+++ 15 June: Netherlands draw opening match +++
The next Leverkusen player has kicked off his World Cup campaign: Netherlands played their first World Cup match in Group F against Japan on Sunday night. Although the Oranje took the lead twice, Japan equalised on both occasions – resulting in a 2-2 draw. Mark Flekken did not feature in the match.
In Group F, the Netherlands are tied for second place with Japan. Sweden top the group following a 5–1 victory over Tunisia. Flekken and his team are next in action on Saturday, 20 June (kick-off: 7 pm), at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Their opponents are Sweden.
+++ 13 June: Hosts USA off to a winning start +++
The third host nation kicked off their tournament overnight: The USA, featuring Werkself player Malik Tillman, faced Paraguay in their opening match. Tillman was in the starting XI. An own goal by Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla gave the hosts an early lead (7’), followed by goals on 31 and 45+5 minutes to make it 2–0 and 3–0, both scored by Folarin Balogun. The Werkself number ten provided the assist for the latter strike. In the end, the USA clocked up a 4-1 opening win. Tillman played for 82 minutes.
Tillman and his USA team-mates play their next match this coming Friday, 19 June (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), against Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle.
+++ 12 June: Alajbegovic takes on hosts +++
Kerim Alajbegovic and Bosnia and Herzegovina faced hosts Canada in Group B on Friday night at BMO Field in Toronto. In the first match in host nation Canada, Jovo Lukic put the visitors ahead with a header from a corner on 21 minutes. On 76 minutes, Cyle Larin, who only came off the bench moments earlier, scored the equaliser for Canada to make it 1-1. Alajbegovic came on in the 74th minute to replace his team-mate Amar Memic.
Kerim and his team will be back in action this coming Thursday, 18 June (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for their match against Switzerland.
+++ 12 June: Schick suffers defeat against South Korea +++
The first Leverkusen player has competed in the World Cup. On the night of Thursday 11 June, Patrik Schick with Czechia kicked off their Group A campaign against South Korea, featuring former Leverkusen player Heung-min Son. Despite taking the lead on 59 minutes, the Bayer 04 striker and his team-mates suffered a 2-1 defeat in their opening match. Schick was in the starting line-up and played for 63 minutes.
The Czechs are third in Group A. Co-hosts Mexico, who beat South Africa 2–0 on Thursday night in a crazy World Cup opener including three red cards, top the group ahead of South Korea. Schick and his team-mates continue their campaign on Thursday 18 June (kick-off: 18:00 CEST) with their second group match against South Africa (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta).
Matches and results involving Leverkusen players at the World Cup:
Patrik Schick (Czechia)
Friday 12 June (04.00 CEST): South Korea 2–1 Czechia (Estadio Akron, Guadalajara)
Thursday 18 June (18:00 CEST): Czechia vs. South Africa (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
Thursday 25 June (03:00 CEST): Czechia vs. Mexico (Azteca Stadium, Mexico City)
Kerim Alajbegovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Friday 12 June (21:00 CEST): Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BMO Field, Toronto)
Thursday 18 June (21:00 CEST): Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
Wednesday 24 June (21:00 CEST): Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar (Lumen Field, Seattle)
Malik Tillman (USA)
Saturday 13 June (03:00 CEST): USA 4-1. Paraguay (SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
Friday 19 June (21:00 CEST): USA vs. Australia (Lumen Field, Seattle)
Friday 26 June (04:00 CEST): Turkey vs. USA (SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
Mark Flekken (Netherlands)
Sunday 14 June (22:00 CEST): Netherlands 2-2 Japan (AT&T Stadium, Arlington)
Saturday 20 June (19:00 CEST): Netherlands vs. Sweden (NRG Stadium, Houston)
Friday 26 June (01:00 CEST): Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain)
Monday 15 June (18:00 CEST): Spain vs. Cape Verde (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
Sunday 21 June (18:00 CEST): Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
Saturday 27 June (02:00 CEST): Uruguay vs. Spain (Estadio Akron, Guadalajara)
Ibrahim Maza (Algeria)
Wednesday 17 June (03:00 CEST): Argentina vs. Algeria (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)
Tuesday 23 June (05:00 CEST): Jordan vs. Algeria (Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco)
Sunday 28 June (04:00 CEST): Algeria vs. Austria (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)
Exequiel Palacios (Argentina)
Wednesday 17 June (03:00 CEST): Argentina vs. Algeria (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)
Monday 22 June (19:00 CEST): Argentina vs. Austria (AT&T Stadium, Arlington)
Sunday 28 June (04:00 CEST): Jordan vs. Argentina (AT&T Stadium, Arlington)
Jarell Quansah (England)
Wednesday 17 June (22:00 CEST): England vs. Croatia (AT&T Stadium, Arlington)
Tuesday 23 June (22:00 CEST): England vs. Ghana (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough)
Saturday 27 June (23:00 CEST): Panama vs. England (MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford)
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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