Following discussion between Germany coach Joachim Löw and Germany U21 coach Stefan Kuntz, Jonathan Tah has travelled to Amsterdam today. The Bayer 04 defender has been called up to the senior squad for Tuesday's Nations League game away to France in Paris (20.45 CET, live on ARD). On Friday, Tah captained the Germany U21 team in the 2-1 win against Norway to put Germany through to the 2019 European Championships in Italy and San Marino.
Stefan Kuntz said: "Jonathan has demonstrated his leadership role in exemplary fashion. He has totally focused on us qualifying for the European Championships and he led the way in the game against Norway. He has absolutely deserved his call-up to the senior squad." Jonathan Tah responded to the unexpected call-up as follows. "Firstly, I'm really happy about the win against Norway. Our clear target was to go through to the European Championships finals and we've achieved that with an impressive and battling performance. Of course, I'm now very happy about the call-up to the Germany squad. It's a great sign of approval from the national coach that he called me up for the game in France."
Tah was captain of the Germany U21's on Friday night as the Bayer 04 central defender helped take Germany through to next year's European Championship finals in Italy and San Marino. Germany secured a 2-1 win against major rivals Norway in front of a 4,300 crowd in Ingolstadt and thereby qualify for the European Championship finals ahead of Tuesday's match against Ireland in Heidenheim (18.00 CET). Tah provided the assist for Germany's opener scored by Schalke player Cedric Teuchert with a diagonal pass from his own half. Luca Waldschmidt (Freiburg) doubled the lead (31') before Norway pulled a goal back on 46 minutes. Former Werkself team-mate Benny Henrichs (now at AS Monaco) played alongside Tah at left back for the full 90 minutes.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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