IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Southgate has 281 DAYS until the World Cup kicks off.. so how can he turn the masters of qualifying into a team to be feared in Russia?

THE 19-game unbeaten run stretches back eight years.

Hard to believe but England’s last competitive defeat outside a tournament was when they lost to Ukraine on October 10, 2009, and by which time they had already qualified for the World Cup.

But cut to their record when they get to World Cups and European Championships and it is abysmal.

Thrashed by Germany in 2010, out of Euro 2012 as soon as they faced decent opposition, their worst showing at a World Cup in 2014 and humiliation by Iceland at last year’s Euros.

And with England just one result away from reaching next summer’s World Cup when the same question will arise. How can they be so good in qualifying but so poor in tournaments?

Part of the answer is simple. As soon as England play anyone halfdecent they tend to lose.

Easy qualifying campaigns leave them half-baked in terms of preparation. The might of Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Scotland and Lithuania have not stopped them this time.

But the full answer is much more complicated – and because they can only beat what is put in front of them and they do that: Until they reach the tournament.

Gareth Southgate is determined to address the issue with the most obvious objective of lining up top-class opposition

in friendlies. Germany and Brazil are on stand-by to play at Wembley in November as soon as England confirm their qualification. England have also got a trip to Amsterdam lined up next spring in the build-up to the World Cup.

They will do a “tour of the grounds” again at the end of the season to bring about the feel-good factor from playing up and down the country. Anfield has been reserved as one of the venues.

However, friendlies and defeats against good opposition can damage the FIFA ranking and purely by playing fewer games can help other nations when it comes to seeding for tournaments. After all, England had a terrible draw for the last World Cup with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

Southgate is very much on board with other FA initiatives. The England players finished the Slovakia game on Monday night, returned to the team hotel and then had a debrief yesterday until being released back to their clubs after 2pm.

They have tapped into foreign knowledge. They have spoken to the German FA about how they prepare for tournaments. Specialists like striker coach Allan Russell and Aussie fitness guru Bryce Cavanagh, head of physical performance and nutrition, have been brought in. They are using an adviser to the All Blacks about mental preparation and have their own psychologists. Southgate is determined to rely on home-grown talent. The under20s are world champions, the age groups below are blossoming in the St George’s Park set-up. What is noticeable is a shift in attitude. Under-21 star Nathaniel Chalobah (above) left Chelsea for Watford because he knew by playing more regular football he would get into the senior squad – and he was close to selection in Malta. Southgate has made it clear the players have to be playing for their clubs to be playing for him.

That is essentially why Michael Keane chose Everton over Manchester United.

Sharing the captaincy and passing the armband about may seem silly to us, but Southgate does not want to see the sort of rudderless ship with not enough leaders like England had against Iceland.

But there is an average of just 33 per cent of homegrown players who are playing Premier League games.

Although Southgate said: “Hopefully with the summer we have had with our junior teams clubs will have a bit more faith in young English players.”