Back
8.11.2024Bayer 04

International updates: Trio in Germany squad – Xhaka and Hradecky face important games

The final international break of the year is coming up. After the Bundesliga game away to VfL Bochum on Saturday, 9 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET), a number of Bayer 04 players will be in action including in the final group matches in the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 or in the next qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The latest updates.
Florian Wirtz

The three Werkself players Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich and Florian Wirtz have been called up to the Germany squad by coach Julian Nagelsmann. Germany will play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Hungary in the last two group matches in the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 (see below for match details). Germany are currently top of Group 3 in League A on ten points five ahead of the Netherlands. The Nagelsmann team has already qualified for the quarter-finals.

The Netherlands also play the same two group opponents with Hungary up first and then Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jeremie Frimpong has been selected for the Oranje squad by coach Ronald Koeman. If the Netherlands beat Hungary they will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Xhaka up against European champion Grimaldo

Granit Xhaka is in the Switzerland squad for the final two matches in the Nations League. First up are Serbia followed by the European champions and group leaders Spain. That will bring a meeting with Werkself player Alejandro Grimaldo, called up to the Spain squad who will face Denmark before the game against Switzerland. Switzerland are currently bottom of Group 4 in League A on one point. If Switzerland are unable to beat Serbia then they will be relegated to League B. Xhaka and Co. cannot qualify for the quarter-finals. Grimaldo with Spain, like the Germany players, has already qualified for the quarter-finals with the Spaniards top of their group on ten points three ahead of Denmark.

Finland have to win - chance of promotion for czechia

Several other Bayer 04 players are involved with the last two Nations League group matches. Finland captain Lukas Hradecky with the Eagle Owls play Ireland and Greece. Finland, currently bottom of Group 2 in League B on no points, will be relegated to League C if they fail to beat Ireland. The Eagle Owls cannot be promoted. Matej Kovar is in the Czechia squad for the games against Albania and Georgia. The Czechs are currently top of Group 1 in League B and have a good chance of being promoted. If they win their first match against Albania and Georgia lose to Ukraine at the same time then promotion to League A is sealed on matchday five. 

Palacios in next world cup qualifiers

Exequiel Palacios has been called up to the Argentina squad by coach Lionel Scaloni. The Albiceleste are set to play matchdays 11 and 12 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru. Palacios and Co. currently top the South American qualifying table on 22 points. The first six of ten teams qualify directly for the finals with the seventh placed taking part in intercontinental play-offs.

Duo in last afcon qualifiers

Two Werkself players are involved in the last two qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations. Edmond Tapsoba, already qualified with Burkina Faso for the AFCON finals in the last international break in October, is set to be in action on matchday five against Senegal who have also already qualified. Matchday six brings the final qualifier against Malawi. Victor Boniface with Nigeria is in line to play against Benin and Rwanda. The Super Eagles are currently top of Group D on ten points but are not yet certain of qualifying.

Call-ups by other national associations are to follow and we will provide updates as soon as possible.

INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS:

Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich and Florian Wirtz (Germany)

16/11: Germany vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (UEFA Nations League)

19/11: Hungary vs Germany (UEFA Nations League)

Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands)

16/11: Netherlands vs Hungary(UEFA Nations League)

19/11: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Netherlands (UEFA Nations League)

Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)

15/11: Switzerland vs Serbia (UEFA Nations League)

18/11: Spain vs Switzerland (UEFA Nations League)

 

Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain)

15/11: Denmark vs Spain (UEFA Nations League)

18/11: Spain vs Switzerland (UEFA Nations League)

Lukas Hradecky (Finland)

14/11.: Ireland vs Finland (UEFA Nations League)

17/11.: Finland vs Greece (UEFA Nations League)

Matej Kovar (Czechia)

16/11: Albania vs Czechia (UEFA Nations League)

19/11: Czechia vs Georgia (UEFA Nations League)

Exequiel Palacios (Argentina)

15/11: Paraguay vs Argentina (World Cup qualifier)

20/11: Argentina vs Peru (World Cup qualifier)

Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso)

14/11: Burkina Faso vs Senegal (AFCON qualifier)

17/11: Malawi vs Burkina Faso (AFCON qualifier)

Victor Boniface (Nigeria)

14/11: Benin vs Nigeria (AFCON qualifier)

18/11: Nigeria vs Rwanda (AFCON qualifier)

 

Related News

Garcia und Grimaldo
eSports - 01.05.2026

Bayer 04 represented in Bundesliga Team of the Season again

Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.

Show more
T-Shirt-Verkauf für den guten Zweck mit Edmond Tapsoba, Ibrahim Maza und Christian Kofane
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Big crowd at shirt sale for a good cause with Tapsoba, Maza and Kofane - last chance at home matchday

This special event showed once again how strong Bayer 04 are as a team: As part of ‘BarmeniaGothaer gives joy’, the Werkself players Edmond Tapsoba, Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane supported the sale of individually designed T-shirts for a good cause at the Fanwelt on Thursday. Several hundred fans came to take part in the charity campaign. Leverkusen's main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer donated the proceeds to the Fondation Edmond Tapsoba, which helps people in Tapsoba's home country of Burkina Faso in their challenging everyday lives.

Show more
Spaß im Training
Women - 01.05.2026

Bayer 04 Women on hunt for records in Essen

With three games to play before the end of the season, the Bayer 04 Women can break one record and equal another at SGS Essen. After three wins on the bounce, coach Roberto Pätzold's team are aiming to maintain the chance of third place in Sunday’s away game (14:00 CEST, Stadion an der Hafenstraße).

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn’s May highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
RB Leipzig
Bundesliga - 30.04.2026

Our next opponents: Leipzig on a roll - and with a youngster on top form

RB Leipzig travel to Leverkusen on the back of a winning run: Ole Werner's team have clocked up five wins on the bounce. Currently third in the Bundesliga, qualification for the UEFA Champions League is within reach. This Saturday, 2 May (kick-off: 18:30 CEST), RBL want to take the next step towards next season’s UCL campaign at the BayArena. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more