England Under-20s World Cup winning coach says stars need senior games

ENGLAND’S Under-20 World Cup-winning coach Paul Simpson believes this summer’s success in age-group tournaments is proof academies are producing talent but the step to senior football remains a challenge.

As well as his side’s glorious campaign in South Korea, England’s U17 team lost on penalties to Spain in the final of the European Championship, the U21s made the semi-finals of their European Championship, a mixed age-group team won the Toulon Tournament for a second straight year and the U19s will play Portugal in their European final on Saturday.

When asked if England has ever enjoyed so much youth success across a range of age groups, Simpson said: “The truth is there probably hasn’t been, has there?

“What we’ve had in the past is some really good squads of players, but they haven’t actually got the results that that level of players would have expected.

“This year they’ve produced performances that have earned results.”

The former Derby, Manchester City and Oxford winger was speaking to reporters at the launch of next season’s Checkatrade Trophy, the competition for sides from League One, League Two and invited U21 teams from clubs with category-one academies.

The latter were included in the competition for the first time last season - a controversial experiment which produced mixed results.

But the presence of Simpson and Everton U21 head coach David Unsworth at the launch in London yesterday was testament to the fact that many in game believe it is a useful tool for bridging the gap between youth and senior football.

“It certainly helps. I’ve no doubt about that,” said Simpson, pointing that seven of his World Cup squad and six of the U19 squad played in the competition last season.

“I know there are sceptics about everything that goes on in football, but I think this gives the lads a chance to play senior football against really competitive men.”