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England could not have got off to a better start in their bid to qualify for Euro 20204 next summer after winning their opening two matches against Italy and Ukraine.
Gareth Southgate's men opened up with a stunning 2-1 win in Italy before keeping their feet on the ground on Sunday when they saw off Ukraine 2-0 with a professional performance.
The big winners during the international meeting have no doubt been the starting XIs from both games, especially the stars in Naples that helped England win in Italy for the first time in 1961.
Yet there is still a long way to go in the road to qualification for the Euros next summer when Southgate is expected to name a team of 26 should his side qualify.
Here Sportsmail looks at how Southgate's squad is shaping up just over a year out from the tournament in Germany.
England's first-team stars have enhanced their reputations after their two games this week
Gareth Southgate will have been delighted with his side's displays in two Euro qualifying wins
It doesn't take much for dramatic swings in terms of a footballer's pecking order inside a squad but it remains clear that it's still bonkers to consider Harry Kane as anything else but the first name on Gareth Southgate's team sheet.
Goals No 54 and 55 against Italy and Ukraine make him officially the greatest England striker of all time, and right now he can make at least a reasonable case for being the best No 9 in the world right now.
Coupled with the fact Kane has no legitimate challenger to his centre-forward position means England's captain remains top dog.
Harry Kane's two goals have helped him become England's all-time record goal scorer
A stunning season with Arsenal already means Saka had momentum heading into the international break, and upon leaving it his place in the Three Lions attack looks more secure than ever.
There's a fair few contenders looking to fill the gaps to the left and right of Kane, but on the right the 21-year-old is now a nailed on starter.
During the first half in Naples he was a constant source of trouble to frustrate at Italy and in the follow up match against Ukraine, he was key to breaking down a stubborn defensive rearguard to assist Kane's goal then produce a stunning finish himself.
Bukayo Saka put in two excellent display playing to the right of Kane in the England attack
It seems incredibly harsh to have to drop Bellingham even one place as he barely put a foot wrong against Italy or Ukraine.
But his demotion is more about the rise of Saka rather than his own performances which continue to hit the high notes at the top level with England and domestically with Borussia Dortmund.
The midfielder already plays with such maturity it's incredible to think he is still just 19-years-old. Just imagine how good he could be in five year's time. No wonder the German side are desperate to keep him.
4. Jordan Pickford (NON-MOVER)Many advocate for players to be picked for England on club form only, and clearly there is a good argument to be had there.
But while Pickford's performances in an Everton jersey continue to be hot and cold, stick him in a Three Lions shirt and he isn't letting anyone down.
While he continues to be such a reliable goalkeeper for Gareth Southgate, his place at No 1 should not be in question. He looks comfortable, displays a clear air of authority - and is a damn good goalkeeper too, maybe England's best of the 21st century so far.
Jordan Pickford continues to be a pair of safe hands in the England squad as he applauds fans
Stones has been England's best defender for a while now and his performances over the last two matches have only enhanced that claim.
Granted, a Wembley clean sheet against Ukraine is not the stuff world class defenders should be dining off but it is of minimal expectations and the Manchester City star passed the test easily.
It's his stand-out showing in Naples that deserves attention though. Against a wave of second half attacks from Italy in a hostile atmosphere, it was Stones' centre-back play that largely limited the Italians threat and saw him play an unsung role in a famous win.
6. Declan Rice (UP TWO)For a long time now Rice has been a regular for England but for any of those that have doubted his role in the Three Lions set-up, this international break did a good job of showing why he is invaluable to Southgate.
The West Ham star doesn't get many chances to show his credentials at the very top of the game but against Italy he produced a stunning display capped off with a rare international goal.
Not only does it slightly bump him up the order - it will also perhaps raise that transfer figure a little higher if Champions League clubs come knocking at the London Stadium this summer.
Declan Rice grabbed a vital goal in England's win over Italy in Naples last Thursday
Kyle Walker is getting on a bit now playing in a position that in recent years has become dependent on pace and being able to constantly run up and down a flank. It's a young person's game.
Still at 32 years old, there is no real sign of the Manchester City right-back showing any real decline or even losing that yard of pace.
His ability to track back to recover was crucial against Italy even when it got a little tricky once the lively Wilfired Gnonto was introduced on the left flank. He's still England's best choice for the role.
8. Jack Grealish (UP EIGHT)When the chips came down it was Grealish who Southgate turned to when it came to lining up in the most 'up-for-grabs' position in the England XI... the age old problem of the left side of the attack.
And granted it wasn't a perfect performance from Man City's £100million forward, missing an excellent chance in what could have been a crucial goal at the end of the half that could have seen England head into break at the Diego Maradona Stadium with a scarcely believable 3-0 lead.
Yet, his performance overall was part of the problem Italy were on the ropes in the first place and having helped England to a famous win, the trust in him from Southgate would have gone up enormously.
Jack Grealish stepped up to shine in the England starting XI for their qualifying matches
Maguires's biggest critics had their bibs on and knives and forks at the ready after a player who can barely get a game in Manchester United's defence lined up to start for England in Naples. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Until it didn't, again. Like Pickford, Maguire has come to play some of his best stuff for England and he looked cool and composed in a defence confident enough to play some encouraging play out from the back in front of a partisan Italian crowd.
Granted, it was his error that enabled Italy to get back into the game in the first place but he otherwise looked solid alongside Stones and his performances in the international break have been huge in keeping his place in the England XI.
10. Luke Shaw (UP ONE)There is a fine duel emerging at left-back for England - and it's a healthy one at that - with Luke Shaw having the slight edge over Ben Chilwell right now.
Little will have changed Southgate's mind in the 180 minutes that have followed since he named Shaw ahead of Chilwell to take on Italy, despite Shaw's rather harsh red card.
Booked late on in Naples for a non-obvious case of time-wasting, he was given a second yellow card less than a minute later with a challenge that barely warranted a yellow card - especially in light of some of the other tackles that went unpunished during the Euro 2024 qualifier. An impressive 80 minutes from the Manchester United defender.
Despite his red card against Italy, Shaw seems to have emerged as Southgate's chief left-back
Like Maguire, Phillips huge lack of minutes for his club side this term meant he simply had to deliver in an England shirt to enhance his place in the international squad.
The good news for the Manchester City summer signing from Leeds United is he did just that against Italy. Keeping up high energy levels to prevent Italy totally over-running the midfield. His passing was a little sloppy at times but it was a passable performances in tough circumstances.
12. Ben Chilwell (UP THREE)Whether by plan from Southgate to freshen up his options, or by design after Shaw's sending off in Naples, Chilwell got his chance to impress against Ukraine at Wembley.
In truth there wasn't too much to get excited about the Chelsea left-back at Wembley, but neither did the 26-year-old do much wrong.
What we do know though is at the very least he is England's second best left-back and as long as he can keep proving that, there will always be a place for him in Southgate's side.
13. James Maddison (UP TWENTY ONE)If there is one thing you have to give Southgate credit for, it's being able to show a ruthless streak while also still being able to offer an olive branch.
Not many have the balance correct, but after Maddison's international career looked to be in the wilderness having lost the trust of the England boss following a warning he was given for gambling at a casino shortly after withdrawing from a squad in 2019, it's now starting to look much healthier.
Southgate has seen enough to welcome the Leicester midfielder back in the set-up and a decent enough display against the Ukraine will ensure he remains in and around the squad at the very least for now.
James Maddison has flown up the pecking order after starting in the 2-0 win over Ukraine
Like Walker, Henderson is on the wrong side of 30 and even at Liverpool these days the Anfield skipper's first-team influence is waning.
But the 32-year-old grabbed his 75th cap against Ukraine on Sunday and in what proved to be a tricky first half, his vast experience helped control the Three Lions and prevent them from becoming frustrated and careless on the ball to grab a vital win.
Youthful energy is needed in any team but there is also high value in having stars like Henderson around who have done the hard yards and can slam their medals down on the table.
15. Phil Foden (DOWN FIVE)There's a popular Mr. Bean meme of him becoming visibly frustrated trying (and failing) to pass an elderly lady walking painstakingly slow down the stairs, and it seems a fitting analogy of Phil Foden's international career.
Or at the very least this international break. The Manchester City attacker has enjoyed a good season at the Etihad Stadium yet can still only find himself on the bench behind club team-mate Jack Grealish when it comes to the tough test of taking on Italy.
When he did come on in Naples, he had to then depart 12 minutes later in a tactical switch after Shaw's sending off... only to then become injured ahead of the Ukraine clash. A forgettable week but he will be back...
Phil Foden only had a few cameo minutes against Italy in a personally frustrating week
Now, 16th may be considered high
