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)
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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