TEENS’ EUROS DREAM
JUNIOR silverware can’t buy you a place in a top-flight starting XI – but England’s current crop of superteens are busy giving their Premier League clubs a timely nudge ahead of next season.
At the Under-19 Euros in Slovakia this month, England breezed through the group stage, then sauntered into the semi-finals with a 4-0 defeat of Serbia on Wednesday night.
Tottenham’s Dane Scarlett grabbed two goals in the demolition – no surprise to those who have already earmarked the Hillingdonborn lad as a future star.
Scarlett, 18, made seven appearances for Spurs last season, then signed a new contract that runs until 2026.
His England strike partner Liam Delap – 19 and the son of long-throw king Rory – played for Manchester City in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the 2021-22 campaign.
Blessed
It’s in midfield where this England age-group side have looked particularly blessed.
Carney Chukwuemeka, 18, has been the stand-out player in the group stages. An FA Youth Cup winner with Aston Villa in 2021, Chukwuemeka has already been linked with a move to the continent.
Both Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are reported to be interested. It’s easy to see why, after he scored in England’s opening Euros win against Austria, the country of his birth, then netted and provided an assist in the victory over Serbia.
Club-mate Aaron Ramsey, 19, who spent last season on loan at Cheltenham, also starred in that success over the Austrians before being rested for the Serbia clash.
If England’s current U19 crop need any inspiration, they only need to look at the cast list when England last lifted this title.
The 2017 vintage, who beat Portugal 2-1 in the final in Estonia, included Mason Mount, Reece James and Aaron Ramsdale.
All three are now England regulars at senior level but, perhaps most importantly, have broken through at club level in the Premier League – showing the Class of 2022 just what’s possible.