How Bayer Leverkusen stars fared at Euro 2020

Despite having a team packed full of international experience, just five Bayer 04 Leverkusen players received the call for Euro 2020.

Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick, Austrians, defender, Aleksander Dragovic and, midfielder, Julian Baumgartlinger and Finns, goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky and striker, Joel Pohjanpalo all featured for their nations at the European Championships.

Meanwhile, Tin Jedvaj (Croatia), Karim Bellarabi and Jonathan Tah (Both Germany) who have all made double figures of appearances for their national teams all missed the cut.

Of those who made the tournament, Dragovic will be leaving Leverkusen this summer having agreed to join Red Star Belgrade, while Pohjanpalo’s future looks uncertain having spent the last couple of seasons out on loan.

Away from looking at their futures however, this is how each got on at the Euros, split country by country with the five players representing just three nations between them.

Czech Republic – Schick

Matchday 1 – Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic

In a game where Scotland applied a lot of pressure going forward and were rarely threatened defensively, Schick was one of the players who made the difference for the Czechs. Heading in a Vladimir Coufal cross just before half-time for the opening goal, before a stunning long range effort just after the break catching out David Marshall from the halfway line saw the forward complete a brace at Hampden Park.

Matchday 2 – Croatia 1-1 Czech Republic

Schick was again named in the starting line up, and again played his part for his side. After taking an elbow to the face on the half hour mark, and winning a penalty in the process, Schick picked himself up to take the spot kick and put the Czechs ahead, sending the keeper the wrong way.

The striker didn’t make much of an impact in the second half and was subbed off with 15 minutes to play.

Matchday 3 – Czech Republic 0-1 England

Schick started, and played 75 minutes, in the Czech’s defeat at Wembley. The striker was kept quiet throughout and failed to even get a shot away.

Round of 16 – Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic

Patrik Schick started the game up front, and yet again made the difference for his nation. Schick was bearing down on goal when De Ligt lost his footing and handled the ball to receive his marching orders, and the tall forward scored his country’s second goal to wrap up the victory and secure a place in the last eight.

Quarter-Final – Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark

Schick continued his excellent tournament form as his nation faced Denmark in the last eight, but the Czechs fell short after Denmark bossed the first half and gained a two goal lead. The big forward pulled a goal back just after half time, and was generally a nuisance for the Danish defenders, but it wasn’t enough for a reunion with England in the semi-finals.

Austria – Baumgartlinger, Dragovic

Matchday 1 – Austria 3-1 North Macedonia

Both Dragovic and Baumgartlinger featured for Austria in their opening game, but neither really made an impact with Dragovic being subbed off at half time, and Baumgartlinger being a substitute in time added on at the end of the game.

Matchday 2 – Netherlands 2-0 Austria

Baumgartlinger missed out on the squad completely as Austria lost 2-0 in Amsterdam. The outgoing Dragovic was again subbed off, but this time lasted until five minutes from time before being replaced.

Matchday 3 – Ukraine 0-1 Austria

Baumgartlinger again missed out on the matchday squad, but Dragovic this time did play for the full 90 minutes as Austria kept a clean sheet to win 1-0 against Ukraine and finish the group in second place, securing a Round of 16 tie against Italy at Wembley.

Round of 16 – Italy 2-1 Austria (AET, 0-0 at FT)

Baumgartlinger was restored to the bench for Austria’s game with Italy, while Dragovic was named from the start. The CB played a commanding role at the back, forming a formidable partnership with Martin Hinteregger and keeping the Italians at bay whenever they came forward in the 90 minutes.

There was little that could be done about either of Italy’s two goals, both of which were very well worked when they finally came about. Dragovic did get himself in the book for a foul in the last minute of extra time, but with Austria now out of the tournament the card means little.

Baumgartlinger didn’t come off the bench in the 120 minutes, meaning his tournament saw him make a disappointing two minutes for his national side, he was always unlikely to feature heavily due to having missed half of the season through a cruciate injury and having only recently returned, but given his lack of minutes his call up may have been to early in his recovery.

Finland – Hradecky, Pohjanpalo

Matchday 1 – Denmark 0-1 Finland

The events of this game left people in shock, but the football was not the main talking point as Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. Thankfully the Dane was resuscitated and pulled through, but the match continued in his absence after a short suspension.

There will be people who say the game should not have been played to a conclusion, but it was, and Leverkusen players Hradecky and Pohjanpalo both played their part in their country’s victory. It was striker Pohjanpalo who netted what proved to be the winning goal on the hour mark, while Hradecky kept a clean sheet, and saved a penalty from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg with 15 minutes left to play.

Matchday 2 – Finland 0-1 Russia

While Finland were listed as the home team this match was played in Russia. Hradecky and Pohjanpalo both started for the Finns, and within three minutes the latter thought he had added his second goal of the tournament, heading in a cross from the right-hand side, but VAR intervened with the striker a whisker offside.

The striker was lively throughout the first half but was largely wasteful when with the ball in the box. At the other end, Hradecky was largely unchallenged in the first half, but was beaten on the stroke of half time by an excellent Aleksei Miranchuk strike.

Finland struggled to make their mark on the game after the break, with Pohjanpalo a lot quieter than the first half. Hradecky remained largely untested with Russia managing just three shots on target all game.

Matchday 3 – Finland 0-2 Belgium

Pohjanpalo had his quietest game of the tournament, getting just two shots away which were both blocked. Hradecky on the other hand was far busier, and made seven saves, but that wasn’t enough to earn Finland a point as Belgium ran out 2-0 winners.

The Finland keeper was very unfortunate with the first goal, Thomas Vermaelen’s header from a corner came back off the crossbar and hit Hradecky and just crossed the line before the keeper could claw it away.

It was harsh on a keeper who had been largely excellent throughout the game, and the tournament, but it was an error of his own making having tried to catch the ball and knocked it in with his own hand.

There was nothing he could do about the second, however, with Romelu Lukaku finding the bottom corner to seal the game.

Finland had to wait to see if they could make it out of the group in third place, but it wasn’t to be for the Finns this time around.

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