England's qualifying campaign reviewed by Nick Collins

Sky Sports News HQ's chief football reporter Nick Collins reflects on England's qualifying campaign for Euro 2016.

England have been in charge of Group E from the very start and St Jakob Park, Basel, on September 8 2014 was where it all began.

Eighty days after their World Cup elimination England took on Switzerland and found themselves in the role of underdogs!

The Swiss were ranked 11 places higher at No 9 in the world and Roy Hodgson's team were under pressure to bounce back from a hugely disappointing campaign in Brazil.

The response was remarkable… 13 minutes into the second half the captain Wayne Rooney led a brilliant counter-attack, Danny Welbeck was on the end of it, and England were a goal up. It finished 2-0 that night and suddenly there was a new belief about England.

From that moment the negative memories of the summer began to be erased, the new midfield diamond formation was a real success, with Jack Wilshere at the base and Raheem Sterling at the tip.

Welbeck's form was also a revelation, the new Arsenal striker cashed in with six goals in the first five qualifiers and Rooney wasn't far behind.

After a frantic, nervy start Fabian Delph settled into his role on the left side of the diamond and got better and better as the match progressed, while Jordan Henderson on the right was a calming presence throughout.

The cynics will argue Group E was one of the weakest, but England built on that night in Basel and took complete control.

San Marino were swept aside at Wembley, a late Rooney goal won a tricky encounter in Tallinn against Estonia and then Slovenia were beaten 3-1.

England actually fell behind that day, but this was Rooney's 100th cap and the script demanded that he scored and England won.

A powerfully struck penalty achieved the first part of the objective, with two more Welbeck goals clinching a 2-1 victory. Welbeck and Rooney both scored again in March against Lithuania and it was now played five won five.

Ljubljana in June provided the most dramatic qualifier to date.

Slovenia led 1-0 at half-time before Jack Wilshere equalised with his first England goal and then scored an absolute stunner to make it 2-1 to underline why Hodgson rates him so highly.

Back came Slovenia to make it 2-2 with five minutes remaining, but still England kept going and Rooney (who else!) popped up with a late winner to make it six wins in a row, with Euro 2016 qualification just one victory away.

The result in San Marino was never in doubt, especially after England scored early on. A nerveless Rooney penalty made it 49 goals for his country, equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time record.

The fairytale second goal would not come, but he has another chance on Tuesday against Switzerland to reach the magic 50 mark.

The pluses against San Marino: Ross Barkley's first England goal; could this be the catalyst for the Everton man to really nail down a regular starting place?

A first goal of the season for Harry Kane was welcome - if England are to be a threat in France next summer , an in-form Kane will be vital.

Two goals for Theo Walcott - he'd love to start, but what a great impact sub he could prove to be if a fit Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offers England something extra… this could be a big season for him for club and country.

The return of John Stones was encouraging too. By next summer he could be a key part of the England defence in France.

England can do no more than beat the opposition which is put in front of them, but the real test will come as they look to develop and improve after the qualifiers with genuine tests against top-class European opposition.

Yes, they have done a great job of qualifying - now they must repeat it on the big stage at Euro 2016.