Thomas Tuchel will attempt to take England that final step and win a second World Cup after 60 years of hurt and a couple of near misses.
Having become the third foreign manager in the national team’s history, the ex-Chelsea boss immediately pledged to do everything in his power “to try to get a second star on our shirt” upon succeeding Sir Gareth Southgate.
Tuchel’s chance of doing that this summer are aided by the gifted, consistent side left behind by the former defender, who turned chaos into England’s most successful spell since Sir Alf Ramsey’s side won the 1966 World Cup.
Southgate reconnected with the public as he transformed the team during a reign that included a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, a galling quarter-final loss in 2022 and a maiden European Championship final appearance.
England’s all-too-familiar penalty problems – something Southgate knew all about from Euro 96 – eventually meant Italy triumphed under the Wembley arch in 2021, but a second final would follow three years on.
The road to the Berlin showpiece was far rockier, punctuated by some frustrating performances, a few standout moments and beer cups being thrown the manager’s way by frustrated fans in Cologne.
Southgate always said he never wanted to overstay his welcome and walked after losing the Euro 2024 final 2-1 to Spain, with the Football Association turning to proven winner Tuchel after interim Lee Carsley oversaw the autumn fixtures.
The German hit the ground running and ended his first year having won all eight World Cup qualifiers without conceding, with September’s 5-0 win in Serbia the defining moment of a campaign that had faltered in June.
Dissatisfied supporters booed the team in Barcelona after labouring to a 1-0 win against minnows Andorra and further jeers greeted the 3-1 friendly loss to Senegal – England’s first defeat to African opposition.
If that was not enough, quote machine Tuchel set tongues wagging the following day by admitting that his mother found some of Jude Bellingham’s behaviour “repulsive”.
Their relationship has been under the microscope since, but the Real Madrid midfielder will have been one of the first selected for a 26-man squad that the coach repeatedly stressed was about building a cohesive unit rather than squeezing in stars.
Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold were among the eye-catching omissions from a “brotherhood” largely built during the autumn, accentuating the spine created during the Southgate era.
Harry Kane will captain England at a fifth major tournament, and the 2018 golden boot winner is among the favourites to finish as the World Cup’s top scorer following a jaw-dropping campaign with Bayern Munich.
Ever-improving Elliot Anderson joins Premier League winner Declan Rice in a midfield that complements exciting attacking options, but questions remain around the solidity of a versatile defence.
Jordan Pickford will again provide a sturdy last line and is one of five survivors from the run to the 2018 semi-finals along with John Stones, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Kane.
England certainly boast the talent, experience and camaraderie befitting their place among the bookmakers’ favourites, but Tuchel has previously said they are “underdogs” due to their “history, the climate and the circumstances”.
Six decades without a trophy is certainly a salient point, so too is the impact of the unrelenting heat, humidity and travel schedule.
Preparations for the sweltering conditions began a year ago and step up this week in Florida, where a warm-weather training camp includes two friendlies that England head into after a winless March.
Kansas City will then be their home away from home during a tournament they begin against 2018 semi-final foes Croatia in Texas on June 17 and hope to end playing in a second global final on July 19 in New Jersey.
Going the distance is a tall order, but Tuchel – who has already extended his deal through to the home Euros in 2028 – hopes that overlooking some stars will help add one to the England shirt.