Group E's top two teams will meet at Wembley on Tuesday as already-qualified England welcome Switzerland in what will be each team's eighth Euro 2016 qualifier.

A thumping 6-0 victory in San Marino on Saturday secured England's spot at the showpiece event next summer, but Switzerland still have work to do if they are to secure second position.

England

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The disappointment at failing to make it out of the group stages at the 2014 World Cup has been replaced by optimism ahead of Euro 2016, with the Three Lions becoming the first team to qualify for next summer's showpiece event in France.

Roy Hodgson's side made it seven wins from seven qualifying matches when they thumped San Marino on Saturday, making sure of their spot in France in the process. Never before have England qualified for a major tournament with three games to spare and the pressure is now all on Switzerland in Tuesday's Group E fixture.

The San Marino match also provided a special moment for Wayne Rooney, who went level with Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 49 international goals. The chance to surpass the Manchester United legend will arrive in this particular fixture, but the team selection as a whole will be interesting as Hodgson explores different formulas for next summer's competition.

It has been a very impressive qualifying campaign for England, who opened Group C with a 2-0 win in Switzerland, before beating San Marino, Estonia and Slovenia before the end of the year. Back-to-back victories over Lithuania and Slovenia then placed the Three Lions in a dominant position, before victory over San Marino secured qualification.

In terms of what is left to come, England will host Estonia on October 9, before ending with a trip to Lithuania on October 12. Hodgson's side will also face France in a friendly before the end of the year and that will give a good indication of how they are progressing as the tournament approaches.

Not since 1996 have England made the final four of a European Championship, with two quarter-final appearances and a group-stage exit occurring in recent years. It is also worth remembering that they did not even make the 2008 competition, before exiting in the quarter-finals four years later. The bookmakers have placed England around fifth or sixth favourites for the top prize, but their performances in qualifying have given the supporters reason to be optimistic.

Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWDDWW

Switzerland

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England might have already booked their spot at Euro 2016, but Switzerland still have work to do, despite boasting a five-point lead over third-place Estonia with just three games remaining. From this stage, it would be a surprise if the Swiss did not finish second, but defeat at Wembley would leave them in a precarious position entering their final two group matches.

Indeed, Slovenia are also not entirely out of the picture and with Estonia making the trip to Maribor on Tuesday, Group E could have a very different look come the end of the evening. Switzerland's start to this section was very poor indeed, but they have since recovered to take pole position behind England.

Vladimir Petkovic's side were beaten 2-0 by England in their first Group E match last September, before losing in Slovenia one month later. They responded with back-to-back 4-0 wins over San Marino and Lithuania, however, before beating Estonia to move onto nine points.

Since then, they have won in Lithuania and recorded a vital 3-2 victory over Slovenia at the weekend, courtesy of three goals in the final 10 minutes, to move further clear of Estonia in third. In terms of what is left to come for Switzerland, after this one, they will host San Marino on October 9, before travelling to Estonia in their final group match on October 12.

Switzerland made it to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup, but their record in the European Championships has been fairly disappointing – only qualifying for three editions and exiting all three in the group stages. They did not make the 2012 competition, however, and therefore a spot in France is even more vital for the nation.

Switzerland are unbeaten in their last three away matches in all competitions, but they have only won two of their last eight away European qualifiers. With England's spot already secure, however, they might see this as the perfect opportunity to strengthen their grip on second spot.

Recent form: LWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): DWDWWW

Team News

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England skipper Rooney was replaced against San Marino before he had the chance to pass the scoring record for his country, but the Manchester United striker will once again start through the middle.

Michael Carrick will not feature, however, after being forced to withdraw from the squad with a calf problem.

Raheem Sterling should return to the attack after sitting out the clash with San Marino, while the likes of Chris Smalling will also be hoping to feature from the onset.

Hodgson has a number of options in the final third, with Theo Walcott and Harry Kane both coming off the bench to score against San Marino. It is likely that the England boss will use the match to assess a number of different options, which is the luxury afforded after already securing qualification.

As for Switzerland, Granit Xhaka and Blerim Dzemaili are both one yellow card away from a suspension and might not be risked.

There are not expected to be too many changes from the explosive clash with Slovenia last time out, but having scored from the bench, Josip Drmic and Valentin Stocker will both expect to start.

Stoke City midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri will also win his 48th international cap.

England possible starting lineup:
Hart; Clyne, Smalling, Stones, Shaw; Milner, Barkley, Shelvey; Sterling, Rooney, Walcott

Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Klose, Schar, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Stocker; Shaqiri, Behrami, Mehmedi; Drmic

Head To Head

Danny Welbeck scored two second-half goals when the two teams met in Basel in the reverse qualifier at the start of Group E.

Overall, the two teams have met on 23 occasions at senior level. England have won 15 of those fixtures, drawing five and losing just three. England have never lost to Switzerland on home soil, meanwhile, winning five and drawing four of their nine meetings.

The last time that the two nations met at Wembley was in June 2011. A double from Tranquillo Barnetta sent Switzerland 2-0 ahead, but goals from Frank Lampard and Ashley Young secured the home side a share of the spoils in the Euro 2012 qualifier.

We say: England 1-1 Switzerland

England are unbeaten in 17 qualifying games in London since a 3-2 defeat to Croatia during qualification for Euro 2008. That is a record that should be respected, but with qualification already sewn up, it is Switzerland that have more to play for.

We are expecting a fairly open and entertaining fixture between the top two teams in Group E, but believe that Switzerland will have enough about them to claim a point in a 1-1 draw.

Written by
Matt Law

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