Welcome home, our golden boys
Young Lions determined to hit the big time
LED by Phil Foden, England’s Under 17 World Cup winners arrived at Heathrow with a message — that they trust the system and are certain first-team football will follow.
Manchester City’s Foden spoke sensibly of ‘patience’ while tournament top goalscorer Rhian Brewster, of Liverpool, said they cannot become big-headed. The hunger is there, however.
England’s tracksuited youngsters walked through Terminal 4 wearing their medals and showing off their silverware to the friends, family and media there to meet them.
Foden spoke about how their time away had given them a taste for the big stage, especially the 5-2 victory over Spain in the final in front of 66,684 in Kolkata. The City starlet told
Sportsmail: ‘It was a great experience with all the fans. It was really getting ready for first-team football.
‘We’re all ready, really. I believe that everyone can push through the ranks. There is a lot of quality in the team, even on the bench. We just need to believe and prove that we can make it. It’s going to be hard, don’t get me wrong. But I think everyone will find their level and a club. Everyone will make it eventually, maybe not at the club that they want to.
‘There is a big pathway for everyone but you have to be patient. We’re still young. Just keep playing your football, and hopefully get the opportunity.’
And what of Sportsmail’s ‘4 Brazilians, 1 Englishman’ back-page image that showed Foden surrounded by a quartet of players in those famous yellow shirts? ‘When I saw it in the paper I didn’t quite believe it. It’s good. It’s been massive. We were so thankful for all the messages.’
The work is not yet over for manager Steve Cooper. The 37-year-old Welshman spoke to Gareth Southgate ‘most days’ and now has a report to write, detailing how he won the World Cup.
Captain Joel Latibeaudiere is another at City and the 17-year- old echoed Foden’s comments by talking of trust in Pep Guardiola.
‘At City senior level the standard is so high,’ he said. ‘The manager knows when the right time is to put his youth players in. Phil’s time will come. Nothing changes even though we have won the World Cup.
‘It’s really important that this is just the start of things. But if you look at the Premier League, there are so many young English players getting their chance. We are seeing the future of England being produced. It’s encouraging. It’s so exciting to be a part of a team that can hopefully go on together. A few years down the line, hopefully this group can achieve something.’
Brewster was met by family wearing T-shirts which showed him celebrating one of his eight goals in India. Holding his Golden Boot, he revealed how Jurgen Klopp and everyone at Liverpool supported him from afar.
After Saturday’s win over Huddersfield at Anfield on Saturday, the players put the TV on in the changing room so they could watch.
‘That’s an amazing feeling for me,’ Brewster said. ‘They were all behind me. We’ve just got to work hard and get back to club football and not be big-time. Work hard, train hard, play hard. That’s what we’ve got to do. Hopefully we will then get our opportunities at first-team level.’
In Germany, Jadon Sancho may have missed out on the final but he wore his England shirt and sent his team-mates a video message ahead of the final with Spain. Sancho was called back by Borussia Dortmund after the group stage, though he has since made his Bundesliga debut, and will be sent a medal by the FA.
He is an example of a young English talent who has broken through. All his fellow World Cup winners want now is that same opportunity.