Waiting to make a comeback

Marco Friedl & Jens Stage hoping to feature in their nation’s next game

Friedl and Stage clap their hands.
For the first time in over two years, Friedl & Stage have been called up to international duty (photo: W.DE).
First Team
Sunday, 13.10.2024 / 13:00

Five Werder players are currently away on international duty with their respective sides. Isak Hansen-Aarøen and Mio Backhaus picked up some important match practice, whilst whirlwind Romano Schmid’s current performances for Austria are helping him keep his place in the starting XI. Werder captain Marco Friedl and midfielder Jens Stage are hoping to make their return to the national team side in the second fixture of the international break. In particular, Stage has a good chance of making his second Denmark appearance.

The first Werder involvement of the current international break came in the Austria game on Thursday (10th October) evening as they hosted Kazakhstan. Whilst Romano Schmid has become Ralf Rangnick’s go-to creative player in midfield, Marco Friedl has been called up to the squad for the first time in two years. The Werder skipper watched on from the bench as Austria picked up a 4-0 victory. 

The 26-year-old is hoping to get some minutes and make his sixth international appearance on Sunday evening (13th October: 20:45 CEST) in Austria’s second fixture against Norway. His teammate Schmid put in a solid performance against Kazakhstan and put himself well in contention to start against Haaland & Co. The Graz-born midfielder crossed in from a corner to set up Freiburg’s Philipp Lienhart who scored Austria’s second. 

Goalkeeper Mio Backhaus gained important match practice for Germany U20s on Friday night (11th October). Werder’s number 30 played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Poland. After the guests took an early lead from a set-play, Backhaus had some good moments to help his side turn things around and secure their third victory in their third U20 Elite League match.

Hansen-Aarøen can still qualify, Stage’s chances rise

Isak Hansen-Aarøen and Norway U21s dreams of reaching the Euros seemed to be ending until second-half injury time of their qualifier against group rivals Republic of Ireland on Friday evening. Norway were trailing in a game they could not afford to lose: that was until Andreas Schjelderup scored a last-minute equaliser to make it 1-1. Should Hansen-Aarøen & Co. win against Turkey on Tuesday (15th October, 18:30 CEST), and they receive help from an Italy victory, they still have a chance to make the play-offs and keep their dreams alive. Werder’s number 21 played 81 minutes for Norway U21s on Friday. 

Jens Stage did not feature as as Denmark suffered a bitter defeat against Spain. Despite the dominance of the European champions, who naturally went into the game as favourites, the guests looked like they might come away with something from the game. However, a Martin Zubimendi volley slipped through keeper Kasper Schmeichel’s hands which turned out to be the game’s deciding goal. As midfielder Morten Hjulmand picked up another yellow card, his second of the Nations League, and is suspended for Denmark’s next game against Switzerland on Tuesday (15th October, 20:45 CEST), Stage has a good chance of making his second appearance for his nation.

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