International updates: Palacios sets up Messi – Garcia plays in Spanish win

+++ 16.10.: Palacios in emphatic win with Messi and Co. +++

World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios has completed the international break from a Leverkusen perspective. The Werkself player featured in a 6-0 victory for Argentina against Bolivia in the tenth qualifier for the 2026 World Cup. Palacios came on with the score at 4-0 and he set up Leonel Messi to make it 5-0 with the eight time Ballon d'Or winner netting another hat-trick. The Albiceleste continue at the top of the qualifiers on 22 points.

+++ 16.10.: Another goalless draw for Hincapie +++

After last week's 0-0 draw between Piero Hincapie’s Ecuador and Paraguay, the Werkself defender was involved in another goalless encounter in the World Cup qualifiers. Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, La Trie drew 0-0 with Uruguay. Ecuador are now fifth in the qualifiers with 13 points from ten games.

+++ 15.10.: Garcia plays in 3-0 win against Serbia +++

Switzerland's group opponents Spain, with Xhaka's Werkself teammates Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia, also completed their final Nations League match in this international break on Tuesday night. La Roja clocked up a 3-0 win against Serbia. Garcia came on as a substitute on 82 minutes and Grimaldo was an unused substitute. Spain remain top on ten points with a three-point lead over Denmark.

+++ 15.10.: Morocco's next big win secures top spot

Werkself player Amine Adli with Morocco clocked up another emphatic victory in their fourth game in the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The North African team beat the Central African Republic 4-0 following on from their 5-0 victory against the same side on Saturday. Amine Adli came on as a substitute on 67 minutes. Morocco are top of Group B with a comfortable five-point lead over Gabon. Adli and Co. are already qualified for the tournament next year as hosts.

+++ 14.10.: Werkself trio involved in crunch clash +++

Germany and Netherlands also faced off on Monday evening in Munich. Florian Wirtz started for the DFB Team before being replaced by Robert Andrich at half-time. Jonathan Tah did not feature this time. For the Dutch, Jeremie Frimpong entered the field after 65 minutes. Thanks to a 1-0 victory - debutant Jamie Leweling scoring the goal - Germany have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League with 10 points from four games. Netherlands are in second place on five points, level with third-placed Hungary. Bosnia and Herzegovina prop up the group with one point.

+++ 14.10.: Czech Republic remain top +++

The 2-0 win over Albania was followed by a 1-1 draw against Ukraine for the Czechs on Monday night. Werkself goalkeeper Matej Kovar again lined up between the posts in Wroclaw, Poland and was beaten just once by a penalty. With four matches now played, Czech Republic currently lead Group B1 in the Nations League with seven points. If they're still there after the remaining two fixtures in mid-November, Ivan Hasek's side will be promoted to League A of the competition.

+++ 13.10.: Finland lose against England +++

Following a 2-1 defeat against Ireland, Finland lost to the Euro 2024 finalists England. After being a goal down at half-time in Helsinki on Sunday night, the visitors scored another two goals before the Eagle Owls netted a consolation goal late on for the final score of 3-1. Lukas Hradecky again led out his team as captain and he play the full 90 minutes. Finland are still without a point after four games in Group 2 of League B of the UEFA Nations League.

+++ 13.10.: Next win for Tapsoba and Co. +++

Burkina Faso continue their winning ways in the AFCON qualifiers: Edmond Tapsoba and his fellow countrymen secured a 2-0 win against Burundi on Sunday night. The Leverkusen player again played the full game. After four matches in Group L, Burkina Faso are top on ten points. That means they are already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Congratulations, Eddy!

+++ 12.10.: Spain beat Denmark +++

European champions Spain remain on course for success: Matchday three in Group 4 of League A in the UEFA Nations League brought a 1-0 win against Denmark. In the match played in Murcia, Werkself player Alejandro Grimaldo clocked up the full 90 minutes with Spain while Aleix Garcia looked on from the bench. Spain have seven points from three games so far. Their next opponents on Tuesday night are Serbia.

+++ 12.10.: Switzerland with Xhaka lose against Serbia +++

Switzerland have yet to pick up a point in Group 4 of League A in the UEFA Nations League: Saturday night saw a 2-0 defeat against Serbia. Granit Xhaka played the whole game. The next chance for the Leverkusen midfielder and his fellow countrymen to pick up points comes on Tuesday night in a clash with Denmark.

+++ 12.10.: Big win for Morocco +++

Morocco secured a 5-0 victory in their home game against the Central African Republic and now have nine points from three games in Group B of the AFCON qualifiers. Werkself player Amine Adli did not feature. They play the Central African Republic again on Tuesday night.

+++ 11.10.: Werkself trio start for Germany +++

Germany beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 in the Nations League with Werkself trio Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich and Florian Wirtz in the starting XI. Wirtz set up the opening goal for Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav on the half-hour mark with a sublime lay-off, before Undav completed his brace seven minutes later. He even found the net for a third time, but his goal as well as other efforts from debutant Tim Kleindienst and Bayern's Serge Gnabry in the second half were all disallowed for offside. Edin Dzeko made it more interesting by reducing the deficit in the 70th minute, but Germany held on for the three points. Tah and Wirtz both played the duration in Zenica, with Andrich coming off in the 67th minute.

The victory leaves Germany at the top of the group on seven points. They play Netherlands next on Monday.

+++ 11.10.: Frimpong watches Dutch draw +++

Germany's group opponents Netherlands could only manage a 1-1 draw against Hungary in their Nations League encounter. The Oranje fell behind to ex-Freiburg man Roland Sallai (32'), which Denzel Dumfries eventually cancelled out late on (83'). Jeremie Frimpong didn't feature. The Dutch occupy second place in Group A3 with five points ahead of Monday's clash against Germany.

+++ 11.10.: Kovar keeps clean sheet in win over Albania +++

With Werkself keeper Matej Kovar between the posts, Czech Republic beat Albania 2-0 in the Nations League in their first outing of this international break. Tomas Chory scored both of the goals, while Kovar played the full 90 minutes. The Czechs are now second in Group B1 on six points behind leaders Georgia. They take on third-place Ukraine next.

+++ 11.10.: Boniface starts in Nigeria win +++

Tapsoba's Bayer 04 team-mate Victor Boniface was also involved in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with Nigeria. The Super Eagles won 1-0 in their game against Libya thanks to a late strike from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Boniface played 74 minutes. Nigeria are currently top of Group D ahead of another meeting against Libya.

+++ 10.10.: Emphatic win for Tapsoba and Co. +++

Burkina Faso have picked up another three points in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. They secured a 4-1 win against Burundi. Edmond Tapsoba, who played the full 90 minutes, and his fellow countrymen lead Group L on seven points from three games. They play Burundi again on Sunday evening.

+++ 10.10.: Hradecky and Co. lose to Ireland +++

Finland lost 2-1 against Ireland in the opening match of the international break. As usual, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky led out the Eagle Owls as captain in Helsinki. The former Leverkusen player Joel Pohjanpalo opened the scoring but the visitors from Ireland turned the game round in the second half. Finland have no points after three games played in Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League. The next opponents on Sunday evening are England.

+++ 10.10.: Argentina pick up a point +++

The World Cup winners Argentina also missed out on three points. They drew 1-1 away to Venezuela. Exequiel Palacios did not play. The Albiceleste continue to lead the South American table and now have 19 points from nine matches. Their next opponents overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday are Bolivia.

+++ 10.10.: Hincapie's Ecuador fail to score +++

Piero Hincapie with Ecuador could only manage a goalless draw against Paraguay in the South American World Cup qualifiers. The Werkself midfielder played the full 90 minutes. Ecuador are currently fifth in the South American table with the first six sides certain of qualifying for the World Cup. The next opponents in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday are Uruguay.

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