LION CUBS FINAL-LY DO IT

PAUL SIMPSON says England Under-20s are ready to make history ahead of the country’s first World Cup final since 1966.

Simpson’s Young Lions booked their spot in Sunday’s showpiece against Venezuela by beating Italy 3-1 in South Korea yesterday.

They are the first England side from any age group to reach a World Cup final since the famous win at senior level 51 years ago.

England trailed to Riccardo Orsolini’s early strike before two second-half goals from Liverpool new-boy Dominic Solanke, either side of a close-range finish from Everton’s Ademola Lookman.

Boss Simpson said: “It’s a dream to take a team to a World Cup final.

“I was born in 1966 and that was the last time we did it.

“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. I don’t just want to make the numbers up.

“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’. The work starts now because it’s a tight turnaround.

“We’re really excited, proud as anything – but we’re here to win.

“We always thought we had a chance to go to the final. Now we have to go and win and put our name into the history books of English football.” ENGLAND’S Under-20s B-team made it to the final of the Toulon Tournament in France yesterday.

Leicester’s Harvey Barnes scored twice in a 3-0 win over Scotland. They face Ivory Coast tomorrow.