Stark, Pekarik and Duda win, Kiprit loses

Berlin – The 2018/19 season isn’t over just yet – there are still some internationals for some Hertha players. The final round of international fixtures took place before the summer break on Tuesday evening (11/6/19). Germany faced Estonia in Mainz in a Euro qualifier, although Niklas Stark was only an unused substitute. The 2014 World Champions celebrated a thumping 8-0 win. Marco Reus, Serge Gnabry (both 2), Leon Goretzka, Ilkay Gündogan, Timo Werner and Leroy Sané scored the goals for Marcus Sorg’s side, who was deputising for the absent Joachim Löw. “It couldn’t have gone any better. The team’s motivation and enthusiasm was crucial. You can only perform as well as this if the whole team works hard together and believes in one another. Well done to my team,” praised Sorg. Germany sit in second in Group C having taken nine points from their three games.

Peter Pekarik and Ondrej Duda were also in Euro qualifier action with Slovakia, as they took on Azerbaijan. Stanislaw Lobotka, Juraj Kucka, Marek Hamsik (2) and David Hancko scored as Slovakia won 5-1, while Ramil Sheydaev scored for the visitors. Pekarik played the whole 90 minutes, whereas Duda only came on in the 71st minute. Slovakia also sit second in the group with six points. Muhammed Kiprit had a less pleasant evening: His Turkey U21s side lost 3-1 in Kosovo, although he was able to play the whole game. Turkey U21s have four points from three games in their Euro qualifying group for the 2021 edition of the tournament in Slovenia and Hungary. Maximilian Mittelstädt and Arne Maier are the only Hertha players left on international duty, with the rest now able to enjoy their summer breaks.