Watford winger Ikechi Anya could not prevent Scotland falling to 1-0 defeat in Georgia which could prove terminal for their 2016 European Championship hopes.

The versatile wideman played 75 minutes of the Tartan Army’s loss in Tbilisi before being replaced by Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths.

Defeat means Gordon Strachan’s men are fourth in Group D, a point behind the Republic of Ireland in third place.

The top two – currently Germany and Poland – qualify for next summer’s tournament automatically with the best third-placed team also going to France, whilst the rest enter the play-offs.

Scotland now host world champions Germany at Hampden Park on Monday.

Craig Cathcart was an unused substitute as Northern Ireland took a big step toward securing their place at next summer’s championships.

The central defender remained on the bench as Northern Ireland picked up a 3-1 win in the Faroe Islands.

Goals from Gareth McAuley (2) and Kyle Lafferty sealed the win for Michael O’Neill’s side, who are top of Group F and will seal their place with victory over third-placed Hungary on Monday.

Also in Group F, Jose Holebas played the full 90 minutes for Greece as they lost 1-0 at home to Finland.

With just two points on the board, the 2004 European Championship winners’ hopes of making it to France are long since over.

The Greeks travel to second-placed Romania on Monday.

Miguel Layun, currently on loan at Porto, helped Mexico come from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 with Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Trailing 2-0 to goals from Jonathan Glenn and Keron Cummings, the Central Americans fought back through Carlos Esquivel and a Daneil Cyrus own goal. Joevin Jones put T&T back in front before Hector Herrera hit back to secure the draw.

Mexico face Argentina in a friendly on Wednesday.

New signing Obbi Oulare came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of Belgium Under-21s’ 2-0 win over Latvia on Friday.

The 6ft 5in forward won just his second cap for the Red Devils’ Under-21 side but could not add to the scoreline.

Homegrown defender Tommie Hoban played 45 minutes as the Republic of Ireland Under-21s beat Qatar Under-23s 4-1 in a friendly at Bury’s Gigg Lane.

A double from Fulham’s Sean Kavanagh was added to by Alan Browne and Harry Charsley after the break.

On Tuesday Ireland face Andorra in their second 2017 Under-21 European Championships qualifier.

Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake was involved as the Netherlands’ Under-21s breezed to a 4-0 win over Cyprus in their first European Championships qualifier.

The versatile 20-year-old played 87 minutes as the Oranje kicked off their qualifying campaign with a comprehensive victory in Deventer.