Matej Vydra was a late replacement while Daniel Pudil was an unused substitute as the Czech Republic continued their 100 per cent start to European Championship qualification by winning 2-1 in Turkey last night.

The Hornets striker came off the bench with six minutes remaining to take the place of David Lafata after his country had come from behind to make it two wins out of two in Group A; Tomas Sivok and Borek Dockal scoring after 15 and 58 minutes respectively to respond to Umut Bulut’s eighth-minute effort for the hosts.

The Czechs will be aiming to make it nine points from nine when they travel to Kazakhstan on Monday.

Another Watford player who had to settle for a place on the bench was Jonathan Bond as England Under-21s also overturned a deficit to claim a 2-1 first leg advantage in their Under-21 European Championship play-off against Croatia at Molineux.

The Croats went in front through Marko Livaja in the 13th minute, but Harry Kane’s 58th-minute equaliser and Saido Berahino’s penalty with five minutes remaining gave Gareth Southgate’s Young Lions the upper hand going into the return leg on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Paredes was in the Ecuador side as a late equaliser from West Ham United’s Enner Valencia earned a 1-1 friendly draw against the USA in Connecticut in a game that saw American legend Landon Donovan bid farewell to international football.

The Hornets defender played virtually the whole match but was substituted in injury time after being on the receiving end of some hefty challenges.