Captain Elisa Senß has deservedly earned another call-up thanks to her impressive debut for the Germany team last December in the UEFA Women's Nations League. Friday 23 February (kick-off: 21.00 CET, live on ARD sees Germany play the Olympic hosts France in Lyon in the semi-final not just to determine progress to the Nations League final but also for a place at the summer games. In the event of defeat, the team under Germany coach Horst Hrubesch will have a second chance of qualifying on Wednesday 28 February with a third place play-off against Spain or the Netherlands.
Two other Leverkusen players are in the same competition for two play-off games to the relevant league. Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir, who helped out Senß and Germany in reaching the semi-final stage in December with her winner for Iceland against Denmark, is set to play away and then at home to Serbia to remain in League A. Lilla Turányi with Hungary play Belgium twice as they look to stay in League B. The Polish duo Sylwia Matysik and Nikola Karczewska, who convincingly won Nations League Group B3, have two friendlies against Switzerland.
Three Leverkusen players are away with the Norway U23 squad. Emilie Bragstad and Synne Skinnes Hansen are joined by winter signing Julie Jorde. The trio have a friendly against Spain. Cecilie Johansen is with the Denmark U23 side for two friendly fixtures against the Netherlands and Sweden.
A number of Leverkusen players are away with the Germany youth teams. Michael Urbansky, the new U19 coach, has called up six Bayer 04 Women for two international fixtures against the Netherlands and Italy. Goalkeeper Anne Moll plus outfield players Paulina Bartz, Loreen Bender, Delice Boboy, Estrella Merino Gonzalez and Julia Mickenhagen have been selected. The games in an international tournament serve as preparation for the European Championship qualifiers at the start of April and will be played in La Nucia in Spain. In addition, Sofie Zdebe is in the Germany U20 squad under the coach Kathrin Peter. The team first play the hosts and then Mexico in Alicante.
Forthcoming international fixtures:
Elisa Senß (Germany)
23.02: France vs Germany (UEFA Women’s Nations League, semi-final)
28.02: Game for third place/final
Lilla Turányi (Hungary)
23.02: Hungary vs Belgium (UEFA Women’s Nations League, relegation play-off)
27.02: Belgium vs Hungary (UEFA Women’s Nations League, relegation play-off)
Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (Iceland)
23.02: Serbia vs Iceland (UEFA Women’s Nations League, relegation play-off)
27.02: Iceland vs Serbia (UEFA Women’s Nations League, relegation play-off)
Sylwia Matysik, Nikola Karczewska (Poland)
23.02: Poland vs Switzerland (Friendly)
27.02: Switzerland vs Poland (Friendly)
Emilie Bragstad, Julie Jorde, Synne Skinnes Hansen (Norway U23s)
27.02: Spain vs Norway (Friendly)
Cecilie Johansen (Denmark U23s)
22.02: Denmark vs Netherlands (Friendly)
25.02: Denmark vs Sweden (Friendly)
Paulina Bartz, Loreen Bender, Delice Boboy, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Julia Mickenhagen, Anne Moll (Germany U19s)
24.02: Netherlands vs Germany (International tournament)
27.02: Germany vs Italy (International tournament)
Sofie Zdebel (Germany U20s)
22.02: Spain vs Germany (International tournament)
25.02: Germany vs Mexico (International tournament)
In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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