That means Havertz, who not only staked a claim with his three goals in the first two Europa League group matches, is now unable to earn a second full international cap. Brandt has been a long standing member of the Germany squad. After the goalless draw against World Cup winners France in the first group match at the beginning of September, Germany urgently need a victory to avoid relegation from one of the top leagues in the newly created competition.
Jonathan Tah, recently also a member of the senior Germany squad, will gain experience as captain of the U21 side. In the European Championship qualifiers, the team coached by Stefan Kuntz play Norway (12 October in Ingolstadt, 20.00 CET) and Ireland (16 October in Heidenheim, 18.15 CET).
Lukas Hradecky is set to play for Finland (Goup C2) in the two Nations League games against Estonia (12 October in Tallin, 20.45 CET) followed by Greece (15 October in Tampere, 20.45 CET). The Finns start as league leaders with the Finland number one Hradecky keeping a clean sheet in the first two group matches.
And Austria team boss Franco Foda also opts for black and red power but he will be without his captain Julian Baumgartlinger who is currently in rehab after his collateral ligament tear. Aleksandar Dragovic is in the 24-man squad for the Nations League game (Group B2) against Northern Ireland (12 October in Vienna, 20.45 CET) and the friendly in Denmark (16 October in Herning, 20.45 CT). The same applies to Tin Jedvaj, who has again been called up to the World Cup runners-up squad by Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic. Next Friday (12 October in Rijeka, 20.45 CET) sees the Croats play England in the Nations League match in Group A4. That is followed three days later (15 October in Rijeka, 20.45 CET) by a friendly against Jordan. Isaac Kiese Thelin is in the Sweden squad for the Nations League game (Group B2) in Russia (10 October, 20.45 CET) and a friendly against Slovenia (16 October, 20.45 CET).
Also on the road are the two U20 internationals Jakub Bednarczyk (Poland) and Paulinho (Brazil).
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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