Back
19.11.2018Bayer 04

Nations League relegation for Jedvaj and Croatia

After the win against Spain, with Tin Jedvaj making a major contribution with a brace, the Werkself defender was on the losing side with Croatia in a 2-1 loss away to England – a late defeat with severe consequences for the World Cup runners-up.
Jedvaj_imago37551937h.jpg

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.

Related News

Carlotta Wamser
Women - 25.08.2025

DFB-Punktespiel 2.0: Wamser joins DFB grandees Völler, Neuendorf and Frymuth

Bayer 04 player Carlotta Wamser is part of a VIP group joining together for the launch of the DFB campaign Punktespiel 2.0. The Germany international, who signed for the Werkself in the summer, will be speaking tonight (Monday) alongside former Leverkusen managing director sport Rudi Völler, now the current DFB sporting director, plus DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth at the FC Grenzwacht Hürtgen club house about the new clubs campaign launched by the German Football Association (DFB).

Show more
FC St. Pauli gegen Bayer 04
Bundesliga - 25.08.2025

Tickets for FC St. Pauli away game

The Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Matchday 5 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The game at the Millerntor Stadion will be played on Saturday, 27 September with the kick-off at 15:30 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.

Show more
Gruppenfoto am Hotel
Women - 24.08.2025

'Worked very well on all levels': Pätzold reviews Women's training camp

After seven days in Rieden, Bavaria, Bayer 04 Women returned to Leverkusen on Saturday. With a lot of intensive training sessions on the pitch and a high-quality friendly against Bundesliga runners-up VfL Wolfsburg (2-3) in their legs, the Werkself party left the Hotel Gut Matheshof with a lot of valuable insights. Head coach Roberto Pätzold discussed the key points from the training camp.

Show more
Werkself
Bundesliga - 24.08.2025

Werkself Review #B04TSG: 'Stay calm and keep working'

Four Bundesliga debuts and a maiden goal, but no points: the Werkself toiled in their Bundesliga opener against TSG Hoffenheim at the BayArena but went down 2-1, struggling particularly in the final third although allowing few chances themselves. Head coach Erik ten Hag was positive about his team's defensive display, but also knows: "We have a lot of work to do." The Werkself Review.

Show more
Werkself beaten by Hoffenheim in Bundesliga opener | 1st matchday
Werkself-TV - 23.08.2025

TV highlights of 1-2 loss against TSG Hoffenheim

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-2 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 1st matchday of the Bundesliga 2025/26...

Show more