We all suffered from something of a ‘World Cup hangover’ after what happened in the summer, at least, that applies if you’re English. Gareth Southgate’s men came to within touching distance of achieving something that few thought possible, with England going all the way to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia. While some will argue that they had a favourable path you can only beat what’s put in front of you, and the English did that en-route to their joint second best finish in the history of the tournament.

Sure, things didn’t go their way against Croatia and it was a bittersweet way for the journey to come to an end, but the fact that people are still talking about it to this day should tell you everything that you need to know. Southgate managed to get these players, and the nation, believing in the idea of becoming world champions again, which is something they’d definitely lost. Sure, getting hyped up every two years is something that always seems to happen in the build-up to international tournaments, but the World Cup in Russia felt very different heading into it. England had no real expectations on their shoulders, but now, the pressure is back on them as we look ahead to UEFA Euro 2020 and everything that entails.

One thing it entails, of course, is qualifying matches to see who will actually make it to the tournament – which will be held throughout the continent as a special one off event. Alas, while many will probably think that the upcoming international break is being done for that purpose, England’s two games against Spain and Switzerland will actually be played as part of the UEFA Nations League as well as for a Kick It Out international. Yes, the fact they’re essentially friendlies is bound to rub people the wrong way, but the Nations League is an interesting concept that could become something much bigger in the years to come.

But in terms of the games themselves, we wanted to take a quick look at some of the most notable additions to the squad – especially in the wake of Jamie Vardy calling it a day internationally, which could open the door for some young and hungry English forwards to force their way into Southgate’s plans. The decision itself does make sense given his reasons, and considering that he’s been able to live out his dream of playing for his country, it feels like a retirement on his own terms is a fitting conclusion to the Vardy story with the Three Lions.

One thing that is notable straight out of the gate is the lack of a return for Joe Hart, who continues to be viewed as an extremely polarising figure in the realms of English football. Some feel like he’s deserved the chance to fight for his spot, whereas others believe his time in the spotlight has been and gone. Whichever camp you fall into there’s no denying that it’s a notable point, and while he hasn’t been himself for quite a while, solid Joe Hart performances on a regular basis would be good for everyone involved as a little bit of competition never hurt anyone.

From a defensive standpoint arguably the most notable inclusion has been Joe Gomez, who has been on fire as of late for Liverpool. The youngster is keen to prove that he’s a force to be reckoned with, and the question now is whether or not he can translate what he’s been doing for the Reds into success with the England team. Southgate knows how to get the most out of players who have potential on the international level but can’t quite show it, and if you need an example of that, just go back and watch any of their victories in Russia.

John Stones and Kyle Walker will join him at the back from Manchester City, which is hardly all too surprising, but not for the reasons that you may think. A lot of fans tend to believe that players are gifted spots in the England squad because of the clubs they play for. That definitely used to be the case and we aren’t trying to deny that, but in this instance, these two men have earned their spots. Walker seems to be growing in confidence which each passing game and Stones just needs to stay ion his current trajectory because he’s on his way to superstardom.

Of course, we’ve also got Harry Maguire in the mix, who managed to establish himself as one of the most wanted men in England after a series of good performances at the World Cup. Again, the quality of opposition has been brought up several times, but that really shouldn’t matter all too much. He performed at the highest level on a consistent basis and nobody can take that tournament away from him, which is probably why Manchester United have been showcasing their interest lately.

The rest of the squad is rounded off by a lot of familiar names, but arguably the most notable point is England’s need for another top striker alongside Harry Kane. With Vardy retiring and Welbeck not exactly being a natural goalscorer, somebody needs to step up and fill in a role that would allow for two men up top. It’s not a popular system, but if it’s implemented correctly by Southgate, then it could be the key to even more success in the next few tournaments for the English.

In terms of the upcoming games, it would seem as if England have absolutely nothing to fear against two teams that didn’t progress as far as they did in the World Cup. Obviously different schedules dictate different things but with Spain losing to Russia and Switzerland losing to Sweden, who lost to England in the quarter-finals, it wouldn’t be ridiculous to suggest that two wins back to back could be on the cards. Sure, they’ll have to work for it, but that’s never been an issue with this side, and all that remains is seeing whether or not they have the same drive and determination.

Frustrating Spain from a defensive standpoint is the best thing they can do in that game, and with the Swiss, they shouldn’t be afraid to come at them from the word go. This is one of the best England teams we’ve seen in years and we don’t even mean that from a ‘quality’ perspective. Some fans think that they’ll drop off now the World Cup is over, but we’re choosing to believe that they can continue to be a top side at the international level.

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