Jonathan Tah stood on the sidelines ready to come on to help secure victory for Germany. However, the final whistle at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam prevented the central defender earning another cap, but did not diminish his joy at the 3-2 win against Holland. Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz did not appear either after the Bayer 04 trio were in the starting line-up against Serbia on Wednesday.
While Germany were able to celebrate a successful start to the European Championship qualification campaign, the other Werkself pros were left empty-handed. That particularly applies to Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger who were in the Austria side that lost 1-0 against Poland and now experienced another setback with a 4-2 defeat in Israel. Drago and Baumi went the full distance against the hosts coached by fellow countryman Andreas Herzog.
Tin Jedvaj played 77 minutes for Croatia in a 2-1 defeat in the European qualifier away to Hungary. Lukas Hradecky also tasted defeat with Finland in the match against Italy: The Bayer 04 keeper had to pick the ball out of the net twice as his team lost 2-0 against the World Cup winners of 2006. Charles Aránguiz also played the full 90 minutes as Chile lost 3-1 to Mexico in a friendly played in the USA.
While the other international players are on their way back to Leverkusen, Aránguiz, Hradecky and U19 player Adrian Stanilewicz still have games to play for their countries.
Lukas Hradecky (Finland)
Tuesday, 26 March (18.00 CET,Yerevan): Armenia vs Finland (European qualifier, Group J)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile)
Wednesday, 27 March (02.00 CET, Houston): USA vs Chile (Friendly)
Adrian Stanilewicz (Poland U20)
Tuesday, 26 March (18.00 CET, Bielsko-Biala): Poland U20 vs Germany U20 (Elite League)
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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