Jonathan Tah, Nadiem Amiri and Kai Havertz were called up to the Germany squad again although the 20-year-old playmaker has had to withdraw due to an injury sustained in last Sunday's 2-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Joachim Löw's team play Belarus in Mönchengladbach on Saturday 16 November. The final qualifier is three days later when the four-time world champions entertain Northern Ireland in Frankfurt (both kick-offs at 20.45 CET and broadcast live on RTL). Providing Northern Ireland do not beat the Netherlands – that game is also on Saturday night – then Tah, Amiri and Co. will qualify for the finals if they beat Belarus. Even a draw would be enough if the Dutch beat the Northern Irish team. Germany will be looking to make a statement by winning the two remaining Euro qualifiers. That would increase the chances of winning the group, which could be crucial for the draw at the end of the month: Only the six best group winners will be seeded as the strongest teams. Group runners-up will be in pots two to four according to the UEFA coefficients and those could be much tougher groups.
The Werkself duo Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic are on the road with Austria. Saturday brings a home game at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna when Austria take on North Macedonia. That is followed on Tuesday 19 November by an away fuxture against Latvia in Riga (kick-offs at 20.45 CET, both games live on DAZN). One point against North Macedonia would be enough to qualify for the finals. Austria are currently second in Group G, three points behind Poland.
Lukas Hradecky is in a position, in his own words, to "make history" with his home country Finland: The Scandinavians are on the verge of making their first appearance in the European Championship finals. The Finns need just one win and that could come on Friday 15 November in the home game against Liechtenstein in Helsinki (kick-off at 20.45 CET, live on DAZN). The 'Eagle Owls' would then finish second in Group J behind Italy regardless of the outcome of the other games and the result against Greece in Athens on Monday 18 November (kick-off 20.45 CET, live on DAZN). Werkself striker Joel Pohjanpalo is not available for the two remaining qualifiers: The 25-year-old suffered an ankle injury in a training session with his international team-mates. Pohjanpalo is remaining with the Finland squad for the rest of the international break and he will give them his maximum support.
The U21 European Championships are also in full swing: Bayer 04 pros Moussa Diaby (France U21s) and Panagiotis Retsos (Greece U21s) are also representing their countries. Diaby and France play Georgia on Friday and are away to Switzerland on Tuesday (19 November). The Greece U21 team, including Retsos, play Scotland in Edinburgh tomorrow. Adrian Stanilewicz and the Poland U20 national team are involved in the U20 Elite League: Adrian was on the bench in the 5-1 win against Switzerland on Thursday. There is a friendly on Monday against the Norway U20s.
Away from the Euro qualifiers, there are a number of friendlies to be played: Lucas Alario is with Argentina for a friendly against Brazil in Riyadh (Friday 15 November, kick-off: 18.00 CET) and three days later they take on Uruguay in Tel Aviv (kick-off: 20 to 45 CET). The Peru v Chile friendly planned for next Wednesday involving Charles Aránguiz has been called off due to the national crisis in Chile. Paulinho is away with the Brazil U23s in the Canaries for a four-way tournament with the U23s playing the USA in the semi-finals. The Argentina and Chile junior teams are also involved.
At the end of the winter training camp in Portugal, the Bayer 04 Women convincingly mastered their friendly ahead of the start of the second half of the season. In the match against Swiss league leaders Servette FCCF, coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 3-0 at the Monte Gordo Sports Complex. Carlotta Wamser (4’), Vanessa Fudalla (18’) and Loreen Bender (53’) scored for Bayer 04, who have been preparing for the Rückrunde in the Algarve since last Saturday.
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In the first episode of the new interview series "A New Chapter", Werkself defender Jarell Quansah reflects on his first few months under the Cross and speaks about his journey from England to Leverkusen. Having come through the ranks at Liverpool, a new chapter began for Quansah in the summer at Bayer 04 — with new objectives, fresh challenges and much ambition. In the video, the centre-back speaks about his development as a player and person, about the courage to leave your own comfort zone, and about what it means for him to be part of an international team in a different country. Honest, reflective and full of motivation — just like the start of his Werkself career.
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Full focus on Hoffenheim: after the late postponement of the away match at Hamburger SV, the Werkself are looking forward. To get themselves in top shape for the key clash at top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 17 January (kick-off 15:30 CET), a number of players showed full commitment even on a day off - including two AFCON returnees...
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After Rio de Janeiro, it's off to Thuringia: This summer, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will prepare for the 2026/27 football season in Germany. While Brazil was the destination last year, the Werkself will now set up their training camp in Blankenhain, just outside Erfurt, from 1 to 7 August 2026.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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