Three Royal Blues set for World Cup Qualifiers

Three FC Schalke 04 players have been called up by their respective national teams to take part in World Cup qualifying fixtures this September. Vitalie Becker has also been included in the Germany U20 squad as they look forward to two exciting international duels. schalke04.de takes a look at the games.

Portrait of Nikola Katic

Nikola Katic has been named in the Bosnia-Herzegovina squad and is set to take part in a pair of World Cup Qualifiers. Head coach Sergej Barbarez’s side will face San Marino on Saturday (6/9), before taking on Austria at home on Tuesday (9/9). Both matches will start at 20:45 CEST. The Bosnian national team is still unbeaten in Group H, having taken nine points from three games so far. Schalke’s number 25 has made appearances in their previous two wins.

Ibrahima Cissé and Moussa Sylla are the other two Royal Blues set to feature on the international stage over the next two weeks, with both players representing Mali as they come up against Comoros on Thursday (4/9). Their next opponents in World Cup qualifying are Group I leaders Ghana, with the match scheduled for Monday (8/9). Both games are set to kick off at 21:00 CEST. With nine points after six games, Mali sit below both Ghana and Comoros in the group, who have 15 and 12 points respectively.

Vitalie Becker has been called up to represent Germany U20, who are also set for a pair of fixtures in the U20 Elite League across the coming fortnight. The side will travel to Switzerland for a game on Friday (5/9), before returning to Germany to host Italy on Tuesday (9/9). Kick-off in both games is scheduled for 18:30 CEST. Schalke’s left back has picked up 13 international caps for the U17s and U19s, although the native Bottroper is yet to make an appearance for the U20 side. Max Grüger is on stand-by for the two games.

Overview of all the games:

Nikola Katic
World Cup qualifiers
San Marino vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6/9, 20:45 CEST, Serravalle
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Austria, 9/9, 20:45 CEST, Zenica

Ibrahima Cissé and Moussa Sylla
World Cup qualifiers
Mali vs. Comoros, 4/9, 21:00 CEST, Berkane
Ghana vs. Mali, 8/9, 21:00 CEST, Accra

Vitalie Becker
U20 Elite League
Switzerland vs. Germany, 5/9, 18:30 CEST, Wohlen
Germany vs. Italy, 9/9, 18:30 CEST, Reutlingen

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