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

Lobke Loonen trifft zum 1:0
Women - 01.08.2026

Home kit debut: Women’s team win friendly against Genk

With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.

Show more
„Werkself des Vierteljahrhunderts“
Bayer 04 - 30.07.2026

Werkself Team of the Quarter-Century: Wirtz and Alonso top the poll – Tapsoba and Rolfes in starting XI

You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.

Show more
Malik Tillman im Training
Bayer 04 - 30.07.2026

Tillman back in Leverkusen after World Cup with the USA

Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.

Show more
Werkself beat Genk 4-0 in front of home crowd | Friendly
Werkself-TV - 29.07.2026

TV highlights of 4-0 win in friendly against KRC Genk

Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 4-0 victory in the friendly match against KRC Genk...

Show more
Werkself beim Torjubel
Bayer 04 - 29.07.2026

Werkself beat Genk 4-0 in front of home crowd

In their third friendly of this pre-season, Bayer 04 played on home soil for the first time – and won there too! The Werkself claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Jeanuel Belocian (9’) and Nathan Tella (42’) gave a dominant Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at the break, which Afonso Moreira (51’) and Christian Kofane (53’) doubled after the break. Among the many second-half substitutions was Patrik Schick, who made his first friendly appearance of the summer.

Show more