Less than 18 months on from their Euros heartbreak, Gareth Southgate and England will jet off to Qatar this week in a bid to end 56 years of hurt at the World Cup.
The Three Lions fell at the final hurdle last summer as they lost out to Italy on penalties in the final of Euro 2020, which was delayed for a year as a result of the Covid pandemic. Southgate's squad will have designs on going one further in Qatar, though, as they gear up for next Monday's Group B opener against Iran.
England will also have to negotiate tricky matches against Wales and the United States in order to advance to the knockout stages, and they could lean heavily on a number of the 26-man squad that was unveiled by Southgate earlier this month.
But who will Southgate choose for England's opener? Here, Mirror Football predicts who the Three Lions boss will call upon for the meeting with Iran...
In goal, Jordan Pickford has firmly established himself as England's No.1 during Southgate's tenure. That is unlikely to change in Qatar, despite the fact that Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope have both been in inspired form in the build-up to the tournament.
Perhaps the biggest question mark over Southgate's opening XI is in defence. Southgate is expected to stick with his favoured five-man defence for the tournament, but there is every chance that he could revert to a back four for the match against Iran.
Kyle Walker has made a miraculous recovery from surgery on a groin injury but it remains to be seen whether or not the Manchester City ace will be available for next Monday's curtain-raiser. In his absence, Kieran Trippier should get the nod to start at right-back with Luke Shaw poised to star on the opposite flank.
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Despite scrutiny over Harry Maguire's form, Southgate has repeatedly defended the maligned Manchester United man and he should keep his spot alongside John Stones at the heart of England's defence. Maguire was named in the team of the tournament at the Euros last summer - but the onus is on the 29-year-old to repay Southgate's faith after a string of calamitous performances since then.
Kalvin Phillips is another player who has been relied on heavily by Southgate in the past. The former Leeds United man was a surprise inclusion in the squad after hardly featuring for Manchester City since his big summer move, but it seems likely that Jude Bellingham will get the nod alongside Declan Rice in midfield.
Ahead of England's double pivot, things are slightly less clear. Although James Maddison's inclusion in the England squad was lauded, Mason Mount is in pole position to bag the No.10 spot if Southgate does opt to line up up with a 4-2-3-1 shape against Iran.
One thing that is almost a guarantee, though, is that Raheem Sterling will retain his spot in spite of his lacklustre start to life at Chelsea. The forward has mustered just five goals in 19 appearances since moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer but has been one of England's most consistent performers during Southgate's tenure.
Harry Kane will lead the line for England, but the final spot in England's three-pronged attack could be up for grabs. Phil Foden was given the nod at the start of the Euros and is seemingly another player Southgate trusts, but Bukayo Saka could run him close for a spot after inspiring England's fightback against Germany back in September.
Although Southgate has shown a preference to stick with tried and trusted players, there is a chance that someone like Saka could still force his way into the team ahead of Monday's opener.
Potential England starting XI against Iran (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Foden, Mount, Sterling; Kane
