Ramsey’s pride as Lions roar
ASTON VILLA star Aaron Ramsey is already eyeing more silverware for his country after England were crowned Under-19 European Champions in Slovakia on Friday night.
Ian Foster’s young Lions side were 1-0 down against Israel at half-time, but levelled it up, then scored twice in extra-time to run out 3-1 winners.
Villa team-mates
Ramsey, 19, and Carney Chukwuemeka, 18, both scored in the extra period to land the trophy.
It’s the second time in five years that England have won the annual Under-19 tournament.
Victory continues a glorious recent run for the country’s age-group sides.
England now automatically qualify for the 2023 Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia – a tournament they won in South Korea in 2017, when Everton’s Dominic Calvertlewin scored the winner.
Ramsey said: “Winning means everything after all the work we did through the training camp to now.
“I’ve been in the
England set-up since I was 16. We missed out on having a competition at Under-17 level because of Covid, so to still win it now, I don’t think many players can say that.
“But I think it’s only the start for England – it’s been happening for a few years and we can kick-on now.”
Winning boss Foster could well find himself in fresh demand at club level.
He left his job at Portsmouth to take on his FA coaching role and was a key member of staff when Steve Cooper’s England side – which boasted a host of future Premier League stars such as Phil Foden – won the Under-17 World Cup in India in 2017.
Cooper went into club management with Swansea, and will be rubbing shoulders with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola after leading Nottingham Forest to the top flight.