It was a busy round of international fixtures as the Hornets swapped their yellow strips for the kits of their respective national teams.
Ryan Porteous played a crucial role in a 3-0 victory over Cyprus in Larnaca (September 8) as Scotland maintained their 100 per cent record in Group A for Euro 2024 qualification.
Following Scott McTominay’s opener, Porteous fired home Scotland’s second of the night 10 minutes later, wheeling away to celebrate his first goal for his national team before John McGinn added gloss to the scoreline at the half-hour mark.
The Watford centre-back’s national side only need two points from their remaining three qualifiers to secure their place in Germany for Euro 2024.
However ahead of those crucial matches, Porteous will be available to feature against rivals England (September 12, 7.45pm KO) in the 150th Anniversary Heritage Match at Hampden Park, celebrating the oldest international fixture in football.
Sweden star Ken Sema played an important role in his national team’s resounding 5-0 victory over Estonia (September 9), with the 29-year-old assisting Alexander Isak with a pinpoint delivery to make it 3-0 on the night.
The impressive qualifying win keeps the pressure on the top two of Group F, Belgium and Austria, as Sweden look to secure their place at Euro 2024. Sema will be in line to face Austria in Stockholm on Tuesday (September 12, 7.45pm KO UK time) as they look to earn an important three points.
Elsewhere, Giorgi Chakvetadze scored Georgia’s only goal in a 7-1 defeat to Spain on Friday (September 8). The dynamic midfielder was a second-half substitute during the Euro 2024 qualifier, sliding the ball past goalkeeper Unai Simón to reduce the arrears.
Chakvetadze could face Norway tomorrow (September 12, 7.45pm KO UK time) as Georgia hope to revive their campaign and secure a place at Euro 2024.
Also, Edo Kayembe’s DR Congo secured their place in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 2-0 victory over Sudan, finishing top of Group I with 12 points.
The Watford midfielder featured for half-an-hour during his national team’s win and could potentially face South Africa tomorrow (September 12, 4pm KO UK time) in an international friendly.
Meanwhile, Daniel Bachmann’s Austria played out a 1-1 draw with Moldova on Thursday (September 7) in an international friendly, with the Watford skipper playing 90 minutes – the first time he has done so for his national side since March 2022.
The shot-stopper will hope to face Sema’s Sweden tomorrow in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
Finally, in a four-nation youth tournament featuring Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Poland, Under-21 starlet Jonathan Macaulay played for Sweden’s Under-19 side during a 2-1 defeat to Norway (September 7), setting up a bronze medal match versus Poland.
The goalkeeper wasn’t involved in the final match of the competition as Sweden lost 2-0 to Poland (September 10).
