Back
7.11.2016Bayer 04

15 Werkself pros on international duty

The telephones of the Werkself squad have been ringing over the past few days. 15 members of the first-team squad have been called up for the forthcoming international break and they set off to join a national teams at the start of the week. They are in action across the globe from Friday and here is the first summary.
© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

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)

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

Related News

Bitburger
Business - 30.03.2026

Harmonious end to an era: Bayer 04 and Bitburger conclude partnership

The final whistle of the current 2025/26 season marks the end of a unique partnership for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. After more than three decades of collaboration and highly eventful times, the Bundesliga football club and the private brewery Bitburger are going their separate ways.

Show more
Zweikampf im Training
Women - 29.03.2026

‘Show more dominance’: Women hope for Pokal revenge in Hamburg

Around four months after their bitter exit in the DFB Pokal Round of 16, the Bayer 04 Women are once again away to Hamburger SV. On Monday night (18:00 CEST), the Werkself will not only be looking to pick up important points in the final phase of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga at the Volksparkstadion, but also to make amends for their defeat on penalties.

Show more
Gruppenfoto beim Aktionstag für Frauen und Mädchen mit Handicap gemeinsam mit den Bayer 04-Frauen
Sustainability - 28.03.2026

Inclusion, community and first team autographs: Day of action for women and girls with disabilities

A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.

Show more
BayArena dunkel
Bayer 04 - 28.03.2026

Earth Hour 2026: BayArena switches off lights for the planet

On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.

Show more