YOU WAIT ALL THAT TIME FOR A FINAL... THEN ENGLAND REACH TWO IN FOUR HOURS!
It is difficult to believe it, but two England Under 20 teams reached major international finals within the space of a few hours yesterday.
the main England Under 20s reached the World Cup final following a comeback win against italy in south Korea at 2pm UK time. Four hours later, the Under 20 B-team hammered scotland 3-0 to reach the final of the prestigious toulon tournament.
it is the first time the England Under 20s will contest the final of the youth World Cup, which began in 1977. they will play Venezuela on sunday.
Paul simpson’s side fell behind to a second-minute goal from italy’s Riccardo Orsolini at the Jeonju World Cup stadium.
But forward Dominic solanke, who is due to leave Chelsea for Liverpool, equalised on 66 minutes by volleying into an empty net from Liverpool winger sheyi Ojo’s cross.
Everton’s Ademola Lookman converted another Ojo cross with 13 minutes remaining and solanke added a third, netting a low drive from 25 yards with two minutes remaining.
it will be the first time any England team have contested a World Cup final since 1966. ‘i was born in 1966,’ said simpson, who was actually born four days before Bobby Moore lifted the trophy at Wembley stadium.
‘We’ve achieved so much, but also we’ve achieved nothing yet. We want to put our names into the history books of English football. We’re delighted to be in it and i’ve said from the first day i am greedy and i want to go and win the final.
‘the preparation for the final has begun. i said to the players before we left the pitch, “Enjoy this, but let’s get our heads on the final now”. i might start my preparations with a nice glass of red wine, a nice bonus for us, but the work starts now.’
simpson, whose side were unbeaten in the group stage and recorded knockout victories against Costa Rica and Mexico, added: ‘One of the reasons we’ve got stronger as the tournament has gone on is the planning.
‘ We have been working for months on how we were going to approach the tournament. the FA allowed us to go to Japan for a week before we arrived in south Korea, so we did a lot of hard work and preparation there.’
six thousand miles away in the south of France, England’s makeshift U20s, put together by former Everton youth coach Neil Dewsnip, got to their final in toulon with a brace from Leicester City midfielder Harvey Barnes and a goal from sunderland midfielder Elliot Embleton as they outclassed scotland.
Dewsnip said: ‘ the players managed to deliver the game plan perfectly. We had no expectations really, good or bad. it’s a group of players, some under 20s, some under 19s and under 18s, so we did not know what to expect.
‘W ‘We’re’ very pleasedl d with ith them,th their attitude and commitment has been first class.’
England are aiming to defend the toulon tournament after winning it under Gareth southgate for the first time in 22 years.
the competition is traditionally for Under 21s, but due to clashes with major youth competitions this summer, England had to send a makeshift squad.
Former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted: ‘Great stuff from England Under 20s, reaching the World Cup final. the future brightens. if more coaches, like Mauricio Pochettino, are prepared to give them a chance, we’d soon be a major force.’