Kolkata: The FIFA U-17 World Cup is the youngest category of the World Cup in football. It is a tournament that forecasts talented youngsters to the footballing world. Many different clubs sent their scouts to witness the tournament and pick out valuable players that can help their club, in the long run. Infact national team coaches also keep an eye on the tournament so as to find out a future Messi, Ronlado, or a Neymar.
English teams however does not have a good record to speak of in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with a quarter-final place in 2007 and 2011 being their biggest achievement.
However, this present England colts are considered to be the golden generation, with many players prompted to make it big in their career.
We take a look a few of those stars of the Three Lions, who are expected to make it big in the upcoming U-17 World Cup.
1. Jadon Sancho – The most prized asset of the English team, Sancho just recently snapped a move to German club Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City for a fee, reported to be in the region of £8 million. He was immediately moved into the first team and was given jersy number 7 left behind outgoing star Ousmane Dembele.
He has so far scored 11 goals for the English national U-17 team, that includes 5 goals in the recently concluded UEFA U-17 Euro. He was also adjuged the Golden Player of the tournament and was included in the Team of the Tournament.
For a player who Pep Guardiola considers to have a bright future, the highly-rated winger’s participation in the World Cup is in doubts after Dortmund refused to release.
2. Phil Foden – Another youngster highly-rated by Guardiola, Foden is also a Manchester City academy graduate. He was even named in the city bench in the pre-season matches and even played against Manchester United.
He idiolises Spanish playmaker David Silva and is often compared to him by none other than city coach Pep Guardiola. Although midfielder by nature Foden just like Silva has a goal-scoring knack and netted 15 times in 31 appearances last season for City’s youth team.
The 17-year-old has scored 10 goals in 16 games for the Three Lions’ U-17 team and was also a star in the UEFA U-17 Euro with two goals to his name.He will surely be a player to watch out for.
3. Rhian Brewster: Liverpool sensation Rhian Brewster is one of the most talented players in the England squad. A former Chelsea teenager he was snapped up by Liverpool in 2015. He may have turned 17 only this year in April, but plies his trade with the U-23s at Anfield. He has goals against the likes of Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Tottenham Hostpur youth teams.
Brewster idiolises Luis Suarez and just like him is a goal poacher. He was even named in the Liverpool bench last season against Crystal Palace.
Expected to lead the English attack this World Cup, the youngster has impressed Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp so much that towards the end of the last season, he was invited to train with the first team. Hopefully, he can create some of his magic in the Indian turfs.
4. Angel Gomes – Often compared to United midfield legend Paul Scholes, 17-year-old Angel Gomes is a Manchester United Academy graduate who just last season became the first player born in the 21st century to play in the Premier League. Such is his talent that even at the age of 14 he had been a regular player for the United’s U-18 team, playing against opponents senior to him by 3-4 years.
Paul McGuinness, who has coached the likes of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and most importantly the famed ‘class of 92’ considers him to be a real talent and a player “you don’t get many,” in England.
The attacking midfielder, has already scored 12 goals in 19 starts for Untied U-18 side. Unfortunately, he missed the U-17 Euro because of an injury but will look to compensate that by leading England to glory.
5. Callum Hudson-Odoi – A Chelsea starlet, Hudson is another teenager who plays above his age. He plays for the Chelsea U23s despite being only 16-year-old. One of main reasons behind the Three Lions reaching the final of the UEFA U-17 Euros, Callum scored three goals and assisted another two including a goal in the final, which England lost.
Amidst fears of being stolen by other top clubs, Chelsea have tied him down to a three-year contract. An attacking midfielder by nature, Hudson can also play down the wings and with the rapid speed that he is developing, it will not be long before the Hazard devotee has the World at his feet.
He has even scored a goal in the practise match against New Zealand in India, showing glimpses of what is to come in the soon to begin FIFA U-17 World Cup.