International blog: Palacios plays full game – Hincapie in draw on Ancelotti debut

+++ 06/06: The next win for Palacios' Albiceleste +++

Werkself player Exequiel Palacios, who was in the starting line-up and played the full game, with Argentina beat Chile 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier. The only goal of the game was scored by Julian Alvarez (Atlético Madrid) on 15 minutes. For the unchallenged leaders of the South American group it was the fourth win in a row. Argentina are next in action at home to sixth-placed Colombia in the second and final match in the current international break.

+++ 06/06: Hincapie and Co. spoil Ancelotti debut +++

Ecuador with key defender Piero Hincapie continue their unbeaten run: The goalless draw in the home game against Brazil under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti was the eighth successive World Cup qualifier without defeat for the South American side. Hincapie and Co. are second in the table behind Argentina.

+++ 05/06: Spain follow Portugal into Nations League final +++

The second finalist in the UEFA Nations League is confirmed: A day after Germany's defeat in the last four against Portugal, European champions Spain beat France in an action-packed game. Spain were already 4-0 up after 55 minutes in Stuttgart. France made it exciting in the closing stages but the goal in added time to make it 5-4 came too late.

That means Werkself player Alejandro Grimaldo, who did not feature in the semi-final, and his fellow countrymen are in the final against Portugal on Sunday, 8 June with the kick-off in Munich at 21:00 CEST.

+++ 04/06: Wirtz scores in semi-final exit for Germany +++

Germany suffered a defeat after eight games without losing. In the semi-final of the UEFA Nations League in Munich, the team led by coach Julian Nagelsmann took the lead but lost 2-1 to Portugal. After a goalless first half, Werkself player Florian Wirtz, who played the full 90 minutes, opened the scoring on 48 minutes. Portugal equalised a quarter of an hour later and turned the game round five minutes after that. Robert Andrich did not feature.

The opponents in the third-place play-off on Sunday 8 June (kick-off: 15:00 CET in Stuttgart) are Spain or France. The second semi-final is tomorrow Thursday, 5 June with the kick off in Stuttgart at 21:00 CEST.

+++ 02/06: Tapsoba plays 90 minutes in Burkina Faso friendly +++

The Burkina Faso national team is using the current international break for two friendlies against African teams. In the first match, Werkself player Edmond Tapsoba and Co. faced Tunisia on Monday night in Radès close to Tunis. Tapsoba gave the hosts the lead after the hour mark when an attempt to clear unfortunate ended up in the back of his own net. Tunisia scored the final goal of the game to make it 2-0 just before full-time. Burkina Faso play Zimbabwe in the second friendly on Friday.

+++ 31/05: Nigeria win tournament with a draw +++

After the opening match against Ghana (2-1) in the Unity Cup 2025 in London, Nigeria with Werkself player Nathan Tella played Jamaica on Saturday night. The Super Eagles, with Tella in the starting XI and on the pitch up to 65 minutes, twice gave away the lead – the final score on 90 minutes was 2-2. Nigeria won the penalty shootout allowing Tella and Co. to lift the trophy against the backdrop of the London sky.

+++ 28/05, 23:01 CEST: Tella also a winner +++

Nathan Tella and Nigeria were involved in the first match of the Unity Cup 2025 in London. The Super Eagles beat Ghana 2-1 with Tella not making an appearance. The second and final game in the four-sided competition is on Saturday 31 May. The opponents are Jamaica who beat Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 in their first match.

+++ 28/05, 21:05 CEST: Garcia wins against Costa Rica +++

Aleix Garcia was the first Werkself player to start the international fixtures on Wednesday night. The Leverkusen player played for Catalonia in a friendly against Costa Rica that ended in a 2-0 victory for the Catalans. Garcia was in the starting XI .

Fixtures and results: