Tah heads home early
Jonathan Tah is ruled out of tonight's classic between Germany and Argentina (kick-off 20 to 45 CET). The 23-year-old left the Germany team hotel in Dortmund on Wednesday morning due to a bout of flu.
Speaking at yesterday's pre-match press conference, Germany coach Jogi Löw announced that Tah would miss the final training session and probably not take part in the friendly against Argentina. It also means that the Werkself number four will not play in the Euro 2020 qualifier against Estonia on Sunday 13 October (20.45 CET). Get well soon, Jonah!
Goals are rewarded
While Tah set off home, the rest of the Werkself pros in Leverkusen took part in the second training session of the week. Peter Bosz led the session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium with the focus on shooting. And the 55-year-old thought up a system of rewards: Anyone who scored had to do a short sprint after the shot. Anybody who had their shot saved by the keeper or hit the woodwork had a shorter punishment run and anyone who missed the target had to do a long run.
In comparison with yesterday's group in training, consisting of Volland, Bellarabi, Weiser, Demirbay, Wendell, Lomb, Azhil from the U19’s and Özcan, only the last named was missing as he completed an individual routine as did Lars and Sven Bender plus Leon Bailey. He was replaced by the U19 keeper Marcel Johnen who had the chance to work with the first team squad.
Tightest table in 13 years
The Bundesliga is taking a break but a look at the table is not uninteresting at the moment. The current tight position in the top third of the table this term has only happened once before since the introduction of the three points for a win rule in 1995/96 after matchday seven. 13 years ago, in the 2006/07 season, the gap between league leaders Werder Bremen (13 points) and seventh-placed Borussia Dortmund (11) was just two points. Bayer 04 were twelfth back then and ended the season in fifth place. And the champions? That was VfB Stuttgart who were 'only' eighth after matchday seven.
Borussia Mönchengladbach are currently top on 16 points and Bayer 04 seventh on 14 points. So the race for the title and the European spots is still wide open. And league action returns next week with the Werkself opening matchday eight at Eintracht Frankfurt.
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