The Bundesliga is done and dusted, but the next big event looms over the footballing world in the form of the World Cup. However, during the five-week period of limbo, there’s no need for Werder fans to turn their back on Green-White affairs. Several of the Bremen boys will turn-out for their country at the end of May/start of June. WERDER.DE has a feature on the definite inclusions, scheduled games and available squad places.
A certain highlight will be the inclusion of Werder’s wonderkid: Josh Sargent could be celebrating his debut in U.S. colours. Coach Dave Sarachan called up the 18-year-old talent from the Werder Academy to the national squad for the upcoming friendly against Bolivia. The match kicks off in Pennsylvania on Friday night at 00:30 CEST. Sargent might also get the nod at the start of June when the US face two further contests against Ireland (2nd June) and France (9th June). Sarachan is set to make a few changes to his squad for the trip to Europe.
Florian Kainz has vastly more experience in his country’s colours. The wide-man is looking forward to juicy friendlies against World Cup hosts Russia (30th May), reigning champions Germany (2nd June) and record-winners Brazil (10th June). His Werder teammates Jiri Pavlenka and Theodor Gebre Selassie will lock horns with Australia (1st June) before taking their well-deserved summer holiday. Johannes Eggestein, meanwhile, has been selected to travel to Eppan in the Italian region of South Tyrol for the German U20 team’s training camp between 26th – 31st May.
The final pre-World Cup friendlies are also coming up for Thomas Delaney with Denmark (against Mexico, 9th June), Ludwig Augustinsson with Sweden (against Peru, 9th June) and Yuya Osako with Japan (against Ghana, 30th May). The new kid on the Bremen block, Osako, could well play two further games against Switzerland and Paraguay if selected for the 23-man final Japan squad. Serba’s preliminary squad is set to be revealed on Thursday, where Milos Veljkovic will find out his (provisional) World Cup fate.
Tuesday 29/05/18, 00:30 CEST: USA Vs. Bolivia, Talen Energy Stadium, Pennsylvania (USA) featuring Josh Sargent
Wednesday 30/05/18, 12:25 CEST: Japan Vs. Ghana, Nissan Stadium, Yokohama (Japan) featuring Yuya Osako
Wednesday 30/05/18, 20:45 CEST: Austria Vs. Russia, Tivoli Stadium, Innsbruck (Austria) featuring Florian Kainz
Friday 01/06/18, 13:00 CEST: Czech Republic Vs. Australia, St. Poelten (Austria) featuring Theodor Gebre Selassie and Jiri Pavlenka
Saturday 02/06/18, 18:00 CEST: Austria Vs. Germany, Wörthersee Stadium, Klagenfurt (Austria) featuring Florian Kainz
Saturday 02/06/18, 21:00 CEST, Ireland Vs. USA, Aviva Stadium, Dublin (Ireland) featuring Josh Sargent
Friday 08/06/2018, 19:00 CEST, Switzerland Vs. Japan, Lugano (Switzerland) featuring Yuya Osako
Saturday 09/06/18, 19:15 CEST, Sweden Vs. Peru, Gamla Ullevi, Göteborg (Sweden) featuring Ludwig Augustinsson
Saturday 09/06/18, 20:00 CEST, Denmark Vs. Mexico, Bröndby Stadium, Bröndby (Denmark) featuring Thomas Delaney
Saturday 09/06/18, 21:00 CEST, France Vs. USA, Groupama Stadium, Lyon (France) featuring Josh Sargent
Sunday 10/06/18, 16:00 CEST, Austria Vs. Brazil, Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna (Austria) featuring Thomas Delaney
Tuesday 12/06/18, 15:05 CEST, Japan Vs. Paraguay, Tivoli Stadium, Innsbruck (Austria) featuring Yuya Osako
