Christensen brought up his half-century of caps, as he featured throughout this 2022 World Cup qualifier. Despite picking up a yellow card, Christensen looked comfortable as the Danes strolled to a 5-0 win over Israel in Copenhagen, maintaining their 100 per cent qualifying record and going seven points clear at the top of Group F already, after just six games. They are yet to concede a goal.

That was also an important result for Gilmour and Scotland, as it allowed them to leapfrog Israel into second place in the group with their second consecutive victory, winning 1-0 away at Austria.

Gilmour played the first 88 minutes for Steve Clarke’s side, although they had VAR to thank for awarding them a first-half penalty for their goal, while also denying Austria a penalty of their own and ruling out an injury-time equaliser.

Kovacic was also in the starting line-up for Croatia, as they defeated Slovenia 3-0. Former Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic got a goal and an assist in an important win which keeps them top of Group H, ahead of Russia on goal difference by just a single goal.

World Cup qualifying is also under way in Africa and Edouard Mendy helped Senegal to take their spot at the top of Group H with maximum points from their first two games by winning 3-1 away at Congo.

The goalkeeper must have been feeling a bit of deja vu from his last match for Chelsea against Liverpool, after Senegal took the lead but Mendy conceded an equaliser from the penalty spot in first-half injury time.

For a long time it looked like Senegal might have to settle for a draw, but they took the lead again in the 83rd minute and made the three points secure with a late penalty of their own, converted by Liverpool’s Sadio Mane.

There were wins all around for the younger Blues involved in qualifying for the European Under-21 Championship too. Conor Gallagher had a big hand in England’s 2-0 victory over Kosovo at that level, providing the assist for Manchester City’s Cole Palmer to score the second on his debut, while the midfielder, currently on loan at Crystal Palace, came close to adding a third but his shot was blocked in the box. Chelsea defender Levi Colwill was on the bench for England.

Another Academy defender, Sam McClelland, played the full match at left-back as Northern Ireland’s Under-21s beat Slovakia 1-0, with the Chelsea man forcing a good save from the goalkeeper in the second half. Ian Maatsen came on us a substitute in the Netherlands’ 3-0 win over Moldova and Thierno Ballo featured for the final 25 minutes as Austria thrashed Azerbaijan 6-0.

In the younger age groups, Bashir Humphreys was involved throughout as England Under-19s drew 1-1 with Germany in a friendly, with Harvey Vale coming off the bench and Teddy Sharman-Lowe an unused substitute.

Leo Castledine started for England Under-17s in their friendly with the Netherlands. Billy Gee and Ronnie Stutter joined him from the bench, the latter setting up a late goal with a cross, but it was only a consolation as they were beaten 3-2. Samuel Rak-Sakyi was on the bench.