With the help of English journalist Charlie Wyett we take a look at the Good, Bad and Ugly aspects of the Three Lions before they face Tunisia in their opening group game.

The Good

The Three Lions abysmal performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil only yielded a point, so ahead of Russia fans see the absence of big names and big egos that come along with them as a positive.

While Deli Alli, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane aren't nobodies they can’t do any worse than four years ago when England only managed two losses and a draw.

“With so few survivors from the previous World Cup, the England team are not tainted by previous disasters,” says Wyett.

“I like the change in style of play and there has been a definite improvement. Although he has not delivered his best form for England, Harry Kane is a massive threat.

“The other good thing for England has been the emergence of Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard who did not even play for England until Gareth Southgate's first game against Malta.

“Southgate was also brave to bin the likes of Wayne Rooney and at the end, Joe Hart.”

The Bad

After Joe Hart’s woes for club and country and Robert Green’s howler at the 2010 World Cup against the USA, England’s new potential number one Jordan Pickford heads into Russia starting from a low base.

“The defence and keeper is a major worry,” says Wyett.

“It is unheard of to have a goalkeeper going into a major tournament with so few matches under his belt - this also applies to the other two keepers as well.

"Equally, the defence could also struggle against a stronger team.

“The other bad for me was the style of play during the qualifiers. It was dull and not attacking enough - but there has been a change in recent friendlies.”

And the Ugly

While the front third is perhaps England’s biggest issue on the field, off field matters are always a problem for football’s perennial underachievers.

If it’s not their fans misbehaving, it’s their media either building the chances of the Three Lions up or ferociously tearing them down if expectations aren’t met.

“This team is moving forward, there is no doubt, but the fans - and of course us in the media - have to be patient even if the results are not good,” says Wyett.

“But most supporters are realistic and for me, the goal should be to win Euro2020.

“Another ugly for us is regarding the England fans who embarrassed themselves in Amsterdam for the friendly against Holland in March.

“The game against Germany 12 months earlier in Dortmund was equally as poor.”