Gareth Southgate’s England reign began with a low-key win over Malta… seven years later, the Three Lions are set to face them at Wembley again after evolving from a laughing stock to one of Europe’s best

• Gareth Southgate’s first game in charge of England came against Malta
• The team has been transformed as they prepare to face Malta at Wembley again
• Chris Sutton is stunned by Ian Ladyman’s England Euro XI: It’s All Kicking Off

Expectations for England’s national side have rarely been lower than when Gareth Southgate first stepped into the dugout at Wembley for their World Cup qualifier against Malta in October 2016.

England had crashed out of the Euros in humiliating fashion at the hands of Iceland less than four months earlier, and after replacing Roy Hodgson on the touchline, Sam Allardyce lasted just one game before being sacked following a newspaper sting.

The Three Lions were a laughing stock.

In truth, Southgate could not have asked for a much easier start to his reign. Malta are one of Europe’s weakest teams, and they offered very little resistance that afternoon as England cruised to a 2-0 win thanks to first-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli.

But it was hardly a convincing victory that offered hope of the good times ahead.

Dele Alli scored England’s second goal in a low-key 2-0 win against Malta in October 2016

Gareth Southgate has transformed his team in the last seven years and they enter tonight’s match against Malta as one of Europe’s best sides

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Seven years on, Malta return to Wembley this evening to take on a much-changed England team.

Southgate’s men have made a Euros final and a World Cup semi-final since their last meeting at England’s national stadium.

Mail Sport takes a look at how England have evolved under Southgate to go from a team in crisis to major tournament contenders.

Goalkeeper in 2016: Joe Hart 

Goalkeeper in 2023: Jordan Pickford 

Joe Hart was England’s No1 for three consecutive tournaments between 2012 and 2016, and was a safe pair of hands for the majority of his England career.

The 2016 Euros was a difficult period for him, though, as he let in two soft goals to his left despite getting a hand to both efforts.

When he returned to club level, his confidence was low and Pep Guardiola quickly decided to move on from him by bringing in Claudio Bravo.

Hart still retained the gloves at international level for a while longer, but it was clear his days were numbered and Southgate turned to Jordan Pickford ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Pickford was a young goalkeeper when Southgate put his faith in him and some questioned whether he had the temperament to take on such a big role.

Yet the Everton shot-stopper has proved his critics wrong over the years, playing a crucial part in ending England’s penalty shootout hoodoo when they beat Colombia in Russia.

He also saved two spot-kicks as England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy. 

Pickford has been one of England’s most consistent performers under Southgate, and has been a major upgrade on the 2016 version of Hart that had started to lose his way.

Joe Hart (right) was England’s No1 in 2016, but his international career was coming to an end

Jordan Pickford has established himself as England’s first choice goalkeeper, and has flourished at major tournaments

Defence in 2016: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Gary Cahill, Ryan Bertrand 

Defence in 2023: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw 

Two of England’s back four have not changed over the last seven years, with Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and John Stones retaining their places.

But it would be fair to say both are better players now than they were when Southgate took over.

Walker may now be 33, but has benefitted greatly from working under Guardiola and has developed into a well-rounded full back who is one of the best 1v1 defenders in the game while still offering plenty in attack.

In 2016, Stones was still making his way in the game and was prone to lapses in concentration, but he is now one of the first names on the teamsheet when fit and has also shown his versatility by stepping into midfield for City over the past 12 months.

John Stones has matured into one of Europe’s best centre backs over the last seven years

Kyle Walker is also still in the team, but is a better player than he was back in 2016

On the left-hand side of the defence, things have changed. Gary Cahill won the Champions League and two Premier League titles at Chelsea but had moved into his thirties by 2016 and it was time to bring through some fresh blood.

Southgate put his trust in Harry Maguire – a player who has divided opinion more than any other during his tenure.

However, much like Pickford, Maguire has stepped up at every major tournament, having a bigger impact than Cahill ever did.

Meanwhile, Ryan Bertrand has been replaced by Luke Shaw on the left flank. Bertrand won the Champions League alongside Cahill in 2012, but never got a lengthy run in the Chelsea side and moved on to Southampton in 2015.

His switch to St Mary’s came a year after Shaw had left the Saints to join Manchester United. Shaw is now into his tenth season at Old Trafford, and it has not been plain sailing for him, but when he is on form he is one of the best left backs in world football.

Shaw has been a rock at the back at the last two tournaments, and scored England’s goal in the Euros final. Once he returns to full fitness later this year, he should slot straight back into Southgate’s side ahead of next year’s tournament. 

Harry Maguire (left) has received criticism but has always stepped up for England on the biggest stage

Midfield in 2016: Jordan Henderson, Wayne Rooney, Dele Alli

Midfield in 2023: Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Jude Bellingham 

Jordan Henderson is still part of Southgate’s squad, but is no longer a guaranteed starter after moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

He played alongside Wayne Rooney in midfield in 2016, but Southgate now relies on a double-pivot of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips.

Henderson has rarely let England down since making his debut in 2010, but there have always been doubts about his suitability as a holding midfielder, while Rooney’s glittering career was coming to an end when Southgate took charge.

Moving on from one of England’s greatest players was always going to be difficult to navigate, but Southgate handled it well and has since found a flourishing partnership in Rice and Phillips.

The duo shone at Euro 2020 – starting every game together – and Rice has gone from strength to strength to earn himself a £105m transfer to Arsenal this summer.

Wayne Rooney had moved into midfield by 2016, but his best years were behind him

Kalvin Phillips (left) and Declan Rice (right) have developed a strong partnership for England

Phillips got his own big-money move to City last year, but has found himself down the pecking order at the Etihad. Southgate has remained loyal to him, but there is an argument that he would not get into the 2016 team based on current form and he may need to go elsewhere in January to secure his spot at Euro 2024. 

In the advanced midfield role, we have Jude Bellingham instead of Dele Alli.

In 2016, Alli was viewed as one of Europe’s hottest prospects. He’d endured a disappointing Euros but was thriving at Tottenham and looked set to be a huge part of England’s future for the next decade.

Unfortunately, injury problems, loss of form and off-field issues have meant Alli has not played for his country since 2019.

But England have discovered another world-beater to replace him in Bellingham. 

It is remarkable that Bellingham is still only 20, having already had three outstanding seasons at Borussia Dortmund that led to him earning a £113m move to Real Madrid this year.

He has taken no time at all to settle in, scoring 13 goals in 14 matches for Los Blancos. Bellingham will sit out tonight’s game with a shoulder injury, but he looks set to play a major role in England’s bid for tournament glory next year. 

Jude Bellingham is quickly becoming a global superstar despite still only being 20 years old

Attack in 2016: Theo Walcott, Jesse Lingard, Daniel Sturridge

Attack in 2023: Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane 

England have a case for having the best front three in Europe right now. They were not part of that argument in 2016.

Theo Walcott was still only 27 when he took to the pitch against Malta, but he had started to become a less effective winger and within 15 months he left Arsenal.

Jesse Lingard would go on to be one of England’s star performers at the 2018 World Cup, but his career has nosedived since then after falling out of favour at Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. He is currently without a club.

Then you have Daniel Sturridge. The former Liverpool and Chelsea man was a formidable striker on his day, but injuries held him back and he called time on his career earlier this year.

In place of Walcott, Southgate can now call upon another Arsenal star – Bukayo Saka. 

The 22-year-old is one of the best players in his position in Europe and has become a fans’ favourite with his enthusiasm for the game clear for all to see.

He has already played at two major tournaments, flourishing in both.

On the opposite flank is Marcus Rashford, who came off the bench for England when they faced Malta seven years ago.

Back then, Rashford was still in his first year of senior football, but he has matured on and off the pitch in the subsequent years.

Daniel Sturridge was leading the line for England when they faced Malta in 2016

Southgate now has Harry Kane as his main striker, who is England’s all-time top goalscorer

He has had a tough start to the 2023-24 season, but netted 30 goals last term, and it is surely only a matter of time before he returns to his best form.

We finish with Harry Kane. Seven years ago, England fans still weren’t sure about him after he had a torrid Euros, with many remembering him for inexplicably taking corners in the tournament when he should have been in the penalty box trying to get on the end of them.

Nowadays, there are no concerns over Kane. He is England’s leading all-time goalscorer, and is set to extend that record out of sight over the coming years. 

Sturridge was a fine player, but Kane is on another level and is only getting better, having scored 21 goals in 16 games for Bayern Munich this season.

Verdict 

England unquestionably have a far better squad heading into tonight’s match than they did seven years ago.

The 2016 side contained high-quality players, but it would be difficult to label any of them world class at that stage of their respective careers.

England have impressive strength off the bench nowadays, with Southgate able to call on Jack Grealish (centre) and Phil Foden (right)

Looking at Southgate’s current crop of stars, at least half the starting XI could fit into that category.

The strength in depth off the bench has also greatly improved, with Southgate now able to call upon Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Trent Alexander-Arnold when everyone is fit.

Southgate has taken England to the brink of ending their trophy drought during his seven years at the helm, but they have just fallen short on three separate occasions.

Their next chance for glory is just a matter of months away, and after seven years of hard work Southgate has every right to be optimistic of finally leading his side to silverware at Euro 2024.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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