England beat Brazil on Wednesday to book their place in the Under-17 world cup final in India, the fifth final by an England Youth team in 2017.
While the senior side qualified for next summer’s showpiece, the country’s youngsters have been almost unbeatable this year, winning Under-19 European Championships and Under-20 World Cup, along with becoming Toulon winners for the second successive tournament.
However, this success does not guarantee that these players will grow to win future competitions in the England senior squad.
Champions of the World again?
In India, the young Three Lions have been tearing up the Under-17 World Cup, with Rhian Brewster netting a hat-trick in their semi-final against Brazil, a side that included Vinicius Jr who will complete his move to Real Madrid for £38m next summer.
Should they beat Spain in the final, England will become World Cup champions for the second time in 2017, after the Under-20s became the first Three Lions outfit of any age level to win the global tournament since 1966.
Nigeria unable to replicate past success
As a precaution that youth success will not always turn into triumph in the senior side, Nigeria have won the Under-17 World Cup three times in the last decade. Since 2007, the Super Eagles have only found success in the 2013 African Cup of Nations, but failed to qualify for the tournament on two occasions over the next four years.
In the 2014 World Cup, they reached the first knockout stage, their best result since completing the same feat in 1998, but a 2-0 defeat by France ended any hopes of further progression.
Even Messi has struggled
Previous winners in the Under-20 World Cup has produced some closer calls with success, but still has not seen them live up to their early promise.
In 2005, Lionel Messi dazzled for Argentina has they lifted the trophy, repeating the achievement two years later.
However it has only been heartache since, with defeat in the World Cup Final against Germany three years ago the closest the Barcelona forward has come to replicating the success. The same opponent had dismantled them four years earlier in the quarter-finals in South Africa, as they exited with a 4-0 defeat.
Losses in two consecutive Copa America finals against Chile has seen Messi, one of the greatest footballers of all-time, fail to add to his international success, except for an Olympic gold medal in 2008.
Ghana were the next champions of the world at under-20 level, beating Brazil in 2009, but will not be in Russia next year, after they finished third in their group in the last round of qualifying.
Word of warning
There is nothing that anyone can take away from the achievements of the England youth teams this year, nor can it be argued that those sides are filled to the brim with exciting talent. Yet, there is a precautionary tale to anyone who thinks, because of their recent successes, the Three Lions senior side will be lifting the World Cup over the next decade. Do not get your hopes up.
