The Werkself defender played in a back three alongside Niklas Süle and Matthias Ginter. The 23-year-old initially had little to do as Germany made an impressive start playing a high, pressing game. Leroy Sané scored the deserved opener on 12 minutes. Germany failed to maintain their early domination but recovered in the second half. Marco Reus doubled the lead on 62 minutes and he was replaced on 76 minutes by Julian Brandt. Kai Havertz remained on the bench against Belarus.
World Cup runners-up Croatia, with Tin Jedvaj in the starting eleven, beat Wales 2-1 in the Euro 2020 qualifier on Saturday night. Jedvaj was booked on 50 minutes. Lukas Hradecky was in goal for Finland as they looked to book a place at Euro 2020. The Werkself number one kept a clean sheet with Finland securing a 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Paulinho was also in action on Saturday for the Brazil U23s: In the final group game at the Maurice Revello Tournament, a youth tournament in Provence, Brazil beat Qatar 5-0 with Paulinho netting a double. That was on the back of 4-0 victories for the South Americans against France on Thursday and Guatemala last Sunday.
Aleksandar Dragovic played for Austria against Slovenia on Friday in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Austria won 1-0 with Dragovic going the full distance. Julian Baumgartlinger missed out due to a late injury. "Julian Baumgartlinger suffered severe inflammation in his ankle that unfortunately rules him out for the games against Slovenia and North Macedonia," announced the Austrian FA on Twitter.
Chile won 2-1 in a friendly against Haiti on Friday. Charles Aránguiz came on just before the end of the game on 88 minutes. Jamaica faced the USA in a friendly. The Reggae Boyz won 1-0 with Leon Bailey an unused sub. The 21-year-old has to wait to make his international debut – he has another chance in the Gold Cup the week after next.
Next fixtures for our internationals:
Julian Brandt, Kai Havertz and Jonathan Tah (Germany)
Tuesday, 11 June (20.45 CET, Mainz): Germany v Estonia (Euro qualifier, Group C)
Jonathan Tah (Germany U21)
Monday, 17 June (21.00 CET, Udine): Germany U21 v Denmark U21 (Euros, Group stage)
Thursday, 20 June (21.00 CET, Trieste): Germany U21 v Serbia U21 (Euros, Group stage)
Sunday, 23 June (21.00 CET, Udine): Austria U21 v Germany U21 (Euros, Group stage)
Aleksandar Dragovic (Austria)
Monday, 10 June (20.45 CET, Skopje): North Macedonia v Austria (Euro qualifier, Group G)
Lukas Hradecky (Finland)
Tuesday, 11 June (20.45 CET, Vaduz): Liechtenstein v Finland (Euro qualifier, Group J)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia)
Tuesday, 11 June (20.45 CET, Varaždin): Croatia v Tunisia (Friendly)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile)
Tuesday, 18 June (01.00 CET, Sao Paulo): Japan v Chile (Copa America, Group stage)
Saturday, 22 June (01.00 CET, Salvador): Ecuador v Chile (Copa America, Group stage)
Tuesday, 25 June (01.00 CET, Rio de Janeiro): Chile v Uruguay (Copa America, Group stage)
Leon Bailey (Jamaica)
Tuesday, 18 June (03.00 CET, Kingston): Jamaica v Honduras (Gold Cup, Group stage)
Saturday, 22 June (01.00 CET, Houston): El Salvador v Jamaica (Gold Cup, Group stage)
Wednesday, 26 June (02.00 CET, Los Angeles): Jamaica v Curaçao (Gold Cup, Group stage)
Paulinho (Brasilien U23)
Tuesday 11 June to Thursday 13 June: Play-offs (Maurice Revello Tournament)
Isaac Kiese Thelin (Sweden – on stand-by)
Monday, 10 June (20.45 CET, Madrid): Spain v Sweden (Euro qualifier, Group F)
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
Show moreXabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
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