Austria's game against Ireland ended in great disappointment for the Werkself trio of Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic and Ramazan Özcan. A win for Austria would have put them level on points with the Irish but a painful 1-0 defeat could mean they are cut adrift in the World Cup qualifiers with only four games played. McClean scored the only goal of the game for the group leaders Ireland just after the break. Austria, already four points behind second spot, play Slovakia in a friendly on Tuesday. The three Bayer 04 pros played the full 90 minutes.
Turkey and Croatia were more successful. Turkey, with Hakan Calhanoglu playing the whole game, secured a regulation 2-0 win against underdogs Kosovo. After a goalless first half, the team coached by Fatih Terim netted two goals in quick succession with Burak (51') and Sen (55') getting on the scoresheet. That victory puts them back in touch with Iceland and Ukraine.
Croatia are top of Group I with ten points after a 2-0 win behind closed doors against the surprise team from Euro 2016 Iceland. It was the first defeat for Iceland in the current qualifying rounds. Brozovic scored both goals for Croatia (15',90') and Perisic was sent off. Tin Jedvaj did not play but he can hope to get a start in Tuesday’s friendly against Northern Ireland.
Chicha in last-minute winner
Mexico had every reason to celebrate. The team, with Bayer 04 striker Chicharito up front, ended a run of four defeats against the USA. This time Mexico won the important first and emotionally laden World Cup qualifier against the great rivals from the north 2-1. Jürgen Klinsmann, USA coach, saw the winner scored by the 37-year-old captain Rafael Marquez with a header on 89 minutes. Miguel Layun opened the scoring for Mexico on 20 minutes before the Hamburg SV player Bobby Wood levelled on 49 minutes. Mexico's next match is in Panama in the early hours of Wednesday.
The Bayer 04 players were put through their paces at the Werkstatt – the club’s rehabilitation and training centre – on Sunday as they completed the first and main part of this year’s performance diagnostics. New signings Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Axel Tape, as well as players returning from their holidays, all did the customary medical and athletic tests.
Show moreThe team departs for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday for the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour 2025 from July 14-24. The preseason journey marks a change from recent training camps in the Austrian Alps and Black Forest and we caught up with CEO Fernando Carro to ask him about this summer's visit to Brazil.
Show moreMalik Tillman and the USA could not quite achieve the hoped-for big win in their own country. Last Monday’s final in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston ended up in a 2-1 defeat for the hosts against Mexico. But the Bayer 04 new signing can be very happy with the course of the tournament and his own performances. Tillman was in the starting line-up for all six games. That concluded an impressive season for him after winning the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. Bayer04.de profiles the 23-year-old new signing.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the USA international Malik Tillman. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder joins the Werkself from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Tillman, with German roots and born in Nuremberg, has a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2030. He scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 34 games for PSV last season. Three of those goals and two assists were in six matches in the UEFA Champions League.
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