After all the noise and the baying for the head of Roy Hodgson, England started their Euro 2016 qualifiers with a bang, defeating Switzerland away.

This was a vital win for England as the Swiss are considered the toughest opponents in Group E.

After the World Cup, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard announced their retirement from international football. Wayne Rooney was named as the new England captain.

Although Gerrard and Lampard failed to win any silverware in the national team shirt, they were famous for playing their hearts out for their country.

Against Switzerland, a brace from Arsenal’s new signing Danny Welbeck not only restored England’s confidence but also recaptured the nation’s interest following a dull friendly against Norway in the build-up to the match in Basel.

Coming fixtures

October 9: H vs San Marino (Euro qualifier).

October 12: A vs Estonia (Euro qualifier).

November 15: H vs Slovenia (Euro qualifier).

November 18: A vs Scotland (Friendly).

March 27: H vs Lithuania (Euro qualifier).

June 7: A vs Ireland (Friendly).

June 14: A vs Slovenia (Euro qualifier).

September 5: Away vs San Marino (Euro qualifier).

September 8: Home vs Switzerland (Euro qualifier).

October 9: Home vs Estonia (European qualifier).

October 12: Away vs Lithuania (European qualifier).

The centurions

With Gerrard and Lampard out of the equation, the players with 100 or more caps for England has now gone up to eight.

125 caps: Peter Shilton (born September 18, 1949) – Leicester, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby.

115: David Beckham (May 2, 1975) – Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, Milan.

114: Steven Gerrard (May 30, 1980) – Liverpool.

108: Bobby Moore (April 12, 1941) – West Ham United.

107: Ashley Cole (December 20, 1980) – Arsenal, Chelsea.

106: Bobby Charlton (October 11, 1937) – Manchester United.

106: Frank Lampard (June 20, 1978) – West Ham United, Chelsea.

105: Billy Wright (February 6, 1924) – Wolves.

Under-21s

England have been drawn against Croatia in the qualifying play-offs for next year’s European Under-21 Championship finals which will be played in the Czech Republic.

Gareth Southgate’s boys will play Croatia over two legs between October 8 and 14, with the first match taking place at Molineux in Wolverhampton.

England had completed their near-perfect qualifying group campaign with a 3-0 win in Moldova, their ninth victory from 10 Group One qualifiers.

Croatia also impressed in their qualifying campaign as they pipped Ukraine to top Group Five with six wins from eight games.

Holders Spain have been drawn against Serbia, while the other five play-off ties are: Slovakia vs Italy, France vs Sweden, Denmark vs Iceland, Holland vs Portugal and Ukraine vs Germany.

The final tournament will take place between June 17 and 3, 2015.

England results
A vs Moldova 3-0 (Berahino 2, Kane).
A vs Lithuania 1-0 (Kane).
A vs Wales 3-1 (Redmond 3).
H vs Wales 1-0 (Redmond).
H vs San Marino 9-0 (Keane, Sterling 2, Ings 2, Ward-Prowse, Ince, Jenkinson, Hughes).
H vs Finland 3-0 (Keane, Berahino 2).
H vs Lithuania 5-0 (Morrison 2, Berahino 2, Ward-Prowse).
A vs San Marino 4-0 (Kane 3, Keane).
A vs Finland 1-1 (Yaghoubi).
H vs Moldova 1-0 (Berahino).