England qualified for France 2016 with a 100 per cent record – and did it with the third youngest team in Europe.
Roy Hodgson's men won ten games out of ten in qualifying Group E with the average age of their starting team just 25 years and 245 days old.
In stats compiled by Opta only Germany (25 years 200 days) and Norway (25 years 149 days) had younger starting 11s across their group games from the 53 competing nations .
Ten Youngest Teams in Euro 2016 Qualifying
Norway 25 years 149 days
Germany 25 years 200 days
England 25 years 245 days
Luxembourg 25 years 272 days
Switzerland 25 years 348 days
Netherlands 26 years
Belgium 26 years 2 days
Azerbaijan 26 years 63 days
Wales 26 years 99 days
Serbia 26 years 181 days
Hodgson used 33 players in qualifying with only four in their 30s. The oldest, Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, was 33 years 242 days when he had his only outing in the game with Lithuania at Wembley in March.
Phil Jagielka was 33 years and 56 days as he led the team out as captain for their final qualifier, the 3-0 win in Vilnius last week, while Leighton Baines was 30 and Rickie Lambert 32 for their most recent games.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, five players have featured this campaign while 20 years old or younger, including recent debutant Dele Alli, 19.
Compared to their qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup, Hodgson's starting teams have been almost two years younger.
England's average age on the road to Rio was 27 years and 232 days. But with centurions Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole all retiring, it has opened the door for players coming through from the Under-21s to earn their chance at senior level.
With their qualifiers done, the Three Lions now have a series of high profile friendlies as Hodgson looks to prepare his players for the challenges of 2016.
Before then though, they face current European champions Spain away in Alicante on Friday 13 November and their next home game comes four days later at Wembley Stadium against the Euro 2016 hosts, France.
That game against Les Bleus on Tuesday 17 November is also a Breast Cancer Care International, supporting The FA's official charity partner. To get your tickets for the game, visit www.TheFA.com/tickets.
