Bayer 04 skipper Elisa Senß, who is set to join Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, helped Germany secure an early slot at the European Championships in Switzerland (2-25 July 2025). Playing against Leverkusen teammates Sylwia Matysik and Nikola Karczewska, Germany beat Poland 4-1 in Rostock and that was followed by a 3-1 victory in the return match. Germany came back from a goal down in both games, with Senß coming on as a substitute at half-time, and the midfielder provided an assist for Lea Schüller to make it 2-1 (77') in Rostock.
Matysik played the full 90 minutes twice in a holding midfield role. Karczewska, who returns to Tottenham Hotspur after a loan spell, came off the bench in Rostock on 69 minutes. Poland have no chance of qualifying for the Euro finals after picking up no points from four games.
By contrast, Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir with Iceland improved the situation in the race to qualify for the tournament. A 1-1 draw away was followed by a 2-1 win at home to direct rivals Austria. Vilhjálmsdóttir played in both games and provided the assist at 1-0 for Hlín Eiríksdóttir (17') in the second match. With seven points, Iceland are second to Germany on twelve points on the back of four wins.
Lilla Turányi and Hungary have everything to play for with two games to go. After a 2-1 defeat and a 1-0 win against Switzerland, the team are third on four points. Central defender Turányi went off at half-time in the first match after picking up a knock and she was rested for the second game.
The Germany U20 team, with two Werkself players in the squad, gained confidence for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Colombia from 31 August 22 September. In the first of three friendlies, the team led by Germany coach Kathrin Peter turned a 2-0 deficit at half-time into a 3-2 win against the Poland U23s. Sofie Zdebel played the full 90 minutes, Loreen Bender made her U20 debut after seven games and five goals for the U19s. Bender was in the starting line-up in the second friendly against the Australia U23 team and she was replaced by Zdebel on 82 minutes. Germany won 3-0. The team showed their ability to come back with a 2-2 draw against the Sweden U23s after being 2-0 down with the two Leverkusen players both starting. Zdebel played 65 minutes, Bender 81. Sweden won 2-1 in the penalty shootout.
In the year group below, the Bayer 04 quintet of Anne Moll, Paulina Bartz, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Julia Mickenhagen and Delice Boboy completed a four-day training camp in Bad Blankenburg with the Germany U19s in preparation for the European Championships in Lithuania (14 – 27 July). There were no international fixtures. Julie Jorde completed two training sessions and an internal friendly with the Norway U23s against the U19 team.
Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman is leaving the Bayer 04 Women’s team with immediate effect to take up a new challenge abroad. The club has agreed to the 31-year-old’s request to leave, although his contract was originally due to run until 2027. A decision on his successor will be announced shortly.
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At the U19 European Championship in Wales, the Germany U19 national team lost their third and final group match 4-0 to Spain. Several regulars, including Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan to SV Elversberg), who had combined for four goals and assists in the two previous victories, did not feature,. Germany had already secured their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico is underway. A total of eight Leverkusen players are taking part in the 23rd World Cup, with 48 teams in the tournament for the first time. Bayer04.de brings you all the latest from Werkself players at the World Cup.
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At the end of June, Bayer 04 became the first team in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga to begin their pre-season preparations. As well as training sessions at the Kurtekotten facility, the players under coach Roberto Pätzold completed the customary series of performance diagnostics. Werkself-TV presents exclusive insights and player interviews from the first few days after the summer break.
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