Since Sunday it has been clear that Charles Aránguiz will not travel to join the Chile squad. The 30-year-old suffered a hairline fracture to his right metatarsal and a thigh injury in the closing stages of the game against Leipzig. As a result he has withdrawn from the international squad due to injury.
Kai Havertz, Jonathan Tah and newcomer Nadiem Amiri are flying the Bayer 04 flag in the Germany squad. The friendly against Argentina, including team-mate Lucas Alario, on 10 October is followed by the third-last Euro 2020 qualifier. The leaders in Group C face Estonia (13 October) who have yet to register a point.
Austria coach Franco Foda has again called up two Werkself players: Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragović are in the Austria squad for the crucial Euro 2020 qualifiers against rivals Israel (10 October) and Slovenia (13 October). With four games to play, Austria are third in Group G (10 points), Israel are in fifth (a) and Slovenia second (11).
Finland, with Lukas Hradecky and returnee Joel Pohjanpalo, also have two important games. As the team lying second in Group J, the Finns (12) meet Bosnia-Herzegovina (12 October) and Armenia (15 October) who are in third and fourth places behind Finland. Two wins against the direct competition would make it virtually impossible for Finland not qualify. After a miserable year, Pohjanpalo could be set to make his first appearance for his national side since the the end of March 2018.
Panagiotis Retsos can also be hopeful of playing for the full international team in the Euro qualifiers: The 21-year-old is first set to help out the Greece U21 team (against the Czech Republic U 21 is on 10 October) and after that, the national coach John van 't Schip has included him in the senior squad for the first time in 18 months for the qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina (15 October). In the same group as Finland, Greece (five points) are only in with an outside chance of qualifying for the Euros.
Also on the road with their international teams are Paulinho (Brazil U23), Moussa Diaby (France U21) and Adrian Stanilewicz (Poland U20). In addition, the U19 players Marcel Lotka (Poland U19) and Hans Anapak (Cameroon U23) have also been called up.
Bayer 04 have signed left-back Carolin Simon from champions Bayern Munich for the coming season. The 33-year-old former Germany international, who played for Leverkusen from 2013 to 2016, has signed a contract to 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Women have strengthened for the coming season with the signing of Lobke Loone. The 23-year-old Dutch striker joins from Utrecht on a contract until 30 June 2028.
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The Werkself returned from the near one-month break in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga with a convincing victory at home. Roberto Pätzold's side beat SC Freiburg 4-1 on Sunday afternoon, with goals from Katharina Piljic, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Cornelia Kramer and Carlotta Wamser ensuring a 13th win of the season at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The Black and Reds, who are now on 40 points, move up to fourth place at least overnight.
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The fifth consecutive derby win over 1. FC Köln was a hugely significant one in terms of the battle for the UEFA Champions League places. Goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, speaking for the whole team, dedicated the 2-1 victory in the cathedral city to the travelling support: "I'm especially happy about this victory for our fans!" Get the rest of the reaction from those involved and the media, as well as some impressive stats on two-goal hero Patrik Schick and a look at the all-time Bundesliga table, in the Werkself Review.
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