The reigning World Cup winners Germany will play Saudi Arabia at the BayArena ahead of this summer's tournament. As confirmed by the German Football Association (DFB) on Friday, the Saudis will play the titleholders at Leverkusen's stadium on 8 June immediately before departing for the finals in Russia (14 June to 15 July). During the World Cup training camp in South Tirol, Germany will play Austria in Klagenfurt on 2 June. At the request of the sporting management the run-in will include a home game – with friendly prices for young fans.
"Children and teenagers watch the team play for five euros," said DFB president Reinhard Grindel. "We know it's special motivation for the children and teenagers in our clubs to be able to support their heroes. We hope lots of young fans in Leverkusen will get behind our players and give them a boost for the World Cup in Russia." For the game against Saudi Arabia, being played six days before the World Cup opening game against Russia, Germany coach Joachim Löw is expecting, "a different way of playing and mentality we aren't so familiar with but which we have to be prepared for at a World Cup. I assume Saudi Arabia will take the game against us very seriously and not give anything away."
In Group F, the reigning World Cup winners Germany, will play Mexico (17 June), Sweden (23 June) and South Korea (27 June). Germany have played Saudi Arabia twice before. In 1998 there was a 3-0 win for Germany in a friendly in Riyadh. Germany won 8-0 in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup.
Previous full internationals in Leverkusen:
18.12.1991: Germany v Luxembourg 4-0 (Euro qualifier 1992)
08.10.1995: Germany v Moldova 6-1 (Euro qualifier 1996)
04.06.1999: Germany v Moldova 6-1 (Euro qualifier 2000)
24.03.2001: Germany v Albania 2-1 (World Cup qualifier 2002)
18.05.2002: Germany v Austria 6-2
30.05.2006: Germany v Japan 2-2
05.09.2009: Germany v South Africa 2-0
Bayer 04 will have to manage without Florian Wirtz. The Germany international suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle in the home game against Werder Bremen (0-2) on Saturday. That was the diagnosis from an MRI scan following the game. The 21-year-old midfielder will be out of action for several weeks.
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It was a day to forget for the Werkself. Bayer 04 suffered a second defeat in the Bundesliga this term with a 2-0 loss to Werder Bremen on Matchday 25. Head coach Xabi Alonso talked after the game about a match, "we want to forget as soon as possible" and he demanded: "We have to believe in ourselves again." Reaction plus stats and facts on #B04SVW are here in the Werkself review.
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Bayer 04 lost 2-0 against Werder Bremen on Bundesliga Matchday 25. After going behind early to a goal scored by Romano Schmid (7') the Werkself endeavoured to level with Aleix Garcia going closest when he hit a free kick against the bar just before half-time. Other promising chances in the second half failed to find the back of the Bremen net. The visitors doubled their lead in added time with Justin Njinmah scoring for the final score of 2-0.
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The Werkself entertain Werder Bremen at the BayArena on Bundesliga Matchday 25. The game kicks off at 15:30 CET today Saturday, 8 March, alongside a number of events. Matchday news brings you the latest information on the clash with the team lying twelfth in the Bundesliga.
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