Germany's goals in Sinsheim were scored by the former Bayer 04 player Kai Havertz on 36 minutes with a header from a corner and Timo Werner from an Ilkay Gündogan free kick just before half-time (45+ 1'). In spite of Thomas Müller missing a penalty late on, the 2-0 scoreline was never threatened. Tah was in the starting line-up in his 15th international appearance and he played the full 90 minutes.
That was the eighth victory in succession for Germany and coach Hansi Flick remains unbeaten on the international stage. Tah and Co. are back in action on Tuesday 29 March with a friendly against the Netherlands. The Oranje also started with a win with a 4-2 victory over Denmark. The match at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam kicks off at 20.45 CEST.
Mitchel Bakker played for the Netherlands U21s in a Euros qualifier against Bulgaria on Friday 25 March. The two teams drew 0-0 after 96 minutes. Bakker played on the left side of the back four from the start and he went the full distance. The Netherlands are in second place in Group E of the U21 European Championships qualifiers after six matches.
The Dutch team are back in action on Tuesday. The team under head coach Erwin van der Looi entertain Switzerland. The current league leaders in Group E clocked up a 5-1 win against Wales.
Familiar faces: Last Friday's friendly between France and the Ivory Coast saw the two Werkself players Moussa Diaby and Odilon Kossounou on opposite sides. The Équipe de France registered a 2-1 win against the Ivorians with a late winner coming from a Tchouameni header (90+3'). Diaby did not appear for Les Bleus. Kossounou came on as a substitute on 68 minutes.
Diaby and Co. have another friendly on Tuesday at home to South Africa (kick-off: 21.15 CEST). Kossounou and the Ivory Coast face England in a friendly on Tuesday (kick-off: 20.45 CEST).
After the Spain U21s with Iker Bravo started the qualifiers for the U 17 European Championships with a 4-1 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, there was a big match against Belgium on Saturday 26 March. Belgium went into the game on the back of an overwhelming 8-1 win against Estonia. Bravo and Co. came out on top of the clash between the two top teams in Group D with a 1-0 win against the Belgians. The Leverkusen striker did not feature.
The final match against Estonia is on Tuesday. The kick-off is at 15.00 CEST with the match being played in the east of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Exequiel Palacios was able to enjoy is a convincing 3-0 victory for his Argentinian teammates against Venezuela but he did not come on. The Albiceleste had already qualified for the World Cup finals before the game. And Werkself captain Lukas Hradecky was also on the sidelines in Finland's 1-1 draw in a friendly against Iceland.
Remaining international fixtures:
Jonathan Tah (Germany):
Tuesday 29 March: Netherlands vs Germany (Friendly)
Moussa Diaby (France):
Tuesday 29 March: France vs South Africa (Friendly)
Lukas Hradecky (Finland):
Tuesday 29 March: Finland vs Slovakia (Friendly)
Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Wednesday 30 March: Ecuador vs Argentina (World Cup qualifier)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile):
Wednesday 30 March: Chile vs Uruguay (World Cup qualifier)
Piero Hincapie (Ecuador):
Wednesday 30 March: Ecuador vs Argentina (World Cup qualifier)
Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast):
Tuesday 29 March: England vs Ivory Coast (Friendly)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso):
Tuesday 29 March: Belgium vs Burkina Faso (Friendly)
Sardar Azmoun (Iran):
Tuesday 29 March: Iran vs Lebanon (World Cup qualifier)
Mitchel Bakker (Netherlands U21):
Tuesday 29 March: Netherlands U21 vs Switzerland U21 (Euros qualifier)
Iker Bravo (Spain U17):
Tuesday 29 March: Estonia U17 vs Spain U17 (Euros qualifier)
In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
Show more
Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
Show more
Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
Show more
