Several Hornets were in action for their countries during the final international break of the 2023/24 season, with two players having a key role in helping their nations qualify for major tournaments in the summer.
Giorgi Chakvetadze’s Georgia produced two mammoth victories in their play-off games against Luxembourg and Greece, earning themselves a place at the 2024 European Championship for the first time in their history.
They faced Luxembourg in their semi-final match on Thursday March 21 at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, comfortably beating them 2-0 thanks to two goals for Budu Zivzivadze. Chakvetadze featured for 77 minutes in a match which saw a Luxembourg equaliser ruled out by VAR.
This meant that Georgia advanced to the play-off final where they secured a victory against Greece on Tuesday March 26, winning 4-2 on penalties having drawn 0-0 in normal and extra time. Chakvetadze started and was withdrawn in the 104th minute.
The game was marred by a coming together between several players, substitutes and backroom staff at half time - a melee which saw Georgia’s substitute goalkeeper Giorgi Loria sent off for his part in the commotion.
These two victories mean that Georgia will face Turkey, Portugal and Czech Republic in Group F this summer in Germany, in their first ever major tournament.
Ismaël Koné featured in Canada’s 2-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago in their CONCACAF Nations League game, securing their spot in this year’s Copa América in the United States.
They will face World Cup champions Argentina at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Peru and Chile in Group A.
Meanwhile, Yáser Asprilla was in action for Colombia during their friendly matches against Spain and Romania.
Asprilla was an unused substitute in Néstor Lorenzo’s squad for their game against Spain on Friday March 22 which they won 1-0 at the London Stadium. An acrobatic second-half goal from Daniel Muñoz in the second-half secured Colombia’s first ever victory against Spain.
Asprilla made an instant impact from the bench in their game against Romania on Tuesday March 26, scoring Colombia’s third goal just five minutes after being introduced from the bench. The match ended 3-2 with Colombia holding on for their second win of the international break, despite Romania grabbing two late goals.
Ryan Porteous was on the receiving end of a bruising 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands on Friday March 22, in the first of Scotland’s two friendly games this month. With Scotland striking the bar twice, and Ryan Christie and Scott McTominay both with good chances, the scoreline might not be reflective of the game with good chances for both teams.
Porteous was then an unused substitute in Scotland’s 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland on Tuesday March 26 at Hampden Park, with Conor Bradley’s first-half strike meaning the Scots fell to their second defeat in five days during the international break.
Francisco Sierralta was also an unused substitute for Chile when he was on the bench for their 3-0 friendly victory against Albania on Friday March 22, as well as their 3-2 defeat to France on Tuesday March 26.
Jamal Lewis was ruled out of going away with the Northern Ireland squad due to the results of the scan on his foot injury, although Watford Interim Head Coach Tom Cleverley is hopeful he will be part of the Easter period.
Meanwhile, Ryan Andrews went away with the England Men’s Elite Squad (formerly England Under-20s) but suffered a dead leg while he was there, ruling him out of their first match and resulting in Head Coach Ben Futcher suggesting he return to Watford to train with the Hornets.
Finally, there was international involvement for two Academy players during the break.
Amin Nabizada travelled to a training camp for the Afghanistan national team which you can read about HERE, whereas Zak Fraser-Grante joined up with Northern Ireland Under-19s.
