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

20261018_FS1_6607.jpg
Bundesliga - 31.10.2026

Matchday news: Take cup momentum into Stuttgart home game

Fans at the BayArena got to enjoy a spectacle on Wednesday as the Werkself came from behind to beat Nürnberg 5-2 in the DFB Pokal. Now with the sixth home game of the season, can Bayer 04 maintain their perfect record in Leverkusen as VfB Stuttgart come to town in the Bundesliga on Saturday (15:30 CET)? The visitors have had issues domestically this term, sitting in 15th place, although they have had much better results in the UEFA Champions League. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 8 encounter…

Show more
Die PK vor dem Heimspiel gegen den VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga, 8. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 30.10.2026

Martínez ahead of Stuttgart match: Press forward with renewed energy

Three days after the spectacular comeback in the DFB Pokal tie against FC Nürnberg (5–2), the Werkself face their next challenge in the Bundesliga. On Saturday, 31 October (kick-off: 15:30 CET), Bayer 04 host VfB Stuttgart, currently 15th in the table, at the BayArena. Ahead of the match, Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about important factors in preparing for this next game given a tight fixture list.

Show more
VfB Stuttgart
Bundesliga - 30.10.2026

Our next opponents: The two sides of VfB Stuttgart

Despite VfB Stuttgart performing well in the Champions League, they are facing a difficult spell early on in the Bundesliga. Three days after their last-minute victory in the DFB Pokal at SC Paderborn 07, the Swabians can now take to the pitch at the BayArena with greater confidence on Saturday, 31 October (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more
Herbstcamp mit Loreen Bender und Selina Ostermeier
Football Academy - 29.10.2026

Bender and Ostermeier visit Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp

A special afternoon at the Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp: At the Liga 20 indoor football centre, in the shadow of the BayArena, two Werkself women’s team players led a training session. Loreen Bender and Selina Ostermeier not only offered the young players advice and support, but also got stuck in themselves.

Show more