The countdown is now on to the start of England's World Cup campaign, with the Three Lions having played their final scheduled match before kicking off in Qatar.
A 3-3 draw with Germany at Wembley on Monday night brought the curtain down on a dismal UEFA Nations League campaign which ended in relegation for Gareth Southgate's side and will see them go into the World Cup on the back of their longest winless streak since 1993.
The Three Lions appear to have plenty left to solve before their November 21 date with Iran, with fierce debate raging over players with whom Southgate has kept faith, and others he has shown little faith in.
Here, the Sports Mole team discuss what they believe should be England's starting XI for their World Cup opener in two months' time.
Barney Corkhill, Editor
© Reuters
Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Tomori, Chilwell; Bellingham, Rice, Mount; Foden, Kane, Sterling
What I believe should be the starting XI for the World Cup curtain-raiser and what I think will be the starting XI are very different things, right down to the formation.
Southgate will not change his favoured 3-4-3 system now, and it's too late to in any case, but England have the players to field a strong 4-3-3 outfit and that is the system which has brought the most successful teams all of their joy at club level in recent years.
I am not entirely sold on Jordan Pickford as a good enough goalkeeper to help England to World Cup glory, but Nick Pope's shaky showing against Germany was probably enough to secure the gloves for the Everton man.
In defence, Southgate's continual overlooking of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fikayo Tomori is as baffling as his blind loyalty to an out-of-form and out-of-favour Harry Maguire. There are plenty of options at right-back, but Alexander-Arnold's attacking qualities are just too good to leave out in my opinion.
Jude Bellingham would be the second name on my teamsheet behind only Harry Kane, and with his box-to-box capabilities alongside Declan Rice's defensive ability and Mason Mount's attacking instincts, that looks like a very nicely-balanced midfield trio.
Darren Plant, Senior Reporter
© Reuters
Pickford; Stones, Dier, Tomori; James, Rice, Bellingham, Chilwell; Foden, Kane, Sterling
In terms of the starting lineup for the Germany match, I'd argue that Southgate didn't get a whole lot wrong. If you are going with a 3-4-3, the midfield combination has to be Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, providing the team with a better balance than including Jordan Henderson or Kalvin Phillips alongside the former. The same applies with the front three.
However, Southgate's mentality when it comes to choosing his defensive options is a huge concern. Harry Maguire should be nowhere near the team, and Kyle Walker most certainly should not be introduced as a first change in a back three based on current form.
There's an argument that Stones could play in the centre of a back three and another option - maybe Reece James - be used on the right, but Maguire's physical presence would be felt even harder.
Even though it feels highly unlikely for whatever reason, a back three of Stones, Eric Dier and Fikayo Tomori should pick itself on current form. The left wing-back role is more complex with Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier and Ben Chilwell all bringing different qualities to the table, but the latter, providing that he continues to prove his fitness after a serious knee injury, is the most attack-minded and what England fans need to see right now.
Brett Curtis, Reporter
Pickford; James, Stones, Tomori, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Saka, Kane, Sterling
Personally, I think England look an attacker light when they use five at the back. I'd go with James and Shaw at full-back for their physicality and bursts of pace on the overlap, and there's no way Maguire can start on current form, so it's time for Tomori to get his chance.
Mount gets the nod over Foden for his experience and industry as the third midfielder, with Saka and Sterling complementing Kane by offering an injection of pace and dribbling ability in the wide areas.
Joel Lefevre, Reporter
© Reuters
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Dier, Trippier; Bellingham, Rice; Alexander-Arnold, Foden, Saka; Kane
Based on what we saw from this team at the Nations League, it seems as though England should abandon a back three and put together a 4-2-3-1 as they need some quality holding midfielders who can provide support to the backline and also join the attack if need be.
For me, Jordan Pickford starts in goal because of his experience in major competitions, while no English keeper has done enough to outplay him.
For familiarity and chemistry, I'd have Kyle Walker, John Stones, Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier as my back four, two of which are club teammates, while none of them are as unpredictable as Harry Maguire, though Southgate seems to have a soft spot for Maguire and Luke Shaw.
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are ideal as holding midfielders because they can move up and down the field effectively and can be assets getting back. The way I see it, Trent Alexander-Arnold is more useful going forward than defending, which is why I have him as a wide midfielder playing alongside Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka.
As the lone striker, we have the most obvious choice, reigning World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, who has proven himself for club and country and is still finding the back of the net with regularity, while he has also shown he can be a great provider, who can link up extremely well.
I am not sure that this is the way Southgate likes this team as he seems to go with the faces he is familiar with, but I believe this setup gives them the best chance to succeed in Qatar.
Nathan Hunter, Reporter
© Reuters
Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Tomori, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham, Foden; Saka, Kane, Sterling
Alexander-Arnold needs to start for England. He is the most technically gifted footballer in the squad, and the defensive liability tag is often overplayed.
Also, dropping a defender for Phil Foden in an advanced midfield role allows for more creativity which England currently lack. Rice can drop back when England have possession to create a back three if the ball is lost in transition.
Jonny Webb, Reporter
© Reuters
Pickford; Walker, Dier, Stones; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Bellingham, Shaw; Foden, Kane, Sterling
I'm surprised Trent Alexander-Arnold has not featured for England, particularly over this international break. Before the draw with Germany, the Three Lions had not scored from open play in 450 minutes of football, and Alexander-Arnold is England's most creative player in my opinion.
Luke Shaw's inclusion may be somewhat controversial, particularly given his form at the moment, but I believe he plays well for England, as we saw against Germany. Harry Maguire needs some time out of the spotlight for me. Although his club form has not helped, every performance of his is placed under the microscope and scrutinised, and I think some time away from the starting XI would benefit both parties.
I like the balance in midfield of Declan Rice-Jude Bellingham. Rice can protect the defence, while Bellingham has the quality and dynamism to fulfill a box-to-box role alongside the West Ham skipper.
Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling are England's best players, in my opinion, so they are the first names on the teamsheet. For the right-wing spot, I was torn between Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, but edged it to the Manchester City man, as I feel he is more of a creative spark than Saka. However, I can certainly see why some people would favour Saka starting.
Andrew Delaney, Reporter
© Reuters
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Tomori; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Bellingham, Chilwell; Saka, Kane, Foden
Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale have not done enough to replace a goalkeeper who, despite his faults, has never let his country down in Jordan Pickford.
England's weakness currently is their defence, so playing a back three can help minimise the responsibility on each defender and playing Kyle Walker and Fikayo Tomori will allow England to be more adventurous and push higher up the pitch given the ground those two can cover.
This should allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to show off his attacking talents more if he has additional cover behind him.
Dinesh Sanassee, Reporter
© Reuters
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Tomori; James, Rice, Bellingham, Chilwell; Sterling, Kane, Saka
England would play a 3-4-3 formation, with Kyle Walker playing RCB. Harry Maguire will more than likely not get enough minutes in club football to keep his place. If Southgate goes to Milan and watches more of Fikayo Tomori, surely he'd see that a defender of his quality deserves a place in the starting lineup.
If Ben Chilwell can appear regularly for Chelsea and prove his fitness, he could easily find his way into the starting 11.
Dominic Lund, Reporter
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Tomori, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Sterling, Foden, Grealish; Kane
Bellingham has been in good form for Borussia Dortmund and this could be his breakthrough tournament for England, so I think he should start in midfield.
I also have Tomori in at CB rather than Maguire, given how impressive he has been for AC Milan and Maguire struggling for game time at Manchester United.
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