
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)

Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 4-0 victory in the friendly match against KRC Genk...
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In their third friendly of this pre-season, Bayer 04 played on home soil for the first time – and won there too! The Werkself claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Jeanuel Belocian (9’) and Nathan Tella (42’) gave a dominant Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at the break, which Afonso Moreira (51’) and Christian Kofane (53’) doubled after the break. Among the many second-half substitutions was Patrik Schick, who made his first friendly appearance of the summer.
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The Werkself continue their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with their third friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Wednesday 29 July (kick-off 15:00 CEST). Werkself-TV is broadcasting the match live and in full in a stream from 14:50 CEST...

After the children from the Bayer 04 Football Academy grilled Janis Blaswich and Simeon Rapsch last week, another group of 20 young Werkself fans gathered at the BayArena press conference room on Tuesday afternoon, 28 July . This time, the kids directed their questions at Tim Oermann and Jonah Berghoff. Defender Oermann raved about his school days, whilst talented midfielder Berghoff revealed to the young footballers, amongst other things, who his favourite player is – and he is also at Bayer 04. To round things off, the pair naturally obliged with all requests for autographs and selfies.
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Bayer 04 are back on the pitch. Following the first training sessions, the Werkself play the first pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 18. The match against Oberliga club Sportfreunde Baumberg kicks off at 15:30 CEST in Monheim am Rhein. Fans unable to attend the match can watch head coach Carles Martínez’s first game in charge for free via a livestream at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app, as well as on Werkself.tv (exclusively for members). Just log on and watch the games live. All the other Werkself preseason friendlies leading up to the 2026/27 season will also be streamed live for free.
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