Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

England U-17s aim to have final say against Spain

Glenn Moore
Saturday 29 May 2010 00:00 BST
Comments

Liechtenstein is rarely the centre of the football world but the Football Association will be focusing on the tiny principality tomorrow afternoon as the England Under-17s attempt to win the nation's first major trophy since 1993.

That success was at U-19 level: England hosted the finals and included Robbie Fowler, Gary Neville and Sol Campbell. It remains England's only European triumph at any level. To emulate it John Peacock's boys will have to overcome Spain, eight-time winners at this age group and victors in 2007 and 2008. England reached the final with group stage victories over the Czech Republic, Greece and Turkey, and a 2-1 semi-final defeat of France. Connor Wickham, the highly-regarded Ipswich youngster, scored twice in the first half but goalkeeper Jack Butland, of Birmingham, had to make several saves as France dominated the second period.

The squad also includes Luke Williams, who broke into Middlesbrough's first team last season, and West Brom's Saido Berahino who came to England as an asylum seeker from Burundi as a ten-year-old. This success in reaching the final is further evidence of the progress being made in the England set-up, with the U21s and U19s both reaching finals last season.

TV: Eurosport 16:30 BST

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in