It was a final for German football history books. For the third time, following on from 2009 and 2017, the Germany U21 team with Bayer 04 youngsters Florian Wirtz and Lennart Grill won the European Championship title with a 1-0 victory against favourites Portugal. It proved to be a big attraction for the TV audience in Germany: 5.36 million Germans watched the second half of the final.
There will also have been satisfaction due to our number 27 with the publication of the results of the annual kicker players questionnaire. While Robert Lewandowski was the clear winner as the best outfield player of the season in 2020/21, Florian Wirtz was just behind Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) in second place in the vote for the Newcomer of the Year. 248 Bundesliga players took part in the questionnaire. Congratulations, Florian!
From the present to the past: 38 years ago today, a Bayer 04 player was called up to the national team for the first time and he secured a historical achievement from a Werkself perspective. On 7 June 1983, the then Germany coach Jupp Derwall brought on the 19-year-old Herbert Waas in place of Hansi Mueller in a friendly against Yugoslavia and thereby ensured the first international appearance for Germany by a Black and Red player.
Waas won eleven international caps scoring one goal and providing two assists. He played for the Werkself from 1982 to 1990 (84 goals, 7 assists).
The USA have won their first title in the CONCACAF Nations League. In the equivalent of the European UEFA Nations League, the Americans beat their rivals from Mexico in the final 3-2 after extra time. The winner was scored by Christian Pulisic, the Chelsea teammate of former Bayer 04 player Kai Havertz, on 114 minutes. For Mexico, the former Leverkusen player Andres Guardado missed the chance to level from the penalty spot (120+4'). Another former Werkself player Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, who is the record scorer for Mexico with 52 goals, was not in the team as he has not played for El Tri since September 2019.
What a performance! The Werkself not only secured three more important points in the Bundesliga against 1. FC Heidenheim 1846, but also gave their fans at the BayArena a historic home win with great gusto and hunger for goals. Only twice before have Bayer 04 won a home match by a six-goal margin in the German top flight (7-1 against Greuther Fürth and 6-0 against Kaiserslautern). Patrik Schick and Ibrahim Maza each netted a brace, with Jonas Hofmann and Ernest Poku scoring the other goals.
Show more
Just in time for its 30th anniversary, the Lions Club is getting a new patron: Bayer 04 goalkeeper Mark Flekken is taking over the role from Lukas Hradecky, who showed great commitment and passion for the youngest Werkself fans in recent years. The Dutchman, who is himself the father of a daughter, will accompany Lions Club events and activities and be a role model for the children with his warm and positive manner.
Show more
It's time for another Members' Matchday! Bayer 04's Bundesliga home game against 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday 8 November (kick-off 15:30 CET) will see lots on offer for Werkself fans of all ages on the areas around the BayArena. Members also benefit from exclusive discounts until Sunday. More information on that, and the clash with FCH, in the Matchday News.
Show more
1. FC Heidenheim 1846 are currently bottom of the table in their third season in the Bundesliga. However, after a poor start, the underdogs from Baden-Württemberg have recently shown an upturn in form. This Saturday, 8 November (kick-off: 15:30 CET), FCH will once again be looking perform as a cohesive, combative unit at the BayArena. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
