The phoney war is over and now Gareth Southgate is fast approaching the end game.
England suffered the ignominy of relegation in the UEFA Nations League, but ended a dismal campaign on something of a high note with a performance full of fight and character against Germany at Wembley. Now all eyes are turning towards Qatar, where the Three Lions will head, rightly or wrongly, among the favourites. A group of Iran, USA and Wales awaits.
With no more games to be played and therefore no more room for experimentation nor fine-tuning, questions have been asked of Southgate's use of his squad during the Germany draw and Italy defeat at San Siro. Should Trent Alexander-Arnold have been used? Why wasn't Fikayo Tomori utilised? Why play Harry Kane twice when you know everything there is to know about him and not give Ivan Toney an opportunity?
All of which leads to the most pertinent question facing the Three Lions ahead of November's big Qatari kickoff: What will Southgate's squad look like?
Therefore, we've tasked our leading Mirror Football writers with getting into the head of the current England manager and picking his 26-man selection. That's not the selection our writers would make if they were in his shoes, but rather the picks they believe Southgate himself will make.
Here's who they believe, as it stands, will be getting the call when the squad is announced in just over six weeks time.
John Cross
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.
Defenders (11): Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker
Midfielders (5): Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson
Forwards (7): Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford
Alexander-Arnold gets in, despite his surprise exclusion at Wembley. Southgate may chop a left back to get an extra forward in but I think this will be very close as the Saka experiment in Italy didn't really work.
Manchester United's Rashford will come back in for the attack.
Andy Dunn
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.
Defenders (11): Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Luke Shaw, Ben Chilwell, Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Eric Dier, Conor Coady, Fikayo Tomori
Midfielders (4): Mount, Bellingham, Rice, Henderson,
Forwards (8): Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford
If they continue their resurgence in club form, Rashford and Sancho could well get the nod ahead of the likes of Bowen and Toney.
The 26-man allowance means there will be room for Alexander-Arnold too, assuming he is not finally fed up with being way down the pecking order.
Henderson will go if, as seems certain, Phillips’ shoulder issue keeps him out.
Matt Dunn
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.
Defenders: Ben Chilwell, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson.
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford.
Gareth Southgate intended this to be a bonding session for his final squad so there won’t be many changes.
Dean Henderson will be the goalkeeper to miss out with Jordan Pickford fit again with Marcus Rashford, our only international-class striker behind Harry Kane available and the only other player not called up this time.
For his defensive qualities, Kalvin Phillips will be picked if anywhere near full fitness.
But Southgate’s most controversial decision will be to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold behind as he would only be his fourth choice at right back.
Alex Richards
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders (10): Reece James, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Eric Dier, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Ben Chilwell.
Midfielders (5): Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount.
Forwards (8): Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen.
Alexander-Arnold is fourth choice in his best position, and you simply just cannot account for taking four right-backs - even if the Liverpool man is pretty much one in name only.
It looks like a shootout between Guehi and Tomori for the fifth centre-back spot, and the Crystal Palace man looks to have the edge over the AC Milan defender whom Paolo Maldini loves, but Southgate is indifferent towards.
Phillips will be given every chance to prove his fitness and will do whatever's necessary to get in, while Rashford, if he continues to improve under Erik ten Hag, should be able to work his way back in.
The final attacking spot could go to his club colleague Sancho, but Bowen may well get the nod instead.
Samuel Meade
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope
Defenders (11): Reece James, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Conor Coady, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Eric Dier, Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw
Midfielders (5): Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, James Ward-Prowse, Declan Rice, Mason Mount
Forwards (7): Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham
Several of Southgate's main men are struggling for minutes at club level but, despite previous claims from the England boss that individuals must be playing regularly, they will be selected.
As he did in the Euros, expect four right-backs to be picked. Both Rashford and Sancho also look primed to mount late charges for the final squad - leaving Grealish as the shock omission.
Freddie Keighley
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders (10): Reece James, Kieran Trippier, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, Eric Dier, Benjamin White, Conor Coady, Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw
Midfielders (5): Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards (8): Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho
Expect Southgate to recall Rashford and Sancho, so long as they continue their strong starts to the season at Manchester United. The midfield five appears fairly settled, with Phillips set to miss out through injury, while defence is, of course, the area in the spotlight.
Southgate's preference for a back three means he will be more inclined to take plenty of centre-backs, including the experienced Coady, which could spell the end of Alexander-Arnold's hopes of boarding the plane to Qatar.
Tom Blow
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope.
Defenders (10): Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Eric Dier, Marc Geuhi, Reece James, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Tripper, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders (5): Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson.
Forwards (8): Tammy Abraham, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling.
If fit, Pickford is guaranteed to be the No.1. Henderson will miss out due to Nottingham Forest's leaky defence, as well as the form of Ramsdale and Pope, who has edged ahead of Ramsdale to be Pickford's main back up.
Chilwell's hopes of being picked look bleak thanks to Shaw's impressive performance against Germany. Chilwell needs to break back into Chelsea's starting XI if he wants to make the plane. Another talking point is Alexander-Arnold's inclusion, but he'll be included.
Sancho and Rashford have both enjoyed good starts to the season and will be confident of being selected - especially the latter. Rashford would've surely been in this squad if fit.
Daniel Orme
Goalkeepers (3): Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders (10): Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Luke Shaw, Ben Chilwell, Harry Maguire, Eric Dier, John Stones, Conor Coady, Fikayo Tomori
Midfielders (6): Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Mason Mount, Jude Bellingham, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards (7): Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Ivan Toney, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho
Considering his reliance on the Leeds United star during the Euros, Southgate will be tempted to stick with Man City’s Phillips if he recovers from his injury in time.
Meanwhile, the fact that the Three Lions already have three right-backs in their squad will see Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold miss out.
