For 30 minutes on Wednesday night, stood at the door of a first final for 60 years. That was the duration of their 1-0 advantage over Argentina before Enzo Fernandez equalised and a dream swiftly disintegrated in Atlanta.
As the inquest goes on, Thomas Tuchel’s players must brush themselves down for with the opportunity it brings to become the first group of England footballers to return from a World Cup abroad with a set of medals.
Whatever the outcome in Miami, the third World Cup semi-final run in Three Lions' history has provided a good number of positives already, including highly encouraging contributions from a cluster of young players appearing for the first time on the global stage in North America.
Here FIFA highlights the efforts of some of England’s young guns – all of them 25 or under – who should be in their prime by the time the 2030 tournament comes around.
The new Barcelona winger responded to being dropped for England’s third group game with , bouncing back to play a telling role in the wins against Congo DR and Mexico. Against Congo DR, he stepped off the bench to deliver the cross for Harry Kane’s equaliser – the first of his two assists that day – while against Mexico he won the penalty for Kane to convert England’s third. As well as his speed on the counter and pressing from the front, he has a goal in him as he displayed with the cool finish that took England . A strong showing from a player limited to just one brief substitute outing at UEFA EURO 2024.
The central midfielder only made his senior national-team debut last September but soon had the full trust of Tuchel who described him last November as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.” Within English FA coaching circles, his potential was no secret, having been highlighted by his performances at the UEFA U21 EURO in June last year when he was key to winners England controlling the midfield in their quarter-final victory over Spain. He cuts a laidback figure off the pitch but, on it, brings power in duels and the ability to shepherd the ball too. After starting every game of the Three Lions’ campaign so far, he will head home to a new challenge at Manchester City. At 23, he can surely only get better.
Like Djed Spence, Rogers is making his tournament debut at this World Cup and he has made two starts so far, the first coming in the last group game against Panama. The Aston Villa attacker impressed Tuchel with his impact off the bench against Norway in the quarter-final when his shot from outside the box led to Orjan Nyland spilling the ball and Jude Bellingham’s winning strike. An even better contribution came against Argentina with his wonderfully precise cross from the right for Gordon’s far-post strike against Argentina.
After Gordon’s goal, Spence drew the second-biggest cheer of the night from England fans in Atlanta for a magnificent goal-saving tackle on Giuliano Simeone. His selection in the squad raised eyebrows but he has spent his career proving people wrong – waiting 881 days no less for his first start for Tottenham Hotspur, for example – and he has done that again in North America. Tuchel’s tough love has brought the best out of the London-born full-back who has caught the eye with his speed, energy and ability to play on both sides.
Last but most definitely not least. It is hard to forget England’s No10 turned 23 only last month given he has now been in the Three Lions squad at their last four major tournaments. His impact gets greater with each one. In Qatar four years ago, he scored two goals. At EURO 2024, two more. In North America, the Real Madrid attacking midfielder has six goals and counting, the product more than anything of those perfectly timed late runs into the box. His against Mexico and Norway showcased a player with the belief he belongs on the biggest of stages – and the game-changing actions to match it.
Sources: FIFA Official
