The difference between success and failure in football is often minimal. With twelve minutes to play, Croatia were on course for a win in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley Stadium with a 1-0 lead over the hosts England. If the World Cup runners-up had held on to their lead then Croatia would have been through to the finals in Portugal next June. However, a brilliant strike by TSG Hoffenheim forward Andrej Kramaric was not enough in the end. Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane sealed the comeback for England with their late goals. With far-reaching consequences: The Three Lions secured top spot in the group with the last-gasp victory while Croatia join Germany in being relegated from Group A. Tin Jedvaj (pictured above with Raheem Sterling), who was the match-winner against Spain on Thursday with his two goals in a 3-2 victory, again started at left-back before moving across to the right side of defence after half an hour. In the first half, the Bayer 04 pro cleared on the line with a header after the Croatia keeper was beaten.
Captain Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic were winners with Austria in a 2-1 win away to Northern Ireland as the Hertha Berlin player Valentino Lazaro sealed the victory with a goal in added time. Both Werkself pros played the full 90 minutes in Belfast. Regular first-choice keeper Lukas Hradecky, rested by Finland for this game, watched a 2-0 defeat in Hungary from the bench. The Finns were able to accept defeat as they were already group winners and promoted from Group B in the Nations League.
The last two Bayer 04 pros in action, in addition to Julian Brandt, Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz, who are set to play for Germany against Holland on Monday night, are Isaac Kiese Thelin and Paulinho. The central striker is due to play for Sweden against Russia on Tuesday, following a 1-0 win in Turkey on Saturday. Kiese Thelin came on in the final minute of the game. A win by two or more goals could see Sweden, currently on three points, overtaking the group leaders Russia to seal promotion to Group A. Paulinho and the Brazil U20s have a second friendly against their contemporaries from Colombia on Tuesday following a goalless draw on Thursday.
Bayer 04 can go through to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the ninth time tonight, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET) and be in the top 16 clubs in Europe. A good omen: Leverkusen have progressed to the next round after winning the first leg in 20 of their 22 knockout rounds in European competitions to date. For their part, Greek record champions Olympiacos rested several players for last weekend’s league fixture ahead of the play-off second leg at the BayArena and will now do everything in their power to turn the tide with their usual aggressive and high pressing. The discussions on Werkself radio are likely to be just as intense as the battle on the pitch, with commentator Florian Bechholz welcoming honorary captain Stefan Kießling and goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Today’s matchday news.
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With the advantage of the 2-0 first-leg win in the play-offs, the Werkself are looking to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League at the sold-out BayArena. Ahead of the home game against Olympiacos on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand and goalkeeper Janis Blaswich spoke about the position ahead of the match, the visitors' strength at set-pieces and a personnel issue for the home side.
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With a win in the Greek Super League last weekend, Olympiacos achieved success on the pitch ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg at Bayer 04 on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET). Coach José Luis Mendilibar rested many of his regular starters.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 19th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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