After over 24 hours of uncertainty for Charles Aránguiz and Co. the South American Football Association CONMEBOL has provided clarity: The Copa América, with the Werkself players Charles Aránguiz (Chile) plus Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios (Argentina) on the road with their national teams, will now take place – in Brazil. Due to the worsening of the pandemic in the original host countries of Argentina and Colombia, the two countries were no longer considered as venues for the continental tournament so that CONMEBOL were forced to take immediate action. The Copa América will be played from 13 June to 10 July.
The former Werkself player Arturo Vidal was also due to play in World Cup qualifiers and take part in the Copa América with Chile. Due to a Covid-19 infection, the 34-year-old has now been admitted to a clinic in the Chilean capital of Santiago de Chile with a fever and swollen glands. All the players in the Chile squad, including Charles Aránguiz, received the coronavirus vaccination last Friday. Vidal, currently at Inter Milan, will at least miss the World Cup qualifiers for his home country against Argentina and Bolivia. Bayer 04 wish you a speedy recovery, Arturo.
From the South American to the European continent: The two Werkself players Florian Wirtz and Lennart Grill are in the semi-finals of the U21 European Championship with the Germany U21s. The team under head coach Stefan Kuntz progressed in a dramatic quarter-final against Denmark with an 8-7 victory on penalties. The opponents in the semi-final on Thursday, 3 June (kick-off: 21.00 CEST) are the Netherlands who went through in the quarter-finals against the France U21 team including Moussa Diaby.
Planning for the fixture lists for the Bundesliga and second division is at a key stage. As announced by the German Football League (DFL) today (Tuesday), the fixtures for the 34 matchdays in Germany's top two divisions will be announced on the DFL website on Friday 25 June.
Bayer 04 are gaining another cup winner for the new season: VfL Wolfsburg keeper, Friederike Abt, who will play for the Werkself next season, won the Women's DFB Cup with the Wolves last Sunday. Abt replaced the Wolfsburg keeper Almuth Schult in extra time after she was sent off. The Werkself keeper to be kept a clean sheet in the Wolfsburg goal for the rest of the match and was able to celebrate a 1-0 victory in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Javier Hernández, better known as Chicharito, which translates as 'Little Pea', celebrates his 33rd birthday today (Tuesday). The lively Mexican, who played for the Werkself between 2015 and 2017, made 76 appearances for Leverkusen, scored 39 goals and provided nine assists and he quickly became a real favourite of Black and Red supporters. ¡Feliz cumpleaños, Chicharito!
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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