With no hope of qualifying for the final rounds of the European Nations League, England will use the two shooting fields it has assembled in Italy and Germany on Friday and Monday to determine its readiness for the World Cup final in Qatar, scheduled for 18 November to 18 December.

The Three Lions looked very different from last summer in European competition as they reached the final match before losing to their next opponent, Italy, on penalties, as they were content with two points out of four matches they played in the third group of the first tier League of Nations.

And it’s not only the loss of hope of reaching the semi-finals of the continental competition, but also the fact that Gareth Southgate’s team is in danger of relegation to the second level in light of their presence at the bottom of the standings, three points behind Italy, third, as a result of two defeats at the hands of Hungary zero – 1 on the last field and 0-4 between their fans.

England will have two last chances to try to avoid relegation to the second tier, but the task will be uphill on Friday against Italy in Milan and on Monday at its Wembley stronghold against their historic rival Germany.

As is the case with many teams, England are suffering from a multi-injury problem less than two months before the start of the World Cup, where the Three Lions are dreaming of a second world title after winning in 1966 among their fans at the expense of West Germany.

Announcing his line-up, Southgate said: “We’ve had a lot of time to think (after England’s disappointing June performances against Germany in Munich and Italy in Wolverhampton, and losses against Hungary) and we’re looking forward to those two big games.”

In the absence of a real preparatory period before the World Cup, these two matches will be “a good test for us and an important part of our preparation for the World Cup … Every minute counts,” he said.