WHAT A
UNDER-17 WORLD CUP FINAL
The Three Lions found themselves 2-0 down after 31 minutes and many England fans must have thought their dream of seeing the team emulate the Under-20’s world triumph last summer was dead and buried.
But Steve Cooper’s youngsters refused to capitulate and produced a truly stunning last hour. They shocked Spain with a performance full of style, panache and attacking endeavour. This really was a statement to the world on behalf of England’s stars of the future.
Cooper said: “I am just so proud. We were 2-0 down and we played our way out, we didn’t stop, stuck to our style – and that’s the way to do it.”
England have claimed two global titles in the space of just five months following the Under-20s victory in South Korea in June.
The only other nation to have claimed that remarkable double is Brazil in 2003.
The architect of the triumph was Manchester City’s Phil Foden who was magnificent throughout and scored the third and fifth goals of a victory that emphasised the golden stockpile of English talent in a foreignsoaked Premier League.
City boss Pep Guardiola has already spoken of how highly he rates the 17-year-old Stockportborn midfielder and it is easy to see why after this display.
Guardiola said Foden’s display against Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in July had left him “lost for words”. And his World Cup Final performance left Spain similarly speechless.
Foden, named Player of the Tournament, said: “We knew were capable of coming back, that we had to play our football and come out firing in the second half.”
He and Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-odoi, to whom Spain struggled to find an answer all evening, tore their highly-rated opponents to shreds.
Spain featured eight players from Barcelona and Real Madrid. But it was the boys from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea who stole the day.
Rhian Brewster claimed the golden boot after scoring eight goals in the tournament, including back-to-back hattricks against the USA and Brazil.
Buoyed by a congratulatory phone call from his Liverpool club boss Jurgen Klopp after his performance against Brazil, he was a constant threat. Dangerous in the air and razor sharp on the ground, he typifies everything good about this new generation.
Unlike the seniors, who often appear to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, this team play with a smile.
Paul Simpson, the Under-20 World Cup-winning coach, said: “Outstanding. The second-half performance showed such character and I am delighted. We took Spain to the cleaners.”
England threatened early and a superb cross from Brewster found Moran Gibbs-white but his toe-poke was saved. Another Brewster cross just evaded his team-mates before Steve Sessegnon blazed wide. It was