Cody Gakpo scores with nine Liverpool players in action on Thursday

Cody Gakpo scored, and Wataru Endo secured World Cup qualification as nine players participated in international matches on Thursday.

Forward Gak netted a first-half equalizer for the Netherlands, captained by Virgil van D, in UEFA Nations League League A quarter-final first leg against Spain. Both players played the full match in Rotterdam, which concluded 2-2 after Spain's stoppage-time equalizer.

Ryan Gravenberch has departed from Netherlands duty.

Meanwhile, Endo captained Japan to a 2-0 home victory over Bahrain, confirming the Samurai Blue as the first team to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

In other Nations League action, Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson faced off as Greece hosted Scotland in a League A play-off first leg. Robertson led the visitors to a 1-0 triumph in Piraeus.

Caoimhin Kelleher featured in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 away victory over Bulgaria in the League B/C play-off first leg. However, it was a challenging evening for Ibrah Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai. Konate was substituted at halftime during France's 2-0 to Croatia in the A quarter-final leg, while Szzlai’s Hungary fell 3-1 to Turkiye in their League A/B play-off first leg.

Finally, Academy forward Josh Sonni-Lambie made appearance.e bench in the second half of England U18s’ 2-2 friendly draw with Czechia.