International round-up for Sampdoria stars

With the international break having come to a close, the Blucerchiati contingent away representing their countries can now turn their attention back to club football.

Late on Tuesday evening, Duvan Zapata’s Colombia wrapped up their mini-tour of Asia, thrashing China 4-0. Zapata played the first half before being subbed at the interval with the score at 1-0, Felipe Pardo having broken the deadlock in the seventh minute. He then watched on as Carlos Bacca and Miguel Borja, twice, extended the lead.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well for Poland, who were beaten on home soil by Mexico in a friendly. Raul Jimenez got the only goal of the game when he smashed a close-range volley into the roof of the net. Head coach Adam Nawalka named Karol Linetty in his starting line-up in Gdansk, replacing him in the 62nd minute, but Bartosz Bereszynski stayed on the bench.

Titas Krapikas stayed on the bench as Lithuania U21 were beaten 1-0 by Georgia U21 in Tblisi. An own goal from Giedrius Matulevicius ten minutes into the second half was all that separated the sides. After three defeats in four games, qualification to the 2019 European Under-21 Championship in Italy is now all but impossible for Lithuania.

Better news for the Primavera star Roberts Veips, who played every minute in Latvia U19’s successful qualification to the next European Championship for that age category. Latvia finished their group in second place after a defeat, a draw and a victory, which was enough to book their passage to Armenia in 2019.