Back
7.10.2019Bayer 04

International break: Important games for Baumi, Hradecky and Co.

Following the 1-1 draw against Leipzig, 12 Werkself international players set off to join their national squads on Sunday and Monday. A week of international fixtures starts on Wednesday.
crop_20190909_Baumgartlinger_Oesterreich.jpg

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 As a result he has withdrawn from the international squad due to injury.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.

Pohjanpalo and Retsos set to return

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.

Related News

Effiziente Anfangsphase: Bayer 04-Frauen schlagen Leipzig verdient | 12. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 06.12.2025

Women: TV-highlights of 3-2 win against RB Leipzig

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.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #FCAB04
Bundesliga - 06.12.2025

Matchday news #FCAB04: Build on record win rate against Augsburg side under new management

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.

Show more
Tom Brady
Bayer 04 - 05.12.2025

World Cup draw: Germany face newcomers Curacao - Argentina and Algeria in same group

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.

Show more
Fernando Carro
Social Commitment - 05.12.2025

Fernando Carro and Stefan Kießling at the Day of Volunteering in the BayArena

As part of the joint commitment of Bayer 04 and the City of Leverkusen to volunteering, the annual Volunteer Day took place in the 19nullvier Lounge at the BayArena. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, Stefan Hebbel, Mayor of the City of Leverkusen, and club representative Stefan Kießling praised the commitment of the 200 or so volunteers from the region in attendance and thanked them for their impressive efforts.

Show more
Grafik Ibrahim Maza Bundesliga-Rookie of the Month November
Bayer 04 - 05.12.2025

Ibrahim Maza is Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for November

Fans, captains and experts have decided: Bayer 04 high-flyer Ibrahim Maza has been voted Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for November. The 20-year-old Algerian beat Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig and Bilal El Khannouss from VfB Stuttgart. Maza is currently also nominated for the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for November. Fans can vote for him up to Sunday, 7 December at 11:59 CET.

Show more