Simakan und Forsberg training individually| Klostermann on the challenge ahead at Leverkusen and the race for the Champions League

Five Mainz 05 players are currently representing their countries on international duty. Leandro Barreiro, Karim Onisiwo, Anton Stach and Silvan Widmer each have one UEFA Nations League fixture behind them, while Jonny Burkardt and Germany U21s booked their ticket to next year’s European Championship.

VfB are currently preparing for their home clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach, with the firm intention of gaining more crucial points as they aim to secure top-flight survival.

“I really feel very comfortable at Union,” said Becker, who was the second fastest player in the entire Bundesliga last season. “We have achieved incredible things together in recent years, and together with the club and the team, I have also developed further. I look forward to continuing to work together.”

It’s one day until the first VfL players join the action at the World Cup. Jonas Wind starts things off on Tuesday as Denmark meet Tunisia (14:00 CET), before Jakub Kaminski’s Poland play Mexico later the same day (17:00 CET). Koen Casteels and Belgium begin their campaign on Wednesday against Canada (20:00 CET). If they get minutes, the Wolves trio will become players 22, 23 and 24 to have featured at a World Cup while playing for VfL Wolfsburg. The list of their predecessors dates back to the last millennium.

It must have been painful viewing for Gerrard in the unlikely event he was watching, having constantly called on his front players to deliver more in the final few weeks of his reign.

Boris Rupert reporting from London

“Deserved win for Union” – #BMGFCU reaction We gathered the thoughts from the players and coaches...

SV Werder Bremen face a tough test on Sunday (16/04/2023, 15:30 CEST), when they welcome high-flyers SC Freiburg to the wohninvest WESERSTADION. The Breisgau side are currently in fifth place and have been playing a solid season so far, developing a reputation for posing a serious threat from set pieces. “They have scored 40% of their goals in this manner. That’s a lot,” head coach Ole Werner remarked during the pre-match press conference.

One goes, one stays: Luis Hartwig has been called up by DFB U20 coach Christian Wörns...