ENGLAND U20
ENGLAND Under-20 manager Paul Simpson hopes that his side’s World Cup triumph can act as a stepping stone to success for the senior team.
Simpson’s Young Lions were the first England side to reach a world showpiece for over half a century and they followed in the footsteps of Sir Alf Ramsey’s players, who lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966, by beating Venezuela in South Korea.
Dominic CalvertLewin and Freddie Woodman grabbed the headlines in a team of heroes.
Everton’s CalvertLewin scored the game’s only goal after 35 minutes while a second-half penalty save from Newcastle goalkeeper Woodman preserved England’s advantage and ensured they became world champions.
“What a weekend it has been for our national teams with the other Under-20 side winning the Toulon Tournament and now we have capped it off with winning the World Cup,” said Simpson.
“We’ve got some wonderful players and a wonderful support staff. We’ve got some real top-quality coaches back at home who have supported us all the way, as have the teams below us and the senior team above us too. There’s a real unity about the England set-up.
“It’s a dream come true, and that doesn’t even sound like a strong enough statement to express how big an achievement this is for everyone concerned. Hopefully we can use this as a stepping stone as ultimately the goal is to be successful at senior level and this has been a terrific experience for these players to help develop them for senior football.”
Simpson was pleased with how his players dug in and held on, saying: “That was one tough evening for us but what a feeling when that whistle went, all that hard work all coming together at the end. It was wonderful for us all.
“The second half was a real grind for us. The players have defended for their lives out there and have shown an unbelievable spirit to keep that clean sheet. It was such an unbelievable save from Freddie Woodman from the penalty. “Over the whole of the tournament we have shown we are the best side. Maybe not on the night in the final but it was just about finding a way to win and the players have done it and I’m absolutely delighted for every single one of the players, every single one of the staff.” The challenge for this group of talented players now is to establish themselves as firstteam regulars at their clubs. They played a total of 1,094 Premier League minutes between them last season – equivalent to about 12 full matches. Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook, the captain, made the single biggest contribution to that total of the 13 players who featured in the victory over Venezuela with his 431 minutes for the Cherries, with match-winner Calvert-Lewin second on the list with 346 minutes for Everton.
“Hopefully there will be opportunities for the lads next season,” said Calvert-Lewin. “I have had a taste of it last season and I just want to show I am capable of playing regularly next season.”
Toffees team-mate Ademola Lookman appeared for 287 minutes with Josh Onomah (17), Jonjoe Kenny (12) and Ainsley Maitland-Niles (one) making up the rest.
Woodman racked up the most minutes of any player with 1,260, but they all came on loan at Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. He will hope for more chances with parent club Newcastle, who will play in the Premier League next season.
Home-grown debutants averaged 716 minutes of Premier League football in 2016-17, a 20 per cent increase on 2015-16 (596 minutes), according to figures from the Premier League.