Regarded as one of the favourites to conquer the continent this summer, the pressure could hardly be weighing heavier on the shoulders of Gareth Southgate's England ahead of their pilgrimage to Germany for Euro 2024.
The Three Lions board the plane to mainland Europe three years on from a devastating defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, since when they have experienced an all-too familiar quarter-final elimination at the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate's side must first assert their authority over Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia in Group C before the knockout fixtures commence, and the England boss will have the luxury of naming 26 players for his squad as opposed to the former 23-strong selections.
Here, Sports Mole runs down everything you need to know about England's squad announcement for Euro 2024, as well as how the Three Lions' troupe is shaping up ahead of the tournament.
When will England's Euro 2024 squad be named?
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England boss Southgate confirmed his initial 33-man selection on May 21, just two days after the end of the Premier League season.
The Three Lions have two friendly fixtures pencilled in before Euro 2024 kicks off, as they will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park on June 3, four days before hosting Iceland at Wembley on June 7.
The latter date is also the deadline for national teams to submit their official squad lists to UEFA - specifically 11pm on June 7 - leaving Southgate with ample time to make some enforced alterations if any injuries arise in between his May announcement and June 7, as well as whittling the 33-man selection down to 26.
The final selection will then have nine days to recuperate from their final friendly fixture before opening their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16, while Denmark and then Slovenia await on June 20 and 25 respectively.
How is England's squad shaping up for Euro 2024?
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While the vast majority of England's big-hitters were fit and firing by the end of the domestic season, Southgate did not select Chelsea full-back duo Reece James or Ben Chilwell after injury-riddled campaigns for both players.
James was able to make two appearances towards the tail end of the season, but was sent off in one of those and did not show enough for Southgate to select him in a squad that already contains strength at right-back.
It is on the other side of defence that England look particularly light, with Chilwell's absence meaning that Luke Shaw - himself without an appearance since February due to injury - is the only out-and-out left-back in the squad, although it is a position that Kieran Trippier has played in the past.
Trippier is another to have missed a chunk of the season through injury though, meaning that Liverpool's Joe Gomez may be considered the main back-up to Shaw if the Manchester United man struggles to prove his fitness.
The likes of Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings and Rico Henry will watch the tournament from home after injuries, while Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount and Kalvin Phillips - all former cornerstones of the England setup - were left out of the initial 33-man squad.
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Rashford's absence was the main headline as he was dropped due to poor form - coupled with standout seasons for a number of other players in his position - while Southgate voiced concerns over Henderson's fitness after injury as the main reason behind his exclusion.
Champions League finalist Jadon Sancho and Three Lions outcast Ben White did not benefit from the expanded squad selections, with Southgate not speaking to White about his availability after the Arsenal defender had previously ruled himself out of contention following a row with assistant Steve Holland at the last World Cup.
There are plenty of newer faces for Southgate to cast his eye over during the two warm-up friendlies, though, with Cole Palmer perhaps the standout name following an exceptional season with Chelsea.
Palmer's form has been so impressive that his place in the final squad is surely now secure, but the likes of Eberechi Eze, Kobbie Mainoo, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon will be desperate to make a strong late case for a spot on the plane after fine domestic campaigns.
There are also four uncapped players in the 33 - Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarell Quansah, Curtis Jones and Adam Wharton - all of whom will be keen to prove their worth over the coming weeks and nudge ahead of some more favoured names into Southgate's thinking.
