Switzerland Football

Despite facing arguably the strongest team in their opening Euro 2016 qualifying game, England can take statistical respite from the fact they are playing Switzerland on a Monday.

Wayne Rooney claims England’s players are 100 per cent behind Roy Hodgson, as the manager prepares to hand Fabian Delph a shock start in Monday night’s Euro 2016 qualifier.

As England begin their bid to qualify for Euro 2016 with a tough trip to Switzerland, Sportsmail's Martin Keown assesses where the game could be won and lost by Roy Hodgson's side.

Logistically, Roy Hodgson is right. Monday night's match in Switzerland is not a must-win game. But it is the only chance Hodgson has the chance to demonstrate England are making progress.

Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Co took to the pitch at St Jakob-Park in Basle for a training session on Sunday ahead of England's first competitive game since their dire World Cup.

England's new captain Wayne Rooney believes a victory over Switzerland on Monday night would give Roy Hodgson's side the confidence to win their Euro 2016 qualifying group.

England would be facing Switzerland later in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign if manager Roy Hodgson had been able to pick and choose the Three Lions' fixtures.

After a desperately disappointing World Cup, I am intrigued to see how Roy Hodgson’s England team cope with competitive football again against Switzerland on Monday.

It has all come together in a few days for Danny Welbeck. At the start of last week, he was unwanted by Louis van Gaal and well down the pecking order at Manchester United.

England captain Wayne Rooney believes it is vitally important to start the European Championship qualifying campaign with a positive result in Switzerland.