Ahead of the match in Gelsenkirchen it was clear the result would not affect Germany's position in Group A1: The 2-0 win for Holland against World Cup winners France on Friday condemned Germany to relegation to Group B in the European competition. That meant the final group match against the team from the Netherlands was primarily a matter of prestige as the visitors only needed a draw to secure top spot in the group.
Germany were on the front foot from the start and deservedly took a 2-0 lead with goals from Timo Werner (9') and Leroy Sané (19'). Through to the final stage of the game the hosts created a large number of chances but failed to extend their lead. Somewhat out of the blue, Holland pulled a goal back with five minutes to play with an unstoppable shot from Quincy Promes. The game changed from that point and the Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk levelled in added time. In contrast to the friendly against Russia on Thursday Julian Brandt, Kai Havertz and Jonathan Tah did not add to the international caps as they watched the match from the bench.
Germany failed to register a win in the first Nations League campaign and now have to hope that Portugal beat Poland on Tuesday to ensure a seeding at the top of a group for the Euro qualifiers. Thanks to a superior goal difference, Holland go through the finals as group winners ahead of France.
Jakub Bednarczyk was on the winning side on Monday night as the Poland U20s beat their contemporaries from Ukraine 2-1 in a friendly. The 19-year-old started at right back in the match in Bielitz-Biala – and he was involved in the opening goal for his team with a cross that led to a penalty. The Werkself number 32 had to go off on 33 minutes after picking up a knock.
In the final international break of the year, the last two players from Heiko Herrlich's squad are in action on Tuesday: Issac Kiese Thelin (for Sweden against Russia) and Paulinho (with the Brazil U20s against Colombia).
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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