played for Leverkusen from 2013 to 2016, has signed a contract to 30 June 2028.
Show more
Bayer 04 Women have strengthened for the coming season with the signing of Lobke Loone. The 23-year-old Dutch striker joins from Utrecht on a contract until 30 June 2028.
Show more
The Werkself returned from the near one-month break in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga with a convincing victory at home. Roberto Pätzold's side beat SC Freiburg 4-1 on Sunday afternoon, with goals from Katharina Piljic, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Cornelia Kramer and Carlotta Wamser ensuring a 13th win of the season at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The Black and Reds, who are now on 40 points, move up to fourth place at least overnight.
Show more
