Lukas Hradecky can achieve a lot in the next two weeks: If the keeper and his Finnish team-mates pick up more than one point against Lichtenstein and Hungary then the North Europeans will be in the European Championship finals for the first time. "We can make a piece of history for our country," said the 29-year-old full of anticipation. Kai Havertz wanted to have the same feeling as one of the three Bayer 04 players called up to the Germany squad. However, the 20-year-old suffered an injury in the Bundesliga clash with VfL Wolfsburg (2-0) and has now had to drop out of the forthcoming matches for Germany.
Nadiem Amiri and Jonathan Tah (both Germany):
Saturday 16 November (20.45 CET in Mönchengladbach): Germany v Belarus (Euro qualifier, Group C)
Tuesday 19 November (20.45 CET in Frankfurt): Germany v Northern Ireland (Euro qualifier, Group C)
Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic (both Austria:
Saturday 16 November (20.45 CET in Vienna): Austria v North Macedonia (Euro qualifier, Group G)
Tuesday 19 November (20.45 CET in Riga): Latvia v Austria (Euro qualifier, Group G)
Lukas Hradecky and Joel Pohjanpalo (both Finland):
Friday 15 November (18.00 CET in Helsinki): Finland v Liechtenstein (Euro qualifier, Group J)
Monday 18 November (20.45 CET in Athen): Greece v Finnland (Euro qualifier, Group J)
Lucas Alario (Argentina):
Friday 15 November (18.00 CET in Riad): Brazil v Argentina (friendly)
Monday 18 November (20.15 CET in Tel-Aviv): Argentina v Uruguay (friendly)
Charles Aranguiz (Chile):
Wednesday 20 November (02.30 CET in Lima): Peru v Chile (friendly)
Paulinho (Brazil U23):
Thursday 14 November (20.30 CET in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria): Brasilien U23 v USA U23 (friendly)
Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Friday 15 November (21.00 CET in Nancy): France U21 v Georgia U21 (Euro qualifier, Group 2)
Tuesday 19 November (19.00 CET in Neuchatel): Switzerland U21 v France U21 (Euro qualifier, Group 2)
Panagiotis Retsos (Greece U21):
Friday 15 November (20.00 CET in Edinburgh): Scotland U21 v Greece U21 (Euro qualifier, Group 4)
Adrian Stanilewicz (Poland U20):
Thursday 14 November (16.00 CET in Chojnice): Poland U20 v Switzerland U20 (U20 Elite League)
Monday 18 November (17.00 CET in Bytow): Poland U20 v Norway U20 (Freundschaftsspiel)
Marcel Lotka (Poland U19):
Wednesday 13 November (14.00 CET in Newport): Wales U19 v Poland U19 (Euro qualifier, Group 5)
Saturday 16 November (14.00 CET in Newport): Poland U19 v Kosovo U19 (Euro qualifier, Group 5)
Tuesday 19 November (14.00 CET in Cardiff): Poland U19 v Russia U19 (Euro qualifier, Group 5)
In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
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Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
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Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
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