Hincapie scores winner in final friendly before Copa América

+++ 16.06.: Successful Copa América rehearsal for Hincapie and Ecuador +++

Ecuador, with Piero Hincapie in the starting XI, beat Honduras 2-1 in the final friendly ahead of the Copa América. After the Honduras player Bryan Rochez cancelled out opening goal scored by Ecuador’s Jeremy Sarmiento in the first half, it looked like the game was heading for a 1-1 draw. But the Werkself player Hincapie struck with a minute of normal time to play to net the winner at 2-1 on 89 minutes.

+++ 10.06.: Hincapie and Palacios in friendly ahead of Copa América +++

Exequiel Palacios and Piero Hincapie faced each other in a friendly ahead of the Copa América starting in the USA on 20 June. Palacios came on as a substitute on 86 minutes in the match between Argentina and Ecuador, won 1-0 by the Albiceleste. Hincapie played the full game.

+++ 08.06.: Euro 2024 rehearsal for next Werkself trio +++

Three other Bayer 04 players featured in the final friendlies ahead of Euro 2024. Alejandro Grimaldo came on in the second half in Spain's 5-1 win against Northern Ireland, Josip Stanisic was a starter in Croatia's 2-1 win against Portugal and he played the full 90 minutes.

Switzerland, with captain and record international appearance maker Granit Xhaka in the starting XI, drew 1-1 with Austria. Switzerland – alongside Germany in Group A – are next in action in their first group match against Hungary. Spain play Croatia in their first game at Euro 2024.

+++ 07.06.: Germany fight back to beat Greece 2-1 +++

Germany won their last game before the European Championships. The team under coach Julian Nagelsmann turned a 1-0 deficit against Greece into a 2-1 win. Robert Andrich, Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah were in the starting line-up. Wirtz was substituted at half-time and Andrich played 69 minutes. Tah clocked up the full 90 minutes.

Scotland, who play Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024 on 14 June, faced Finland in their last friendly before the tournament. Lukas Hradecky did not play in this final friendly for Finland that ended all square at 2-2.

A Leverkusen trio played in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup on Friday night. The Ivory Coast, with Odilon Kossounou in the starting line-up, beat Gabon 1-0. Morocco secured a 2-1 win against Zambia with Amine Adli introduced on 77 minutes. Nigeria drew 1-1 with South Africa with Victor Boniface not playing in the game.

+++ 07.06.: Kovar in the starting line-up in runaway win for Czechia +++

In their penultimate test before Euro 2024, Czechia, with Matej Kovar in the starting line-up, beat Malta 7-1. Kovar was in goal for the first half with the score 3-0 at the end of the first 45. Kovar was substituted at half-time and the striking duo of Patrik Schick and Adam Hlozek did not play.

+++ 06.06.: Frimpong on top form ahead of Euro 2024 +++

A successful night for Jeremie Frimpong: The wing back was on the winning side with the Netherlands in a 4-0 victory over Canada in a friendly. Frimpong was in the starting XI and he set up the opener on 50 minutes with a cross to teammate Memphis Depay from the right. The Werkself player scored himself to double the lead seven minutes later. Frimpong was substituted just after the hour mark.

Edmond Tapsoba and Burkina Faso suffered a defeat in the World Cup qualifier against Egypt. Tapsoba played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 loss. Burkina Faso are third in Group A in the World Cup qualifiers after three matches.

+++ 05.06.: Grimaldo starts in 5-0 runaway win for Spain+++

Alejandro Grimaldo and Spain had their final friendly ahead of Euro 2024 on Wednesday night. La Furia Roja clocked up a 5-0 victory over Andorra. Grimaldo was in the starting line-up and he played for the first half of the game.

+++ 04.06.: Xhaka and Switzerland win last home game before Euro 2024 +++

Switzerland, with captain Granit Xhaka in the starting line-up, won their penultimate friendly ahead of Euro 2024 with a 4-0 victory over Estonia. Three goals in the second half extended the 1-0 lead at half-time. Switzerland's most capped player Xhaka was on the pitch up to 74 minutes when he made way for teammate Michel Aebischer.

Lukas Hradecky was on the losing side with Finland losing 4-2 against Portugal. The captain Hradecky played the full 90 minutes.

+++ 03.06: Leverkusen trio start for Germany +++

Germany drew 0-0 with Ukraine in their penultimate friendly ahead of Euro 2024. Robert Andrich, Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz were all in the starting XI for the match on Monday night. While Wirtz was substituted at half-time, Tah was on the pitch for an hour. Andrich played 70 minutes.

Croatia also played their penultimate friendly ahead of the European Championships. They secured a 3-0 win against North Macedonia but Josip Stanisic did not get on.  

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