Lennart Grill has been called up to the Germany squad for the U21 Euro 2021 tournament in Hungary and Slovenia. The group stage lasts from 24 to 31 March. Germany will play Hungary (24 March, 21.00 CET), the Netherlands (27 March, 21.00 CET) and Rumania (30 March, 18.00 CEST). All the games will be broadcast live on ProSieben.
The knockout rounds will be played from 31 May to 6 June. The winners and runners-up from the four groups will meet at that stage of the tournament.
Grill is currently clocking up the minutes on the pitch for Leverkusen ahead of the international tournament. The 1.91 metre tall keeper has played for Bayer 04 in the last three Bundesliga matches in succession. He has come into the side due to injury to the number one keeper Lukas Hradecky and has produced faultless performances so far.
The summer signing from Kaiserslautern made four appearances for the Germany U21s in Euro qualifiers in the autumn and he kept two clean sheets in the process. The other two of the three keepers for the tournament are Finn Dahmen (FSV Mainz 05) and Markus Schubert (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Grill can play in the finals despite being 22. The rules state that all players can be included who were not 21 at the start of the qualifiers – in this case in the autumn of 2019. As the timeframe between the start of the qualifying rounds and the finals is two years, players up to the age of 23 can be in a national U21 squad at the finals.
The Werkself again dominated the possession stats, as so often this season, in the home game against Bielefeld. 75 per cent by the end of the game. That number has only been topped once in the current Bundesliga campaign: by Borussia Dortmund on matchday two. BVB had 80 per cent possession against FC Augsburg. However, like Bayer 04 against Arminia Bielefeld (1-2), the Black and Yellow dominance was not converted into points – FCA won the game 2-0.
The Werkself players will be able to carry on playing with Derbystar balls in the next few years. The German Football League (DFL ) and the company based in Goch on the Lower Rhine have extended their partnership to the summer of 2026. The original contract, due to run out at the end of this season, has been extended by four years. Derbystar replaced adidas as the official ball supplier for the 2018/19 season.
The former Leverkusen player Patrick Helmes has resigned as Reserve team coach at Admira Wacker. “Due to the special circumstances,” it was agreed to “terminate the contract early by mutual consent,” as the Austrian club recently announced. Helmes’ last game in charge of the junior team was played on 30 October 2020 as the third division fixtures have been suspended since then. The former centre forward played for the Werkself from July 2008 to January 2011 in 57 Bundesliga games (28 goals).
As with Bayer youngster Florian Wirtz last year (gold in the U17 category), Levin Öztunali was also awarded the Fritz Walter Medal. The Hamburg-born player received the silver medal in the U18 age group in 2014 – also during his time at Leverkusen. Bayer 04 signed the versatile forward from Hamburg SV. After three and a half years with the Werkself, including a loan period at Werder Bremen, Öztunali 2016 moved on to FSV Mainz 05 in 2016 and he is still there now. The right-footer is 25 today (Monday). Bayer 04 wish: Happy birthday!
Over half a century before Öztunali, Alfred ‘Fredy’ Mutz joined Leverkusen. Born in Remscheid, he left his hometown in 1951 to play for the Werkself. As the goalkeeper, Mutz was for years one of the key players and captain of Sportvereinigung Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the top tier Oberliga West. The Werkself just missed out on the finals of the German Championships in 1955. He went on to make 281 league appearances for the Werkself.
After the end of his playing career, Mutz worked for Bayer 04 as a club official. He founded the Veterans team in 1959 before hanging up his boots. Mutz passed away in Leverkusen on 15 April 2001.
On what would have been his 95th birthday, Bayer 04 pay tribute to the former key player, captain, club official and role model at the club.
Calling all Bayer 04 fans: The Werkself will play Pisa SC, newly promoted to Serie A, at the BayArena as part of the season opener. The clash with the club from Tuscany is on Tuesday, 5 August with the kick-off at 18:00 CET. Entrance to the stadium with a wide range of entertainment provided is possible from 15:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales for the season opener.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the 17-year-old forward Dustin Buck. The Germany youth international joins from the youth set-up at FC Augsburg. The technically gifted and fast attacker will strengthen the Werkself U19 squad.
Show moreSeveral Bayer 04 Legends, Bayer executives, club officials, current defender Arthur and, of course, dozens of enthusiastic children turned out on Saturday on the south side of Sao Paulo for the official opening of the Bayer 04 Football Academy, located at Club Bayer on the campus of Bayer Brazil.
Show moreA great night for 'Calle': Bayer 04 new signing Carlotta Wamser helped Germany to an opening win in the Women's Euro in Switzerland with an impressive performance. After coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 victory over Poland in Group C, the winger provided an assist and helped set up the second goal. The 21-year-old earned great praise from her coach and teammates in her first tournament match.
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