The Eagle Owls secured a comfortable 3-0 win against rivals Liechtenstein in front of 10,000 fans in Helsinki and are guaranteed second place in Group J behind Italy with a game to play. With the injured Werkself striker Joel Pohjanpalo looking on, Lukas Hradecky kept a clean sheet and ended up celebrating wearing an eagle owl mask. The Finland goals were scored by Jasse Tuominen (21’) and Teemu Pukki (64’, 75’).
Lucas Alario also had reason to celebrate with Argentina. In the clash with Brazil, a friendly played in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, the Gauchos won 1-0. The winner was scored by Lionel Messi on 14 minutes and Alario came off the bench with two minutes of normal time to play
Moussa Diaby, playing for the France U21s, celebrated a fortunate 3-2 win against Georgia to clock up a third win in the third Euro qualifier (Group B). The winner was scored in added time from the penalty spot by Odsonne Edouard. Georgia levelled through goals from Giorgi Kokhreidze (58’) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (60’) after France had gone 2-0 up with a brace from Jeff Reine-Adelaide (15’, 54’). Diaby started on the right wing and played until being substituted on 83 minutes.
It was not a very happy night for Panagiotis Retsos. He led out the Greece U21s as captain in a Euro qualifier against Scotland in Edinburgh but ended up being sent off on 63 minutes after being shown a second yellow card. In spite of being a man down, his team-mates went on to win the game thanks to a penalty in added time scored by Dimitris Nikoalou. That leaves Greece top of the table in Group D. Paulinho (Brazil U23s) and Adrian Stanilewicz (Poland U20s) were in action on Thursday. Paulinho and the Brazil Olympic team beat USA 1-0 in a friendly played in the Spanish city of Las Palmas, Stanilewicz celebrated a runaway 5-1 victory over Switzerland with the Poland U 20 side in the Elite League. The young Werkself pro watched from the bench.
Germany, with Jonathan Tah and Nadiem Amiri in the squad, play Belarus in a Euro 2020 qualifier tonight (kick- off: 20.45 CET). At the same time, Austria play North Macedonia with Julian Baumgartlinger as captain and Aleksandar Dragovic also set to play.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Germany U19 international Luca Erlein from Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old right-back, who is capable of playing in various defensive positions, has penned a contract until 30 June 2030.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has a new coffee partner. The club has agreed a long-term partnership with the Bocholt-based roastery Imping, running to 30 June 2031. The exclusive partnership with the family-run business includes the installation of fully automatic coffee machines at the BayArena, as well as the right to supply and serve coffee products in the business areas during Werkself home games.
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