World Cup qualifiers: Eight Bayer 04 women on international duty

Germany start their mission to qualify for the World Cup in Group A4 with a home game against Slovenia. Carlotta Wamser, who had to sit out the UEFA Women's Nations League final against Spain at the end of last year with an injury, is back on board this time. After the match against Slovenia on Tuesday, 3 March at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden, Germany will face Norway in Stavanger on Saturday night, 8 March. In addition to goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe, midfielder Katharina Piljic will also be on call for the Germany senior team for the first time.

Wamser's team-mate Claudia Wenger will face the same two opponents with Austria. The 24-year-old defender will face Norway at home in Maria Enzersdorf with the Austrian national team, who have also been drawn in qualifying group A4, before Wenger and Co. face Slovenia away at the ŠRC Bonifika stadium. Forward Valentina Mädl is on standby for the Austria training programme.

Quintet in germany U23 squad

A Leverkusen quintet consisting of Julia Mickenhagen, Piljic, Loreen Bender, Selina Ostermeier plus Sofie Zdebel have been called up. The team coached by Michael Urbansky will play Norway away in Ålesund. Four days later, Germany, including Paulina Bartz, on loan to Hamburger SV to the end of the season, will play an international against Belgium in Wattenscheid. Estrella Merino Gonzalez, like Borggräfe and Piljic initially also on standby for the senior national team, had to drop out of the training course due to muscular problems.

Meanwhile, striker Amy Wrigge will play two matches with the Germany U19s as part of a training programme in Spain. Coach Melanie Behringer's team will first face Sweden in La Nucia and then Italy three days later. Sana Coskun from the U23 team has also been nominated for the Turkey U19s, who will face Uzbekistan, Thailand and Equatorial Guinea in Turkey.

Call-ups at a glance: