Six VfL Bochum professionals will be playing for various national teams next week. Matus Bero will face Germany with Slovakia.
Six VfL Bochum professionals, including five talented youngsters, will be playing for their national teams starting next week. Captain Matus Bero is also hoping to play for Slovakia against Germany. The 29-year-old, who is still struggling with a severe bruise in his pelvic area but is likely to play in Saturday’s home game against Münster (1 p.m./Sky), remains in his home country’s squad. Slovakia’s World Cup qualifying campaign begins with a match against Germany (September 4, 8:45 p.m.), followed by an away game in Luxembourg (September 7).
Leandro Morgalla is making his comeback to the German U21 national team after a good start to the season with VfL. The 20-year-old played his last of four U21 games in October 2024 and was not in the squad for the European Championship in the summer. Now coach Antonio Di Salvo has nominated the defender again. A friendly against Albania is scheduled for September 5, followed four days later by a European Championship qualifier against Latvia.
VfL Bochum: Lenz and Wätjen play for DFB U20
Meanwhile, Cajetan Lenz’s rapid rise continues. The 19-year-old made his debut for the U19 national team this year and has now been nominated for the DFB U20 team for the first time, in line with his age. The same goes for Kjell Wätjen, on loan from Dortmund, who has already played 23 international matches from the U16 to the U19 level. The U20 team will face Switzerland on September 5 and Italy on September 9.
Battle of the Bochum teenagers: Onyeka faces Crimaldi
Francis Onyeka (18), who is set to make his starting debut against Münster on Saturday, will travel to the DFB U19 training camp, which Kacper Koscierski has had to cancel due to injury. Koscierski is expected to rejoin team training during the international break after recovering from a minor shoulder injury. Darnell Keumo is on standby for U19 head coach Christian Wörns. The DFB youth team will play against Italy (September 6) and Croatia (September 9).
This means that on September 6, there will be a VfL meeting with Alessandro Crimaldi, who is traveling with Italy’s U19 team. The U19 striker will also play against the youth teams of Croatia (September 3) and the Czech Republic (September 9).