England completed World Cup qualifying with a flawless 100% record, winning all eight games while scoring 22 and conceding zero. However, their opponents—Albania, Andorra, Latvia, and Serbia—were all ranked outside the world's top 20, meaning the Three Lions have not been genuinely tested in over a year.

That lack of pressure showed in a worrying friendly loss to Senegal, then ranked 19th in the world. New manager Thomas Tuchel fielded a heavily rotated side, but the 3-1 defeat revealed a team with "no discernible plan" and no clear identity, according to BBC Sport's chief football writer.

With a post-Euro 2024 rebuild underway, upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan (also 19th) offer the first proper barometer. Uruguay's physicality and tactical organization will present a challenge far removed from qualifying, forcing Tuchel to prove his system can function against elite opposition before the World Cup.