Ahead of the kick-off in Dortmund, the DFB president Reinhard Grindel gave Podolski an official farewell. Podolski thanked the fans in person for their support over the past 13 years. A fan choreography of a giant carnival cap celebrated the striker's international career.
England made the brighter start in the friendly and they had the better chances in the first half. Adam Lallana hit the woodwork on 31 minutes and Marc André ter Stegen kept out Dele Alli ten minutes later. Joachim Löw's team were lucky to go into the half-time break on equal terms.
Wonder goal from Podolski
The hosts upped their game after the restart. And Julian Brandt was involved in the first really good move: His long-range effort just went wide of Joe Hart's goal on 48 minutes. Brandt, winning his fifth cap, was substituted on the hour mark and he saw the decisive moment of the match from the bench. 69 minutes into his final international appearance, Lukas Podolski unleashed a hammer of a shot from 25 yards out that flew into the top left corner. A wonder goal! Shortly after that, Leroy Sané had the chance to double the lead for the now significantly stronger German side. With six minutes to play, Podolski left the field to a standing ovation. Germany won the friendly 1-0 and now go on to play Azerbaijan in Baku in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday (18.00 CET).
World Cup qualifiers on Friday
The next Werkself pros are in action for their national sides on Friday. Ömer Toprak and Joel Pohjanpalo could face each other in the World Cup qualifier between Turkey and Finland (18.00 CET). In other World Cup qualification games Tin Jedvaj is set to play for Croatia against Ukraine (20.45 CET), Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger are with Austria against Moldova (20.45 CET) and Charles Aránguiz is with Chile against Argentina (00.30 CET). Benjamin Henrichs and the Germany U21 side face England in a friendly on Friday (20.00 CET).
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
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Bayer 04 kick off the final phase of their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Head coach Carles Martínez’s team will take to the pitch at the City Ground today, Wednesday 12 August (kick-off: 8.45 pm/7.45 pm local time). Werkself-TV will broadcast the match live and in full exclusively for Bayer 04 members via livestream from 8.35 pm...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Argentina international Facundo Medina. The defender, who can play both at left-back and in a more central position in the back line, has signed a contract with Bayer 04 to 30 June 2031. The 1.84-metre-tall World Cup runner-up, who will wear the number 2 shirt, joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique de Marseille.
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Villa Fiorito, River Plate, Ligue 1, the World Cup final and now Bayer 04: Facundo Medina’s life story so far has been shaped by special places, clubs, matches and names. One of them is Diego Maradona, who, like Medina, hailed from the south of Buenos Aires. Another is Exequiel Palacios, his former team-mate at River Plate, who was raving about Bayer 04 to him as recently as the World Cup in North America. Medina has now taken the plunge into the Bundesliga and, as an Argentine World Cup runner-up, has joined Bayer 04 from Olympique de Marseille this week. It is set to be the next successful chapter in his career. Leverkusen’s new number 2 brings with him a South American mentality and passion, a wealth of experience from many years in Ligue 1, and a fascinating story to the Rhineland – and to a club where the 1.84-metre-tall left-footed player will be reunited with Palacios and several other familiar faces.
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Shortly after signing his contract with Bayer 04, new signing Facundo Medina spoke to Werkself.tv about his first impressions of the club, his expectations and his conversations with his Argentine compatriot Exequiel Palacios. The defender also reveals what the fans can look forward to. Welcome to Leverkusen, Facu!
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