LAPPING IT UP
Young Lion Liam ready to have a taste of success
MANCHESTER CITY striker Liam Delap has insisted England are on track to win the Under-19 European Championship.
The youngster fired Ian Foster’s kids into a semi-final against Italy in Trnava tomorrow as they racked up their third Group B win against Israel.
Brighton aim to seal a loan move for Delap next season after City brought in Erling Haaland, and he is confident his international summer will end with a trophy.
Asked if England could triumph in Slovakia, Delap, 19, said: “One hundred percent. All the lads are so confident in each other. The togetherness and the spirit around the camp is amazing, so of course we believe we can do it.
“It’s unbelievable, the lads are closely-knit and so together. I think we can celebrate topping the group, but the hard work starts now for the Italy game.
“I put my goal in the roof of the net. It was a great feeling to score and then go on to win the game 1-0.”
Reaching the semi-finals means England have also qualified for next year’s U20 World Cup.
England won the U19 Euros in 2017 with a squad that featured Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Reece James, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal.
Coach Foster has started 19 of his 20-man squad in three games and he said: “If someone would’ve offered me nine points, three clean sheets, no injuries, no suspensions, I’d have absolutely bitten your hand off.
“I thought we had one or two moments when we could’ve been a bit more ruthless in the final third, but overall it was always going to be challenging.
“We made seven changes, which is never easy, but by securing qualification early, it was a great opportunity for us to give 19 of the 20 players starts, which we’re delighted about. So everyone’s had a taste of it.”
Group A winners France will play Israel in the other semi-final in Dunajska Streda.