Back
7.06.2021Bayer 04

News in brief: Good figures for U21 Euro final – ‘silver’ for Wirtz

The final for the U21 team coached by Stefan Kuntz against Portugal attracted a TV audience of millions and Werkself youngster Florian Wirtz is also able to celebrate another award in addition to the U21 Euro triumph. Also: 38 years ago today, a Black and Red player appeared for Germany for the first time – today's news in brief.
crop_U21_Deutschland_Wirtz_Grill_imago1003051777h.jpg

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.

further award for Wirtz

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!

crop_imago1003043995h.jpg

Waas‘ Entry in the black and red history books

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.

crop_Herbert_Waas_imago0013305231h.jpg
Historic: Herbert Waas (r.) came on as a sub against Yugoslavia as the first-ever Bayer 04 player in the Germany team.

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).

Nations League: Andres Guardado misses

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.

 

Related News

Jarell Quansah
Bayer 04 - 03.02.2026

Vote now for Quansah as BL Rookie of the Month for January

The German Football League (DFL) has announced the three candidates for the title of Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for January. That includes Werkself player Jarell Quansah. Fans of Bayer 04 can vote for their favourite on the Bundesliga app from now until Thursday, 5 January (23:59 CET).

Show more
Landwehr-Cousins
eSports - 03.02.2026

#B04eSports: Penalty shoot-out, victory against club champions, semi-final exit - Top four in Showdown 4

The Leverkusen eSports team picked up valuable points and made up ground in the overall table with a top four finish in the offline round in Showdown 4 in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. In the round of 16, Showdown 1 winners Bayer 04 defeated the unbeaten runners-up in the previous round, VfL Bochum, in a thrilling penalty shoot-out. The Landwehr cousins, themselves the current club runners-up, then beat the current club champions and Showdown 3 winners RB Leipzig. It was not until the semi-finals that they lost out to the eventual showdown winners Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Show more
Ken Izekor
Bayer 04 - 02.02.2026

Ken Izekor joins Eintracht Braunschweig on loan

Bayer 04 have agreed a loan move for U19s striker Ken Izekor to join Bundesliga 2 club Eintracht Braunschweig on loan for the rest of the 2025/26 season.

Show more
Jeanuel Belocian
Bayer 04 - 02.02.2026

Jeanuel Belocian joins Wolfsburg on loan

Bayer 04 have agreed a loan deal for Jeanuel Belocian to join fellow Bundesliga club Wolfsburg on loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old defender’s contract in Leverkusen runs until 30 June 2029.

Show more
Tim Oermann
Bayer 04 - 02.02.2026

Bayer 04 recall Tim Oermann from loan at Sturm Graz

Bayer 04 have recalled Tim Oermann from his loan at Sturm Graz and will now include the centre-back in the team’s plans for the rest of the 2025/26 season. The Germany U21 international signed for the Werkself from Bochum in summer 2025 on a contract until 30 June 2029.

Show more