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World Cup qualification secured, place at the U19 European Championship sealed and debut at U21 level
Edin Džeko, Nikola Katic, Mertcan Ayhan and Mika Wallentowitz were all in action for their national teams on Tuesday (31/3). schalke04.de has rounded up how the quartet got on.
Džeko and Katic seal World Cup place
Bosnia and Herzegovina have qualified for a World Cup for only the second time, having first done so in 2014. Edin Džeko and Nikola Katic helped their side beat Italy 4-1 on penalties in the play-off final in Zenica after the match had ended 1-1 following extra time.
After falling behind early on to Moise Kean (15’) of Fiorentina, the hosts gradually took control – helped by Alessandro Bastoni’s red card for a professional foul (41’). The deserved equaliser arrived late on, with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Haris Tabakovic making it 1-1 in the 79th minute after Gianluigi Donnarumma had first made an excellent save to deny Džeko.
Bosnia held their nerve in the shootout, converting all four of their penalties while Italy missed twice.
Edin Džeko and Nikola Katic both played the full match. Deep into stoppage time, Džeko suffered a shoulder injury after a foul by Davide Frattesi. The striker will undergo thorough examinations, with further tests to follow once he has returned to Gelsenkirchen.
At this summer’s World Cup, Bosnia and Herzegovina will face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
Ayhan makes Turkey U21 debut
Mertcan Ayhan made his first appearance for Turkey’s U21 side. The Schalke defender came on in the 36th minute of their 3-0 defeat away to Croatia in U21 European Championship qualifying.
Before his introduction, the match in Osijek had been suspended for almost two hours because of a medical emergency. Turkey U21 head coach Egemen Korkmaz had briefly lost consciousness after a fall by the touchline.
The hosts, already playing with a man advantage before half time after Demir Ege Tiknaz had been sent off for a second yellow card, scored through Fabijan Krivak (38’/Lokomotiva Zagreb), Adriano Jagušić (54’/Panathinaikos) and Branimir Mlačić (90’+4/Hajduk Split). The visitors then had two more players sent off in the second half, with Semih Kiliçsoy (73’) and Cihan Çanak (74’) both seeing red.
Following the defeat at the Opus Arena, Turkey have surrendered top spot in Group H to Croatia.
Wallentowitz reaches U19 European Championship
Mika Wallentowitz has helped Germany’s U19s book their place at the U19 European Championship in Wales. Christian Wörns’ side beat Austria 3-2 in their third and final match of the second qualifying round. S04’s youngster came on in the 85th minute, making his third appearance for Germany at this age group.
In Dreieich, Hamburger SV’s Otto Stange struck twice (15’/33’), while Bochum’s Francis Onyeka was also on target (44’). Austria’s goals came from Rapid Wien’s Ensar Music in first-half stoppage time and FC Admira Wacker’s Aleksandar Djordjevic just before the final whistle. The U19 European Championship will take place from 25th May to 8th June 2026.
Aouchiche unused for Algeria
Adil Aouchiche did not feature in Algeria’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay. After making his debut in the 7-0 win over Guatemala the previous week, the attacking player remained on the bench this time.
