Germany and the Netherlands had already qualified for the Euro 2020 finals from Group C on the previous matchday – in the final international fixture of the year it was all about winning the group for Germany in the game against Northern Ireland.
Germany coach Jogi Löw made five changes from the team that beat Belarus 4-0 on Saturday when no Werkself players were involved. Jonathan Tah and the former Leverkusen players Emre Can and Julian Brandt were given their chance.
Northern Ireland took an early lead on eight minutes when Michael Smith scored following a throw in – leaving no chance for Marc-André ter Stegen in the Germany net. After conceding, Germany upped their game and applied a lot of pressure. The deserved equaliser came on 19 minutes from Serge Gnabry who hit an excellent shot on the turn. Leon Goretzka made it 2-1 just before the half-time whistle (43').
The Löw team kept it tight at the back in the second half and Gnabry was unstoppable. He made it 3-1 shortly after the restart on 47 minutes and, shortly after that, Brandt provided an assist for the next goal – 4-1 (59'). Germany were in complete control. Leon Goretzka on 72 minutes and Julian Brandt in added time netted at 5-1 and 6-1 to seal the result. The hat-trick hero went off to be replaced by Nadiem Amiri for the last nine minutes.
'Die Mannschaft' ended up as group winners thanks to the victory over Northern Ireland on 21 points ahead of the Netherlands on 19 after they beat Estonia 5-0.
Austria, who were also already through to Euro 2020, lost 1-0 against Latvia. The two Werkself pros Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger started against the team at the bottom of the group. The two sides went into half-time all square at 0-0. Baumgartlinger was substituted at half-time. Latvia scored on 65 minutes and held onto their 1-0 lead to the end. Austria finished second in Group G with 19 points behind Poland on 25.
Moussa Diaby also had to accept defeat on Tuesday night in a European Championship qualifier when the French U20s lost 3-1 against Switzerland. The 20-year-old was substituted on 63 minutes. After four matchdays, France are on nine points behind leaders Switzerland (12) in Group two.
Finland played Greece on Monday night in the final European Championship qualifier. There was nothing at stake for the Eagle Owls as they had already secured participation in their first ever Euro finals by finishing group runners-up on the previous matchday. The national coach gave Hradecky a break and he was able to watch from the bench as Greece ran out 2-1 winners. Finland ended up second in Group J with 18 points behind Italy on 30 points.
Also on Monday night, Argentina and Uruguay drew 2-2 in a friendly. Lucas Alario did not play for the ‘Selección Argentina’ and Adrian Stanilewicz did not play for the Poland U20s in a friendly against Norway that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bayer 04 were beaten 2-0 away at Augsburg on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga. The Werkself had the majority of the ball but fell behind early to Dimitrios Giannoulis and then Anton Kade inside the first half an hour. Despite an attempted fightback in the second half and striking the frame of the goal three times, Leverkusen were left empty handed.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 3-2 win against RB Leipzig on the 12th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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For the second time in three weeks, Bayer 04 have to face a team that has just changed coach. The Werkself’s overall record against Augsburg and the Bavarians’ poor season so far both point towards a Leverkusen win, but head coach Kasper Hjulmand is still aware of the threat going into Saturday’s Bundesliga encounter (kick-off: 15:30 CET). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 13 fixture at the WWK Arena.
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The groups for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico have been finalised. At the draw in the USA capital Washington D.C., which was hosted by German top model Heidi Klum and others, 48 teams were drawn for the first time. The groups at a glance.
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