England are just three more wins away from sealing a perfect record in qualification for Euro 2016, having picked up maximum points in each of their seven games to date.
Many will factor in the quality of opposition as the true reason behind the Three Lions' strong showing, in a group containing sides ranked at 17, 45, 80, 109 and 193 in the world.
Regardless, Roy Hodgson has constantly argued that his side can only beat those in front of him, with England on course to make it a perfect 10 from 10 over the next month.
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With that in mind, Sports Mole looks at the five other sides to have achieved the feat in Euro qualifying to see if there is any pattern to be seen.
1. France - Euro 1992: Group Stage
Eight games played, eight games won, 20 goals scored, six goals conceded. Qualifying for the 1992 Euros in Sweden was as comfortable as you like for France, who simply brushed aside all before them.
It proved to be a different matter entirely at the tournament proper, though, as draws with England and tournament hosts Sweden left them with their backs to the wall. Defeat against Denmark was then enough to see Les Bleus eliminated at the first hurdle, proving that an error-free qualifying campaign does not necessarily equate to success on the big stage.
2. Czech Republic - Euro 2000: Group Stage
Like France eight years before them, there was no stopping Czech Republic as they progressed through with a goal difference of +21, ahead of second-placed Scotland who were some 12 points behind.
Unfortunately for the 1996 runners-up, they also struggled to carry that winning form into the finals and were sent packing with just one win to their name. In fairness to landlocked nation, they were pitted in a group containing heavyweights France and the Netherlands, and were therefore always likely to have it all to do.
3. France - Euro 2004: Quarter-Finals
This was a tournament best remembered for the underdog prevailing, which you certainly will not need to remind France supporters. One of the favourites to go all the way, much like they did in 1984 and 2000, many expected the unbeaten European giants to easily dismantle Greece after making it into the knockout rounds.
History tells a different tale, however, one of Angelos Charisteas rising highest to head home and knock out the defending champions. Once more, a perfect record in qualifying did not provide the momentum for France to push on and taste victory in Portugal.
4. Germany - Euro 2012: Semi-Final
No side in European football boasts a record quite like Germany when it comes to qualifying for major tournaments, which was best exemplified in the build-up to the last European Championship three years ago. A whopping 34 goals were scored in the process, ensuring that Joachim Low's men remained as many peoples' favourites.
Die Mannschaft certainly lived up to the hype when earning nine points from nine in the group stage of the competition, albeit it in a far tighter manner than they would have liked. The dream of lifting the famous trophy came to an end in the semi-finals, however, thanks to a fine individual performance from Mario Balotelli.
5. Spain - Euro 2012: Winners
The reigning world and European champions were very much on top of their game when overcoming the Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein, maintaining a perfect winning run right the way through to the Euro finals in Poland and the Ukraine. A minor blip against Italy aside - a team they would get to know well across the duration of the tournament - La Roja looked very slick when in their passing groove.
France proved to be just another stepping stone to success in the first knockout round, before Portugal put up a stern fight to push the world's top-ranked side all the way to a penalty shootout. Having battled their way through that, only Italy stood between them and back-to-back European crowns. It was hardly a thrilling final for the neutral, with Spain simply running away with it to claim a 4-0 win in Kiev.
Verdict
The bottom line, as many would have expected, is that success in qualification counts for very little when it comes to the main event. While the most recent examples, Spain and Germany, made it to the last four of the competition, sides before them such as France (twice) and the Czech Republic failed to leave their mark.
In many ways, the biggest factor is entirely down to luck of the draw, or more specifically the sides you are pitted against in the early stages. For a momentum-building Czech outfit in 2000, the challenge of overcoming the Netherlands and France was simply too much.
Of course, the best sides on the continent will progress further than the weaker nations more times than not, which goes without saying, but a perfect route to the finals is certainly not a prerequisite for success.
Daniel Lewis
