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)
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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As well as internal changes and familiar faces, Bayer 04 are also looking to bring fresh impetus to the coaching staff of the senior youth squads for the 2026/27 campaign. Here is an overview of the U19, U17 and U16 teams.
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Bayer 04 have signed 16-year-old defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. The Germany U17 international is joining the Werkself from the Berlin Bundesliga 2 club on a long-term contract. Eichhorn made 19 appearances for the Hertha Berlin first team last season, scoring two goals.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Kennet Eichhorn. Bayer 04 have signed the 16-year-old midfielder from Hertha Berlin. Read on to find out more about our new signing.
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