Goalkeeper Lennart Grill and rising star Florian Wirtz are set to play for Germany in the quest for the U21 EURO title from 31 May. Stefan Kuntz called up the Werkself duo on Sunday afternoon for his squad for the knockout phase. Grill, Wirtz and Co. secured progress in the first part of the two-section tournament by finishing second in Group A. The opponents in the quarter-finals are Denmark.
Four Bayer 04 players are involved in the European Championship: While the Austrians including Aleksandar Dragovic and Austria captain Julian Baumgartlinger face the Netherlands, Ukraine and North Macedonia in Group C, the Czech Republic team, with Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick, take on Scotland, England and Croatia in Group D.
Markku Kanerva, in charge of Finland, can count on the services of Werkself keeper Lukas Hradecky. The 31-year-old was able to celebrate participation in the group stage of a European Championship for the first time with Finland. Also in the squad: Joel Pohjanpalo who is currently on loan at Union Berlin.
At the same time as EURO 2020, there will also be football on the South American continent. Werkself captain Charles Aránguiz is currently involved with Chile in the World Cup qualifiers as well as the Copa América being staged in Argentina and Colombia. The midfielder played the full 90 minutes in five out of six games in the South American equivalent of the European Championship two years ago.
The Argentina duo Exequiel Palacios and Lucas Alario have also being called up for the Albiceleste squad but it appears unlikely the two Werkself players will be able to play in the South American championship due to a groin injury (Palacios) and a thigh injury (Alario).
Edmond Tapsoba and Moussa Diaby are also on the road with their national teams. The Bayer 04 defender is set to play for Burkina Faso in two friendlies against the Ivory Coast and Morocco a week later. Diaby and his French teammates are already well advanced in the U21 European Championship – after successfully progressing through the group stage, which finished at the end of March, the U21 Équipe Tricolore team trained by Silvain Ripoll meet the Netherlands for a place in the semi-finals.
Lennart Grill and Florian Wirtz (Germany U21s):
Monday, 31 May (21.00 CEST): Denmark U21 v Germany U21 (U21 Euro quarter-final)
Thursday, 3 June (18/21.00 CEST): potential U21 Euro semi-final
Sunday, 6 June (21.00 CEST): potential U21 Euro semi-final
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria):
Wednesday, 2 June (21.00 CEST): England v Austria (Friendly)
Sunday, 6 June (17.30 CEST): Austria v Slovakia (Friendly)
Sunday, 13 June (18.00 CEST): Austria v North Macedonia (EURO)
Thursday, 17 June (21.00 CEST): Netherlands v Austria (EURO)
Monday, 21 June (18.00 CEST): Ukraine v Austria (EURO)
Lukas Hradecky (Finland):
Saturday, 29 May (18.00 CEST): Sweden v Finland (Friendly)
Friday, 4 June (18.00 CEST): Finland v Estonia (Friendly)
Saturday 12 June (18.00 CEST): Denmark v Finland (EURO)
Wednesday, 16 June (15.00 CEST): Finland v Russia (EURO)
Monday, 21 June (21.00 CEST): Finland v Belgium (EURO)
Patrik Schick (Czech Republic):
Friday 4 June (20.45 CEST): Italy v Czech Republic (Friendly)
Tuesday, 8 June (20.15 CEST): Czech Republic v Albania (Friendly)
Monday, 14 June (15.00 CEST): Scotland v Czech Republic (EURO)
Friday, 18 June (18.00 CEST): Croatia v Czech Republic (EURO)
Tuesday, 22 June (21.00 CEST): Czech Republic v England (EURO)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile):
Friday, 4 June (02.00 CEST): Argentina v Chile (World Cup qualifier)
Wednesday, 9 June (03.30 CEST): Chile v Bolivia (World Cup qualifier)
Sunday, 13 June (23.00 CEST): Argentina v Chile (Copa América)
Thursday, 17 June (23.00 CEST): Chile v Bolivia (Copa América)
Sunday, 20 June (22.00 CEST): Uruguay v Chile (Copa América)
Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Friday, 4 June (02.00 CEST): Argentina v Chile (World Cup qualifier)
Wednesday, 9 June (01.00 CEST): Colombia v Argentina (World Cup qualifier)
Sunday, 13 June (23.00 CEST): Argentina v Chile (Copa América)
Friday, 18 June (02.00 CEST): Argentina v Uruguay (Copa América)
Monday, 21 June (01.00 CEST): Argentina v Paraguay (Copa América)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso):
Saturday, 5 June (14.00 CEST): Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso (Friendly)
Saturday, 12 June (21.00 CEST): Morocco v Burkina Faso (Friendly)
Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Monday, 31 May (18.00 CEST): Netherlands U21 v France U21 (U21 EURO quarter-final)
Thursday, 3 June (18/21.00 CEST): potential U21 EURO semi-final
Sunday, 6 June (21.00 CEST): potential U21 EURO semi-final
*Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Under the motto ‘Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26’, Bayer 04 are turning this season's UEFA Champions League season into a festival. In addition to a Spotify playlist that fans can use to get in the mood for the Champions League nights, there is also a tour pass with stickers for the respective UCL matches exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members. These could be picked up in the respective weeks of the matches. The sticker for the final clash in the league phase (Villarreal, 28 January, 21:00 CET) is now available at the Fanwelt. The competition for all diligent sticker collectors is also now open. Read on for further information.
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This afternoon, Saturday 24 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET), Bayer 04 host SV Werder Bremen, who are winless in their last seven league games. Nevertheless, in their last outing, a 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, where they conceded a late equaliser, the Green and Whites did show their team spirit. The Werkself, led by birthday boy Patrik Schick, will be looking to counter this and secure their first three points of the new year on this ‘!Never Again’ remembrance matchday to commemorate the victims of National Socialism. Read on for the latest information in today's matchday news.
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Happy birthday, Patrik Schick! On his special day, it's not just the Czech striker who can look forward to lots of presents and hopefully many more goals – Bayer 04 fans can also get their hands on a free number 14 print when they buy a Werkself jersey today, January 24! In addition, a match-worn jersey belonging to the now 30-year-old will be raffled off among all purchasers next week.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 win at 1. FC Union Berlin on the 15th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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