England’s Under 20 side today took victory over Venezuela’s youngsters to lift the World Cup trophy for 2017.
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the only goal of the game in the 35th minute to take England to their biggest international title since 1966.
In fact the Under 20s group are the first England side to make it to a World Cup final since our senior’s success 51 year’s ago.
With video technology being used at the tournament, that will create talking points of its own given the match day referee pointed to the penalty spot with only 17 minutes left to be played, immediately referring to the video assistant referee as the decision stood, but Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman saved Adalberto Penaranda’s effort.
Following the game soon to be Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke (moves from Chelsea July 1) was awarded the Golden Ball with previous winners including Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Luis Figo, Paul Pogba and Sergio Aguero, and having capped the final with a penalty stop, Woodman took the Golden Glove award.
Whilst England have lifted the U17 European Championship trophy twice – 2010 and 2014 – as well as the U21 European Championship on two occasions – 1982 and 1984 – our previous best at an U20 World Cup was third place in 1993.
Six of the U20 group out on South Korea were in factpart of the U17 success in 2014 with Woodman, Jonjoe Kenny, Solanke and skipper Lewis Cook starting the final with Dael Fry and Adam Armstrong on the bench.
Route to final:
Group A:
Argentina 0-3 England (Calvert-Lewin, Armstrong, Solanke)
England (Cook) 1-1 Guinea (Tomori OG)
England (Dowell) 1-0 South Korea
Last 16:
England (Lookman (2)) 2-1 Costa Rica
Quarter-finals:
Mexico 0-1 England (Solanke)
Semi-finals:
Italy (Orsolini) 1-3 England (Solanke (2), Lookman)
Final:
Venezuela 0-1 England (Calvert-Lewin)
Team:
Woodman (Newcastle), Clarke-Salter (Chelsea), Tomori (Chelsea), Walker-Peters (Tottenham), Kenny (Everton), Cook (Bournemouth), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Onomah (Tottenham), Solanke (Chelsea, joining Liverpool on 1 July), Lookman (Everton), Dowell (Everton).
Substitutes:
Henderson (Manchester United), Southwood (Reading), Connolly (Everton), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Armstrong (Newcastle), Konsa (Charlton), Fry (Middlesbrough), Chapman (Middlesbrough), Ojo (Liverpool), Ejaria (Liverpool).
Manager – Paul Simpson.
Here’s our report from Suwon we’ll never tire of reading…#YoungLions #U20WChttps://t.co/LmP0BVxZSK
? England (@England) 11 June 2017
World Cup Winners 🏆 Congratulations @england u20s 🎉 pic.twitter.com/THl60BTl00
? Jack Butland (@JackButland_One) 11 June 2017