#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.

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)