The winter signing from FC Köln is currently taking a rest after his first appearances for the senior team and he has been back at school since last week. A daily routine for a 17-year-old. However, the past few days have been exciting for Florian Wirtz: The Pulheim-born player won the Fritz Walter gold medal in the U17 age group and that was followed by a first call-up to the U21 squad under Stefan Kuntz.
“Florian is one of the outstanding talents in Germany. He already has experience in the Bundesliga, the Europa League and the DFB Cup,” said Kuntz. “After discussions with Joti Chatzialexiou and Meikel Schönweitz, plus the club, we decided to call him up to the U21s to further help his development.”
The Germany youngsters play Moldova in Wiesbaden on 3 September in a qualifier for the U21 European Championships (kick-off: 18.15 CET). Five days later, they face Belgium in Leuven (16.00 CET/both games on ProSieben MAXX). If Wirtz plays, then he will be the youngest-ever Germany U21 international. In addition to the striker, Kuntz has also called up Werkself keeper Lennart Grill. Grill already has two international caps with the U21s.
For Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic the new season starts with a game in the Nations League. The Werkself duo are set to play for Austria against Norway in Oslo on 4 September (kick-off: 20.45 CET). Three days later, ‘Baumi’ and Co. entertain Rumania in Klagenfurt. That match also kicks off at 20.45 CET.
Lukas Hradecky and returnee Joel Pohjanpalo will represent Finland in Helsinki on 3 September. They play Wales at 20.45 CET. That is followed on 6 September (18.00 CET) by an away game for the Finns in Ireland. The venue is the capital Dublin.
Tin Jedvaj and his Croatia teammates have two real crackers in the Nations League. Portugal are first up in Porto on 5 September, and World Cup winners France in Paris three days later (both games kick off at 20.45 CET). Moussa Diaby with France and Panos Retsos with Greece, like Wirtz and Grill, are also set to play in two U21 Euro qualifiers.
Werkself players called up:
Lennart Grill, Florian Wirtz (both Germany U21s)
Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic (both Austria)
Lukas Hradecky, Joel Pohjanpalo (both Finland)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia)
Moussa Diaby (France U21)
Panos Retsos (Greece U21)
The Werkself are in Dublin for the final of the UEFA Europa League against Atalanta on Wednesday (kick-off: 9pm CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team has all the info you need for the match at the Dublin Arena in the Irish capital…
Show moreTime to say goodbye! Matchday 22 against SV Werder Bremen marks not only the end of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga season for Bayer 04 Women but also, for their coach and a number of players, their time under the Cross. Moreover, the home match on Monday 20 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST) has plenty of sporting significance too.
Show moreAttacker Cecilie Johansen will leave Bayer 04 Women at the end of the season. The 23-year-old's contract with the works club has been terminated by mutual consent and she will return to her former club Aarhus GF in Denmark.
Show moreAs the clock struck 17:38 in Leverkusen, Lukas Hradecky became the first Bayer 04 captain to raise the Bundesliga Meisterschale into the air. A moment 120 years in the making, 45 years after gaining promotion to the top flight. Champions of Germany! And this is how it all went down on Saturday…
Show more