During another busy weekend of action for Watford players across the globe, Yáser Asprilla saw his national side, Colombia, crash out of the Under-20 World Cup at the quarter-final stage following a 3-1 defeat to Italy (Saturday June 3).

The Hornets’ young forward, wearing the number 10 shirt for his country, played the entire fixture but was unable to affect the contest as the European nation booked their place in the final four.

During the tournament, Asprilla was a shining light for his side scoring two goals while contributing to a memorable run for the 2003 semi-finalists.

Meanwhile, Matheus Martins was also knocked out of the international competition as Brazil were defeated by Israel 3-2 (June 3).

In a thrilling quarter-final match that saw the contest go to extra-time, Martins set-up the opener in the tie as Marcos Leonardo fired it home. But, Israel levelled almost immediately through Anan Khalaili’s header.

With the match level after 90 minutes, the game entered extra-time where Matheus Nascimento scored for Brazil before Hamza Shibli fired back for Israel. Forward Dor David Turgeman would deliver the killer blow in stoppage time to Martins’ side – who have won the tournament five times previously.

The Watford winger enjoyed an impressive campaign out in Argentina, notching two goals and assisting his teammates on a few occasions despite Brazil falling before the semi-final stage.

Elsewhere, Academy goalkeeper Jonathan Macaulay and winger Adrian Blake have received call-ups to England’s Under-18 squad.

Ahead of a trip to Portugal this week for three games at the International Tournament of Lisbon, Macaulay and Blake will join the Young Lions’ 23-man squad.

The duo could potentially face Norway (Friday June 9, 11am KO UK time), Australia (Sunday June 11, 11am KO UK time) and host nation Portugal (Tuesday June 13, 5pm KO UK time).

Blake’s fellow young forward Dawid Hamiga has been called up by Poland’s Under-18s, ahead of games against Slovenia (June 13, 4.30pm KO UK time) and Montenegro (Saturday June 17, 10.30am KO UK time), while 18-year-old defender George Abbott could feature for Wales’ Under-19s as they face off against Sweden twice (Thursday June 15, 6pm KO and Sunday June 18, 3pm KO).

Ismaïla Sarr has been included in Senegal’s senior squad to face Benin (June 17, 8pm KO UK time) and Brazil (June 20, 8.30pm KO UK time) later this month.

The match against Benin is the penultimate game in Group L to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. Sarr’s national side have already booked their place at the tournament being hosted by the Ivory Coast, boasting a current record of four wins from four outings.

Also, Ismaël Koné has been called up to Canada’s national team ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

With one place yet to be decided in Group D, Koné will face confirmed opponents Guatemala and Cuba in late June and early July during the competition before the knockout stage commences.

Finally, William Troost-Ekong made a cameo appearance for Salernitana in Italy’s Serie A, during a 2-0 defeat to Cremonese (June 3).

The defender had scored in a 3-2 victory over Udinese in his previous appearance, with Salernitana having confirmed survival in the top-flight comfortably by more than 10 points.

Troost-Ekong has also been called up to Nigeria’s national squad for their penultimate group stage qualifying match against Sierra Leone (June 18, 5pm KO UK time), with the Super Eagles currently top of Group A.

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