Roy Hodgson believes England will be a side reaching its peak in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The Three Lions learned of their qualification fixtures for the tournament on Sunday following the draw in St Petersburg, with Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta their opponents in Group F.
Hodgson is confident England will not only qualify, but be in a position to make an impression at the Finals in three summers’ time.
“We would like to believe that the team would continue progressing – I am convinced we would have,” he told TheFA.com from St Petersburg.
“If we can keep the 30 players who have served us so well – and a few more to break on to the scene over the next year, because some always do – then I am confident the team will have developed even further.”
Roy Hodgson has put his faith in the likes of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling
Last year three players with over a century of England caps – Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole – all played their final game for the Three Lions, allowing Hodgson to give a host of younger players their head at international level.
The likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Nathaniel Clyne and Ross Barkley can all call themselves regulars in England squads, and Hodgson has entrusted in those players to one day provide the backbone of the national team.
“Players will hopefully have more experience by playing for clubs in the Champions League, Europa League and domestic competitions, and of course they will have spent more time together with the national team,” he said.
“Many of them will be aged between 26 and 30 – where we tend to believe that players would be approaching their prime.”
Roy Hodgson reacts to the World Cup Preliminary draw
Hodgson admitted that the draw has been favourable to England.
“I would have been confident whichever teams we drew but in many ways we have been quite fortunate,” he said.
“We have avoided many of the far-flung destinations that can be difficult for our supporters to reach. In fact there are some very nice places to visit.
“In Slovenia, Slovakia and Malta we have some fine destinations for England fans to travel with the team. I know from visiting Vilnius in Lithuania that it is a wonderful city.
“And of course fans will be very excited about playing Scotland home and away, and the unique atmosphere those fixtures bring.”
England’s preparations for the EURO 2016 in France and the World Cup two years later have been made more challenging by the introduction of several prestige friendlies between some of Europe’s finest.
Watch snapshots from England's last meeting with Scotland
Subject to qualification for the European Championship, they take on France at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on 17 November this year, and then face world champions Germany in Berlin next March.
England will later play both nations in return fixtures and have agreed to play Spain in a similar arrangement.
Hodgson believes such fixtures are crucial if England are to test themselves against the best.
“In terms of really preparing for tournaments it is invaluable,” he said.
“We will come up against a high quality of opposition and experienced players, although it is always dangerous to base too many judgments on these games.
“The upside is the quality of the opposition which maybe they won’t get in the group, where sometimes a team’s main intention is to stop you from playing rather than to win.”
