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28.05.2025Bayer 04

Internationals: Nations League semi-finals and World Cup qualifiers await

After the end of the competitive season for Bayer 04, the Werkself players still have a few international matches to look forward to at the beginning of June. In the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League, for example, the German national team will face Portugal, while the next World Cup qualifiers and a number of friendly matches will take place. An overview.
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Florian WirtzRobert Andrich and Jonathan Tah have been named in Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann's squad. The Nations League semi-final against Portugal happens on Wednesday 4 June at 21:00 CEST at Munich's Allianz Arena.

Germany edged past Italy in the quarter-finals. A 2-1 first-leg victory was followed by a thrilling 3-3 draw. The Portuguese, meanwhile, recovered from a 1-0 loss in the first leg against Denmark and won 5-2 after extra time in the return leg.

In the other semi-final, Alejandro Grimaldo and Spain take on France. La Roja defeated Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals after a 2-2 draw in the first leg, while the French recovered from a 2-0 first-leg deficit and overcame Croatia 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

The final will take place at the Allianz Arena on Sunday 8 June (kick-off 20:45 CEST), with the third-place match happening earlier that day at the MHP Arena (kick-off 15:00 CEST).

OTHERS IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ACTION

Since March, the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico have been ongoing. The teams are beginning their campaigns at different points, though, depending on their involvement in the Nations League. For the five-team groups G to L, for example, the third and fourth rounds of fixtures already take place in this international break. The groups of four from A to E, in which Germany find themselves, don't play their first qualifiers until Matchday 5 in early autumn. All groups will finish at the same time in November.

Patrik Schick and Matej Kovar are in the Czech squad for their clashes against Montenegro and Croatia in Group L. Schick and Co currently lead their group with six points.

Lukas Hradecky and Finland meet Netherlands and Jeremie Frimpong in their third match in Group G, followed by a meeting with Poland. The Dutch, meanwhile, face Malta. The Finns currently occupy second place with four points. Because Netherlands played against Spain in the aforementioned Nations League quarter-final in March, they're yet to play in World Cup qualifying.

Xhaka in the USA – Tella at Unity Cup

Captain Granit Xhaka is in Switzerland's squad for two friendlies against Mexico and the USA. Aleix Garcia, meanwhile, has been selected in the Catalonia team, who play Costa Rica in a friendly. Edmond Tapsoba is in action for Burkina Faso in two friendlies against Zimbabwe and Tunisia. Alejo Sarco has a friendly double-header for Argentina U20s against Australia U20s. 

Nathan Tella is in London with Nigeria at the Unity Cup 2025, where the Super Eagles take on Ghana and then either Jamaica or Trinidad & Tobago. Nigeria also play a friendly against Russia after that. Victor Boniface is in the squad alongside Tella for that one.

The call-ups at a glance (all times CEST):

Florian Wirtz, Robert Andrich and Jonathan Tah (Germany)

Wednesday 04/06, 21:00: Germany vs. Portugal (UEFA Nations League, semi-finals)

Sunday 08/06, 15;00/20:45: Germany vs. Spain/France (UEFA Nations League third-place match/final)

Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain)

Thursday 05/06, 20:45: Spain vs. France (UEFA Nations League, semi-finals)

Sunday 08/06, 15;00/20:45: Spain vs. Germany/Portugal (UEFA Nations League third-place match/final)

Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)

Saturday, 07/06, 22:00: Mexico vs. Switzerland (friendly)

Wednesday 11/06, 2:00: USA vs. Switzerland (friendly)

Patrik Schick and Matej Kovar (Czech Republic)

Friday 06/06, 20:45: Czech Republic vs. Montenegro (World Cup qualifying, match 3)

Monday 09/06, 20:45: Croatia vs. Czech Republic (World Cup qualifying, match 4)

Lukas Hradecky (Finland)

Saturday 07/06, 20:45: Finland vs. Netherlands (World Cup qualifying, match 3)

Tuesday 10/06, 20:45: Finland vs. Poland (World Cup qualifying, match 4)

Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands)

Saturday 07/06, 20:45: Finland vs. Netherlands (World Cup qualifying, match 1)

Tuesday 10/06, 20:45: Netherlands vs. Malta World Cup qualifying, match 2)

Aleix Garcia (Catalonia)

Wednesday 28/05, 19:00: Catalonia vs. Costa Rica

Nathan Tella (Nigeria)

Wednesday 28/05, 20:00: Nigeria vs. Ghana (Unity Cup 2025, match 1)

Saturday 31/05, 19:00: Nigeria vs. Jamaica/Trinidad & Tobago (Unity Cup 2025, match 2)

Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface (Nigeria)

Friday 06/06, 19:00: Russia vs. Nigeria (friendly)

Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso)

Monday 02/06: Burkina Faso vs. Zimbabwe (friendly)

Friday 06/06: Burkina Faso vs. Tunisia (friendly)

Alejo Sarco (Argentina U20)

Friday 06/06: Argentina vs. Australia (friendly)

Monday 09/06: Argentina vs. Australia (friendly)

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