Back
19.06.2023Bayer 04

#InternationalWerkself: Hradecky and Hlozek on course for success

Before they set off for a well deserved summer break after an energy-sapping 2022/23 season, several Werkself players are, or have been, away with their national teams. While the international break has ended for Sardar Azmoun, Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie due to injury, Lucas Hradecky, Adam Hlozek and Patrick Pentz were involved in Euro 2024 qualifiers once again. Florian Wirtz with Germany and World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios with Argentina are involved in final friendlies.
crop_LH_International.jpg

Wirtz is set to play for Germany against Colombia in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday. The friendly at the Veltins Arena kicks off at 20.45 CEST. Wirtz played for 80 minutes in the game between the team under coach Hansi Flick and Poland in Warsaw on Friday 16 June. Germany lost 1-0 to the hosts.

czechia secure top spot

Two Leverkusen players secured important wins in the Euro 2024 qualifiers: Werkself skipper Lukas Hradecky lined up for Finland on Friday against Slovenia. The game ended in a 2-0 victory for the Scandinavians. The team with the Bayer 04 keeper are in action again today Monday 19 June with a 18.00 CEST kick-off against San Marino in Helsinki.

Adam Hlozek also helped his team pick up points. The striker with his Czech teammates played the Faroe Islands on Saturday 17 June. Hlozek was substituted on 69 minutes with the score at 2-0. The game ended in a 3-0 victory. Czechia secured their top spot in Group D. Their next match against Montenegro is tomorrow Tuesday 20 June (kick-off: 18.00 CEST).

Austria played Belgium on Saturday. Patrick Pentz was not in the matchday squad and the game between the two sides under German coaches Ralf Rangnick (Austria) and Domenico Tedesco (Belgium) ended in a 1-1 draw. Austria's next opponents in the Euro 2024 qualifiers are Sweden. The kick-off tomorrow is at 20.45 CEST.

AZMOUN nets another brace

The Werkself player Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso faced Cape Verde in an AFCON qualifier on Sunday 18 June. Tapsoba played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 defeat with Burkina Faso already qualified for the AFCON finals before the game.

Tapsoba's teammate Sardar Azmoun featured in another win after the emphatic 6-1 victory over Afghanistan. Azmoun with Iran clocked up a 5-1 win against Kyrgyzstan. And, once again, Azmoun helped his team win with a brace (66'/79') and he was named man of the match in the game in the CAFA Nations Cup.

Piero Hincapie went off injured on the half-hour mark in the friendly between Ecuador and Bolivia. Ecuador won the game 1-0. Their next match on Wednesday is against Costa Rica but Hincapie will not be available.

World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios is currently away with Argentina. The Werkself player did not feature in the 2-0 win against Australia on Thursday 15 June. The next game for the Argentinians is today Monday 19 June against Indonesia.

 

Forthcoming international fixtures:

Florian Wirtz (Germany)

20 June: Germany vs Colombia (friendly)

Lukas Hradecky (Finland)

19.06.: Finland vs San-Marino (Euro qualifier)

Patrick Pentz (Austria)

20.06.: Austria vs Sweden (Euro qualifier)

Adam Hlozek (Czechia)

20.06.: Montenegro vs Czechia (friendly)

Piero Hincapie (Ecuador)

21.06.: Ecuador vs Costa Rica (friendly)

Exequiel Palacios (Argentina)

19.06.: Indonesia vs Argentina (friendly)

Amine Adli (France U21)

22.06.: France U21 vs Italy U21 (Group stage, U21 Euros)

25.06.: Norway U21 vs France U21 (Group stage, U21 Euros)

28.06.: France U21 vs Switzerland U21 (Group stage, U21 Euros)

 

Photo: Juha Tamminen/SPL

 

Related News

crop_20260808_VK_Piazza_1666.jpg
Bayer 04 - 08.08.2026

2026 season launch blog: Women win 7-0 - Lots of fun in the activity zones

Bayer 04 are back at the BayArena! Under the slogan “One day. Two teams. One club.”, the Leverkusen stadium grounds will be transformed into a world of experiences – with a wide range of exclusive activities both on and off the pitch. Keep track of all the highlights in our blog for the 2026 season launch.

Show more
Jubel der Werkself
Women - 08.08.2026

Goal fest with a hat-trick from Kramer: Women’s team beat Feyenoord 7-0

Spurred on by a flawless hat-trick from Cornelia Kramer, the Bayer 04 women’s team won their penultimate pre-season friendly in commanding fashion. As part of the season launch, the Werkself beat Dutch top-flight side Feyenoord 7–0. In front of 3,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, Kramer (6’, 25’, 45’), Sofie Zdebel (47’), Maja Sternad (59'), Natasha Kowalski (83') and Vanessa Fudalla (86') scored the goals for coach Roberto Pätzold’s side.

Show more
eSports-Trikot
eSports - 07.08.2026

#B04eSports: The eSports jersey for the 2026/27 season

Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.

Show more
Paulo Sergio mit Carles Martínez
Bayer 04 - 07.08.2026

‘Excellent prospects’ for the new season in Leverkusen and Brazil: Interview with club legend Paulo Sergio

Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.

Show more
crop_20260806_JS_Trainngslager_Tag5_3197.jpg
Bayer 04 - 06.08.2026

Day 5 blog: Team event and football tennis| Training camp in the Weimarer Land

A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.

Show more