If Sunday’s Euro 2024 closing is half nearly as good because the final time an England and Spain aspect met in a males’s worldwide closing, we’re in for a deal with. A nerve-shredding deal with, however a deal with nonetheless.
That is as a result of the 2 international locations met within the closing of the 2017 Underneath-17 World Cup, when Steve Cooper’s Younger Lions got here again from 2-0 right down to trash the Spaniards 5-2 in India, due to targets from Rhian Brewster, Morgan Gibbs-White, a Phil Foden brace and Marc Guehi.
That noticed England win a second youth World Cup in 5 months, following the under-20’s win earlier that 12 months.
With this crop coming into what must be their peak years, here is a take a look at the beginning XI that tasted glory seven years in the past.
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England’s U-17 World Cup-winning group: GK: Curtis Anderson
Anderson whereas at Man Metropolis (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
One of many unlucky guidelines of youth soccer is that even a few of the most promising prospects do not make it within the sport. Goalkeeper Curtis Anderson is the one member of this squad to not be nonetheless concerned within the skilled sport, as the previous Manchester Metropolis academy star now works as a monetary advisor in Lancaster.
After parting methods with Metropolis in 2018 he headed stateside to second-tier aspect Charlotte Independence, however his profession stalled and heading again to England throughout the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t assist issues. He signed for Championship aspect Wycombe Wanderers earlier than mortgage spells at Walton Casuals and Eastbourne Borough earlier than becoming a member of Lancaster Metropolis. He now performs half time at Northern Premier League Division One West aspect Bootle.
RB: Steven Sessegnon
Sessegnon at Wigan (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
A product of the Fulham academy, the place he rose by means of the ranks alongside his twin brother Ryan, Steven was unable to kick-on at Craven Cottage after making his debut as a 17-year-old. Loans at Bristol Metropolis, Plymouth Argyle and Charlton Athletic ensued earlier than he joined Wigan final summer time.
CB: Marc Guehi
England defender Marc Guehi (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Our first success story of the listing, as Marc Guehi must be lining as much as face Spain within the European Championship closing on Sunday night.
After developing by means of the Chelsea youth system, Guehi was reunited with Steve Cooper for 2 promising mortgage spells at Swansea Metropolis, the place his performances satisfied Crystal Palace to shell out £18million for his companies. England’s lack of choices on the again this summer time introduced him with a possibility to stake a declare in Southgate’s aspect and he has executed this with aplomb, being one of many Three Lions’ greatest performers in Germany.
DF: Joel Latibeaudiere
Joel Latibeaudiere of Jamaica (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
England’s vice-captain in India, Latibeaudiere was one other Manchester Metropolis prospect that was unable to breakthrough on the Etihad. After a 12 months on mortgage with Dutch aspect FC Twente, he additionally linked up with Cooper at Swansea and have become a Championship common. Made a transfer to Coventry Metropolis final summer time and has additionally swapped his worldwide allegiances to Jamaica, turning into a Reggae Boys common.
DF: Jonathan Panzo
Customary’s Jonathan Panzo (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Pranzo’s post-World Cup path has been an fascinating one, as he left Chelsea for Monaco in 2018 after which headed out to Belgian aspect Cercle Brugge on mortgage 12 months later. A 2020 transfer to Dijon adopted, however after failing to chop the mustard there, he additionally answered a Steve Cooper name in January 2022, along with his former Three Lions boss now at Nottingham Forest.
Extra mortgage spells have adopted, as he joined Coventry for the 2022/23 season and spent final season at Cardiff Metropolis and Customary Liege.
MF: George McEachran
George McEachran of Chelsea (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
One other Chelsea hopeful who was unable to make the leap from the academy to the first-team. Mortgage stints at Dutch sides Cambuur and MVV Maastricht yielded solely a handful of appearances in 2020 along with his subsequent style of first-team soccer coming at Swindon City, who he signed for in 2023. He was launched this summer time, however has simply been signed by League Two aspect Grimsby City.
MF: Tashan Oakley-Boothe
Blackpool’s Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
A key a part of the 2017 World Cup winners and yet one more expertise that discovered it onerous to interrupt by means of at one of many Premier League’s so-called ‘huge six’, as he turned out simply as soon as within the League Cup for Spurs . He joined Stoke Metropolis in January 2020 and appeared to be making progress in 2020/21 season earlier than a again damage ended his season early.
After beginning final season at Blackpool, he moved to Portugal in January, signing for Primeira Liga aspect Estrela da Amadora.
MF: Phil Foden
Phil Foden in motion for England (Picture credit score: Matt McNulty – UEFA/UEFA through Getty Photos)
You do not want us to inform you the place Phil Foden is now, do you? After successful a sixth Premier League title earlier than his twenty fourth birthday this season, the Manchester Metropolis star is making ready for the Euro 2024 closing. Was arguably the most effective participant within the Premier League final season and already has 270 senior membership appearances to his title.
MF: Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Gibbs-White made a Premier League debut for Wolves firstly of the 2018/19 season and would go on to take advantage of out of mortgage spells at Swansea Metropolis and Sheffield United as he labored his manner up the England youth ranks.
Nottingham Forest snapped him up in the summertime of 2022 in a deal that could possibly be price as a lot as £42million, with this newest Steve Cooper reunion developing trumps as he was voted as Forest’s participant of the season final 12 months.
FW: Callum Hudson-Odoi
Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates a objective for Nottingham Forest (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Hudson-Odoi discovered extra first-team success than a whole lot of his Chelsea academy teammates, incomes a gradual trickle of Premier League appearances and even three England caps by 2019. He would spend the 2022/23 season on mortgage at Bayer Leverkusen, earlier than Steve Cooper welcomed him to Forest in September 2023, as he signed a three-year deal on the Metropolis Floor.
FW: Rhian Brewster
Rhian Brewster
The 2017 U-17 World Cup Golden Boot winner, as he bagged eight instances in India, resulting in hopes that he would comply with within the footsteps of the likes of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen to be Liverpool’s subsequent homegrown star striker.
Accidents stalled his progress nonetheless, with – sure, you guessed it, Steve Cooper signing him on mortgage for Swansea in January 2020. His promise satisfied Sheffield United to signal the ahead for £23.5million later that 12 months, however he has continued to battle with accidents.
Supervisor: Steve Cooper
Steve Cooper
Steve Cooper stayed with the England U17 group till July 2019, when he landed his first job in membership administration at Swansea Metropolis, the place he would lead the Welsh aspect to consecutive playoff appearances.
He left after shedding the 2020/21 playoff closing to Brentford, however quickly discovered himself in command of Nottingham Forest, main them to promotion through the playoffs and preserving the midlands aspect up the next season. The axe fell in December 2023 after a poor run of type, however he shall be again within the Premier League with newly promoted Leicester Metropolis this season.
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