What has changed for Southgate's England team in the past 7 years?
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.
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
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