Excited England fans have started to gather on Wembley way ahead of Sunday's big Euro 2024 qualifying clash against Ukraine.
Gareth Southgate's side got their campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-1 victory over Italy in midweek. First-half goals from Declan Rice and Harry Kane was enough to seal the Three Lions' first victory on Italian soil for 62 years, although they did have to hold on after Luke Shaw was sent off late in the game. The result means England top the Group C standings ahead of the second round of fixtures this weekend.
Although England will head into Sunday's showdown with Ukraine as heavy favourites, Southgate will be without the services of Shaw and Reece James through suspension and injury respectively.
There's better news on Jordan Henderson, though, with the Liverpool midfielder now available for Sunday's game after recovering from a bout of illness. Kalvin Phillips and Jude Bellingham, who both started Thursday night's win in Naples, were both doubts to face Ukraine but are also available.
Kane will start Sunday's match as England's all-time leading goalscorer after he eclipsed Wayne Rooney's record with a nerveless penalty against Italy. And the Three Lions captain has taken plenty of plaudits in the build-up to the meeting with Ukraine.
Southgate was full of admiration for his "brilliant" skipper, who showed remarkable character to break the record from the penalty spot after missing an all-important spot-kick in England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against France.
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Speaking earlier this week, Southgate said of Kane: "His overall performance tonight was outstanding. I thought he really dominated the centre-backs and his link play was really good. You could see right from the beginning of the game he was really on it.
"To break the record in the way that he did, given the recent history, is an indication of his strength of character and mentality.”
England will return to Wembley for the first time since their agonising World Cup defeat against Les Blues. But England's opponents, Ukraine, who are kicking off their qualification campaign on Sunday, are unable to play their home matches in their own country due to the ongoing invasion by Russia.
Southgate was full of praise for Ukraine ahead of the match. He said: "They are very proud. We saw that at the beginning of the war when they went to Scotland at the beginning in the [World Cup] play-offs and Wales.
"They are a very proud group of players, you can see that they are totally committed to bringing enjoyment to their public.
"We of course have huge sympathy with what is going on, [Sunday] is a game of football and we are fully focused on the game."
Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko is one familiar face who England will encounter at Wembley. And while the defender is grateful for all the support he has received since Russia invaded, he admits there is no room for sentiment on the pitch when he comes face to face with the likes of Bukayo Saka.
"I love them all so much, but unfortunately on the pitch there are no friends, so let's see what is going to happen," said Zinchenko. "Bukayo has not given me the line-up yet, but I am going to push as much as I can."
He added: "I got a lot of support from all of them [team-mates], for which I am so grateful. I would like to also say a massive thanks to all of the UK for all of the help and support for all of us Ukrainians, for the country, our people, all of the refugees who are living here.
"It is so important for us. Without your support, it would be so difficult and tough. We really appreciate it."
