International updates: Germany trio start again – Kovar in goal for Czechia

+++ 11.09.: Hincapie and Co. in narrow win against Peru +++

Following the 1-0 defeat against Brazil at the start of the international break, Ecuador have now picked up three important points in the World Cup qualifiers. Piero Hincapie, who played the full game, featured in a 1-0 win against Peru. That takes Ecuador to fourth place in the table. The top six teams are definite to go through to the World Cup with the seventh taking part in play-offs.

+++ 10.09.: Germany and the Netherlands ends all square +++

There were no winners in the top match in Group 3 in League A of the UEFA Nations League: The classic encounter between the Netherlands and Germany and Amsterdam ended in a 2-2 draw with both teams now having four points. Tijjani Reijnders gave the Oranje an early lead with Germany levelling through Deniz Undav – with an assist from Florian Wirtz – and Joshua Kimmich then put Germany ahead before half-time.

Jonathan Tah, started alongside teammates Wirtz and Robert Andrich, went off at half-time. Denzel Dumfries equalised for the Netherlands at 2-2 shortly after the restart. Andrich was substituted on 63 minutes, Wirtz went the full distance. Jeremie Frimpong was not in the Netherlands matchday squad as he had to return home for personal reasons.

+++ 10.09.: Finland lose to Euro finalists England +++

Following on from the 3-0 defeat away to Greece, Finland were also beaten by England at Wembley. In the 2-0 reverse, the Eagle Owls captain Lukas Hradecky, who played the full game, and his teammates lost out to a brace from Harry Kane. Finland have no goals and no points in Group 2 in League B in the UEFA Nations League. Ireland are in the same position as both Greece and England have clocked up the maximum points.

+++ 10.09.: Czechia win with Kovar and Schick +++

Czechia picked up three important points in the Nations League: They beat Ukraine 3-2 in Prague. Matej Kovar was again in goal for Czechia who led 2-1 half-time and they extended their lead in the closing stages before Ukraine pulled a goal back. Kovar played the full 90 minutes, Patrik Schick was introduced on 80 minutes. Group 1 in League B is led by Georgia (six points) followed by Albania and Czechia on three points and Ukraine bottom with no points to date.

+++ 10.09.: Win in AFCON qualifier for Burkina Faso +++

Burkina Faso end the international break top of the group with four points from the first two games. In Group L of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Edmond Tapsoba, who played the full game, and his fellow countrymen beat Malawi 3-1. The previous top match in counter-attacks any goal ended in a 1-1 draw.

+++ 10.09.: Belocian on as sub for France U21s +++

The France U21 team ended the international break with a 2-0 home win against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Werkself player Jeanuel Belocian came off the bench in added time. The Leverkusen player and his fellow countrymen are second in Group H of the Euro qualifiers – and they remain in touch with leaders Slovenia as France are three points behind with a game in hand.

+++ 10.09.: Goalless draw for Nigeria +++

Nigeria, with Victor Boniface in the line-up, drew 0-0 with Rwanda. The Leverkusen player, on the pitch for the first half, and his fellow countrymen continue to top Group D of the AFCON qualifiers. Nigeria beat Benin 3-0 in the first match in the fourth team in the group is Libya.

+++ 09.09.: Adli starts in Morocco victory +++

Morocco ended the current international break with the second win in the second match of the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations. The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists beat Lesotho 1-0 with a goal in added time. Werkself player Amine Adli was in the starting XI and he was substituted on 56 minutes. There are two more games in the qualifiers in the middle of October and the middle of November.

+++ 07.09.: Grimaldo plays full game, Garcia comes on +++

A successful evening for the Spanish Werkself duo: On Sunday, the Euro 2024 winners beat Switzerland 4-1 with Alejandro Grimaldo playing the full 90 minutes and Aleix Garcia coming on in the closing stages of the game (81'). Spain played with ten men from early on after a red card was shown to Robin Le Normand on 20 minutes. It was the last game for Grimaldo, Garcia and Co. in the current international break.

+++ 07.09.: Big win for the Netherlands +++

The Netherlands also started the UEFA Nations League with an emphatic victory. The Oranje beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 5-2 in Eindhoven. Werkself player Jeremie Frimpong did not feature. The next opponents for the Euro 2024 semi-finalists are Germany on Tuesday night in Amsterdam.

+++ 07.09.: Tah, Andrich and Wirtz start +++

Germany clocked up a 5-0 victory over Hungary in Düsseldorf. With all the selected Leverkusen players in the starting line-up, Germany led 1-0 at half-time and moved up a gear after the restart. Florian Wirtz, who like his Werkself teammate Jonathan Tah played the full game, first set up Jamal Musiala with an impressive assist to make it 2-0 and then scored himself at 3-0 on 66 minutes. Robert Andrich came off at 82 minutes. Julian Nagelsmann's team are in action again against the Netherlands on Tuesday night.

+++ 07.09.: Finland with Hradecky lose to Greece +++

Finland, with Bayer 04 captain Lukas Hradecky, failed to pick up a point at the start of the UEFA Nations League. The Eagle Owls lost 3-0 in Greece. The next game for Finland is on Tuesday night at Wembley Stadium against the Euro 2024 finalists England.

+++ 07.09.: Kovar makes first international start +++

Werkself player Matej Kovar made his first start for Czechia in the opening match in the UEFA Nations League but was on the losing side in a 4-1 defeat against Georgia. Patrik Schick also started but the striker went off after 68 minutes.

+++ 07.09.: Boniface starts in home win for Nigeria +++

Nigeria made a winning start to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In a 3-0 win against Benin, Bayer 04 player Victor Boniface was in the starting XI and he played for 72 minutes. The next opponents on Tuesday night are Rwanda.

+++ 07.09.: Hincapie and Ecuador in narrow defeat against Brazil +++

Ecuador with Werkself player Piero Hincapie lost 1-0 to Brazil. The Leverkusen defender started and played the full 90 minutes as Ecuador lost out to a goal scored by Real Madrid star Rodrygo on the half-hour mark. Hincapie and Co. are currently sixth in the South American World Cup qualifiers and that would be good enough to progress to the World Cup finals. The next opponents late on Tuesday night Central European Time are bottom-of-the-table Peru.

+++ 06.09.: Tapsoba and Co. pick up point in top match +++

Burkina Faso have started the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations with a positive result. The opening match against Senegal, the top clash in Group L, ended in a 1-1 draw. Edmond Tapsoba played the full game. The next opponents on Tuesday night are Malawi.

+++ 06.09.: Adli plays in emphatic victory for Morocco +++

Morocco secured a clear victory at the start of the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations. The World Cup semi-finalists from 2022 beat Gabon 4-1. The Leverkusen forward Amine Adli came off the bench on 80 minutes with the score at 3-1. Morocco are in action again on Monday night with the game against Lesotho.

+++ 06.09.: France U21s miss out on important win +++

In the qualifiers for the U21 European Championships, France drew 1-1 at home to Slovenia. The team with Werkself player Jeanuel Belocian, who did not feature, lost second spot in qualifying group H to Austria. With one game less played and a better goal difference, France can take over top spot from Slovenia with their fate in their own hands.

+++ 05.09.: Grimaldo on as a sub in draw +++

Spain also played their opening match in the Nations League on Thursday night. The Euro 2024 winners only managed a goalless draw away to Serbia in Belgrade. Alejandro Grimaldo came on in the 56th minute, Aleix Garcia did not play. The next opponents on Sunday are Switzerland with the kick-off at 20.45 CEST.

+++ 05.09.: Switzerland with captain Xhaka lose +++

Switzerland started the Nations League on Thursday evening. Werkself player Granit Xhaka led the Swiss team onto the pitch as captain in the match away to Denmark. Switzerland were a man down from 50 minutes and went behind with ten minutes to play. In the closing stages of the game, Xhaka was sent off after being shown a second yellow card and Denmark doubled their lead at 2-0 in added time. Switzerland play European champions Spain on Sunday (kick-off: 20.45 CEST) in Group 4 of League A.

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