Tuchel's England and road to 2026

Effectively begins now because England will find out their World Cup qualifying opponents today.

Pot 1: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, ENGLAND, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria

Pot 2: Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey, WALES, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway

Pot 3: SCOTLAND, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, NORTHERN IRELAND, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel

Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania

Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino.

There will be six groups of four teams and six groups of five teams. Winners of each group advance to the World Cup, the runners-up have to make do with a play-off. Third and below are out.

I think because of the Nations League England are highly likely to be in a five team group, but that just means a set of fixtures versus a team from Pot 5, which shouldn't present a challenge.

Group A: Germany/Italy (winner), Slovakia, NORTHERN IRELAND, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser), Greece, SCOTLAND, Belarus.

Group D: France/Croatia (winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.

Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Germany/Italy (loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group J: Belgium, WALES, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: ENGLAND, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

Group L: France/Croatia (loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.

Serbia/Albania in the same group is amusing, but should be simple stuff for England to top the group. Wales should get second at least, and can maybe turnover Belgium. Scotland have a decent group, should be second at least.

Pretty happy from a Welsh PoV. Belgium is probably the best of the Pot 1 teams we could've got. Away trips aren't too bad either. Only five teams is a dream.

Southgate knighted for prolonged failure