Here, Press Association Sport looks at their progress over the eight-game Euro 2012 qualification period.

September 3, 2010. England 4 Bulgaria 0

England's first competitive game since the World Cup debacle in South Africa could not have gone much better. Jermain Defoe rattled in a hat-trick, with Adam Johnson bagging another in an impressive late cameo.

September 7, 2010. Switzerland 1 England 3

Another excellent display. Introduced as an early replacement for Theo Walcott, Johnson again caught the eye - and again found the net. Wayne Rooney put his off-field troubles behind him to score his first international goal for a year and Darren Bent finished off the only team to beat eventual winners Spain at the World Cup.

October 12, 2010. England 0 Montenegro 0

The first hiccup. Although they dominated a Montenegro side whose main tactic was one of containment, England failed to make their pressure tell. Rooney, who would later hint at his discontent with life at Old Trafford, had England's best chance.

March 26, 2011. Wales 0 England 2

With Jack Wilshere making his competitive debut and Scott Parker given his long-awaited opportunity, England were convincing winners. Frank Lampard and Bent got their names on the scoresheet in a game that marked John Terry's return to the captaincy.

June 4, 2011. England 2 Switzerland 2

Ashley Young was surprisingly left out but helped rescue England from the brink of disaster. The normally reliable Joe Hart made two mistakes to gift the Swiss a handsome early lead. Although Lampard replied with a penalty, he was replaced by Young at the break and it was the winger who levelled before Bent blew an excellent chance to win it.

September 2, 2011. Bulgaria 0 England 3

Gary Cahill gave England a flying start in Sofia as Capello's side continued to impress away from home. Rooney got in on the act with two more goals before the break as Lothar Matthaus' men crumbled. It could have been more by the end but England justified their new-found status as the world's fourth-best team.

September 6, 2011. England 1 Wales 0

The expected English stroll after Young's first-half goal never materialised as the Three Lions' roar again went missing at Wembley. Wales' confidence grew as the match went on and only an unbelievable miss by Robert Earnshaw denied them a deserved point.

October 7, 2011. Montenegro 2 England 2

Rooney was sent off as England, who led 2-0 at one stage, just did enough to clinch their place in the Euro 2012 finals. Rooney was given his marching orders for the second time in his England career, after a 73rd-minute challenge on Miodrag Dzudovic. Goals from Young and Bent put England in command before Elsad Zverotic reduced the arrears and Andrija Delibasic levelled in the 90th minute.