England Under-17s became world champions in ecstatic fashion as Phil Foden’s brace and Rhian Brewster’s eighth goal of the tournament powered the Young Lions to a World Cup final win over Spain.
It was a sensational turnaround for Steve Cooper’s side after slipping 2-0 behind, but they showed endless reserves of energy, enthusiasm and skill as they matched England’s World Cup-winning Under-20s in style and avenged defeat to the same opponents in the final of the European Championship.
England have been the dominant force in age-group football in 2017, asserting themselves in a way their senior counterparts can only dream of and, in Manchester City playmaker Foden and Liverpool forward Brewster, they have two of the nation’s most prized talents.
Brewster’s header gave England hope, Morgan Gibbs-White grabbed the equaliser and from there it was one-way traffic, Foden producing a pair of smart finishes and Marc Guehi on target from close range.
Huge credit must also go to the irrepressible Chelsea prospect Callum Hudson-Odoi and Steven Sessegnon, whose crossing was essential to the victory.
Brewster and GibbsWhite combined for the first chance after just 47 seconds, but Spain were ahead inside 10 minutes after Sergio Gomez touched home.
Spain were close to making it 2-0 after Jonathan Panzo’s forward foray left his side exposed on the counter. Moha raced into space, but, having established an almost unmissable position, took a heavy touch that Curtis Anderson pounced on.
There was no let-off for England next time, Ruiz twisting and turning to feed Cesar, who picked out Gomez. The forward hooked a wonderful effort into the far corner.
It looked bleak for the Young Lions, but, once Hudson-Odoi struck a post, they hit back just before the break.
Brewster was the inevitable scorer, with an authoritative downward header from Sessegnon’s cross.
England’s gutsy chase for an equaliser bore fruit in the 58th minute, Foden’s disguised pass locating Sessegnon’s overlap. His cross was perfect again, as was Gibbs-White’s timing as he arrived to clip home from six yards.
The momentum was with England – and soon was preserved as Anderson made an instinctive one-handed save from Juan Miranda.
England took the lead for the first time after 69 minutes, Hudson-Odoi sliding the ball into Foden’s path at the far post, where he never looked likely to miss.
They might have settled for survival now, particularly after Sessegnon blocked Juan Miranda’s header on the line, but instead went for the killer blow.
With five minutes left, they thought they had landed it, Guehi poking over the line after Panzo kept the ball alive, but there was a fifth still to come. It was fitting that it fell for Foden, Golden Ball winner as player of the tournament.