Lara Marti and Irina Pando are in the Switzerland squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Lithuania. Switzerland currently lead their group with twelve points from four games and an impressive goal difference of 17 to one. Dina Blagojević is with Serbia for home and away encounters with Bulgaria; Sylwia Matysik and Poland face Kosovo and Belgium. And Poland are also in a good position ahead of the international break - they are second with eight points from four games.
Milena Nikolic with second to last Bosnia-Herzegovina can make up ground on Denmark and Malta as well as adding to the one point they have secured so far. The same applies to Lilla Turányi and Dóra Zeller with Hungary who could move up their group from one off bottom with a win against Ukraine.
The two youngsters Lisanne Gräwe and Julia Pollak are heading off to Spain; Sofie Zdebel is on standby. The Germany U20s are in Salou from 21 November to 1 December for the Costa Daurada Trophy. Germany play France, Spain and Mexico.
Upcoming internationals:
Lara Marti, Irina Pando – Switzerland
26.1: Italy vs Switzerland (World Cup qualifier)
30.11.: Lithuania vs Switzerland (World Cup qualifier)
Dina Blagojević – Serbia
25.11: Serbia vs Bulgaria (World Cup qualifier)
30.11: Bulgaria vs Serbia (World Cup qualifier)
Sylwia Matysik – Poland
25.11 Kosovo vs Poland (World Cup qualifier)
30.11: Belgium vs Poland (World Cup qualifier)
Milena Nikolic – Bosnia
25.11: Bosnia vs Denmark (World Cup qualifier)
30.11: Bosnia vs Malta (World Cup qualifier)
Lilla Turányi , Dóra Zeller – Hungary
30.11: Hungary vs Ukraine (World Cup qualifier)
Lisanne Gräwe, Julia Pollak – Germany U20s
26.11.: France vs. Germany (Costa Daurada Trophy)
28.11: Spain vs. Germany (Costa Daurada Trophy)
30.11: Germany vs. Mexico (Costa Daurada Trophy)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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