WHAT DO ENGLAND DO NOW?

Gareth Southgate (above) has two more friendlies booked up for March against the two

biggest names to miss out on next summer’s extravaganza. England travel to Holland to take on the Dutch on Friday, March 23 before returning to host Italy at Wembley on Tuesday, March 27.

The Premier League finishes on May 12, 2018, after which Southgate will select his 30-man provisional squad which will eventually be trimmed to 23, including three keepers, for the tournament.

England will base themselves at St George’s Park to begin preparations. They will play two warm-up games in England – most likely one at Wembley and one to be decided – after the end of the domestic season and before they head to Russia.