
On the second matchday in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Burkina Faso secured a 3-1 win against Eswatini despite going a goal down. Bayer 04 defender Edmond Tapsoba played the full 90 minutes. Burkina Faso head Group B with six points from two games ahead of Cape Verde (4 points) plus Eswatini and Togo each on one point. The next qualifier for the West African side is against Togo on 19 September.
Following on from the 3-0 win against European Champions Italy in the Finalissima, the reigning Copa America winners Argentina beat Estonia 5-0 in a friendly on Sunday 5 June. The match played in Pamplona saw superstar Lionel Messi once again turn out to be the matchwinner with the left-footer scoring all of the five goals. Werkself midfielder Exequiel Palacios came on as a substitute on 62 minutes in the last match in the current set of internationals.
The Netherlands U21s clocked up a convincing 6-0 victory against Gibraltar in Group E of the U21 European Championship qualifiers. Leverkusen's Mitchel Bakker came off the bench on 62 minutes. The oldest Oranje youth team (23 points) held on to top spot ahead of Switzerland (22 points). Another win in the final match against Wales on Saturday 11 June offers Bakker and Co. the chance to qualify directly for the U21 European championship finals under their own steam.
As under the Bayer Cross, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky again proved to be a safe pair of hands in the Finnish national team. Finland picked up their first win in the current Nations League campaign with a 2-0 victory against Montenegro. Bayer 04 loanee Joel Pohjanpalo, who played for Çaykur Rizespor in the Turkish top-flight last season, scored both goals to help Finland take top spot in Group 3 in League B with four points. They are ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina (4), Montenegro (4) and the up to now pointless Romania.
France earned their first point in the current Nations League campaign on Monday 6 June. In a rerun of the 2018 World Cup final, the team under Didier Deschamps drew 1-1 against the previously pointless Croatia. Werkself player Moussa Diaby was in the starting eleven and he played on the right wing for 79 minutes. France are currently third in Group 1 in League A behind Denmark (6 points) and Austria (3 points).
Ecuador had their second friendly fixture in the current internationals on the previous night. The South American side with Bayer 04 defender Piero Hincapie drew 0-0 with Mexico in Chicago. The 20-year-old played the full game. La Tri play their final friendly against Cape Verde in the night from Saturday 11 June to Sunday 12 June.
Germany registered another 1-1 draw on the second matchday in the Nations League: A draw in Italy was followed by the points shared with England. Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah was on the bench. The team under coach Hansi Flick are currently third in Group 3 of League A behind Italy (4 points) and Hungary (3 points). England complete the group with one point.
Remaining international fixtures:
Jonathan Tah – Germany
11 June, 20.45 CEST: Hungary vs Germany (UEFA Nations League)
14 June, 20.45 CEST: Germany vs Italy (UEFA Nations League)
Lukas Hradecky – Finland
11 June, 20.45 CEST: Romania vs Finland (UEFA Nations League)
14 June, 20.45 CEST: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Finland (UEFA Nations League)
Moussa Diaby – France
10 June, 20.45 CEST: Austria vs France (UEFA Nations League)
13 June, 20.45 CEST: France vs Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Piero Hincapie – Ecuador
12 June, 23.30 CEST: Ecuador vs Cape Verde (Friendly)
Odilon Kossounou – Ivory Coast
9 June, 21.00 CEST: Lesotho vs Ivory Coast (AFCON qualifier)
Mitchel Bakker – Netherlands U21
11 June, 18.00 CEST: Wales U21 vs Netherlands U21 (Euro qualifier)

Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), has announced the six nominees for the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for October - including Werkself player Alejandro Grimaldo. Black and Red fans can vote from now until Sunday, 2 November (23:59 CET).
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A Leverkusen player is a step closer to winning the UEFA Women's Nations League tournament after the semi-finals, and another Werkself player secured her nation's place in League A. A trio also impressed for the German U23s, while another made her debut for the U19s. Read on for updates on the most recent international appearances of the six members of the Bayer 04 Women’s first team squad.
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SC Paderborn 07 have made an excellent start to the season under new coach Ralf Kettemann. The current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 have won their last six matches. The East Westphalians now head into their home game against the Werkself in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday, 29 October (kick-off: 18:00 CET) brimming with confidence. The lowdown on our next opponents
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In the second round of the 2025/26 DFB Pokal, the Werkself will travel to Bundesliga 2 side SC Paderborn 07 on Wednesday, 29 October (kick-off: 18:00 CET). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Home Deluxe Arena for you...
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90 football-loving girls and special support in autumnal weather: The third Bayer 04 Women’s team junior talent day was a hive of activity at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre on Sunday, 26 October. Under the watchful eyes of Sofie Zdebel and Charlotte Voll, talented youngsters born between 2010 and 2017 showed off their skills on the ball - and received valuable tips from the professionals.
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