England under-19s face Spanish test in European Championships
Fabio Capello was left as frustrated and disappointed as anyone when England were embarrassed by Germany in Bloemfontein in the World Cup nearly one month ago to the day.
But for the England manager, there have been glimpses of hope for the future in France over recent weeks. England’s under-19s have reached the semi-finals of the 2010 European Championships after salvaging a 1-1 draw against the tournament’s hosts, and now face the toughest possible test in the form of Spain.
A morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Austria was followed up by a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Netherlands. But a late strike from Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Matt Phillips sealed the vital point against France to send Noel Blake’s side into the last four.
Last August, England’s under-19s managed to reach the final of this tournament in Ukraine. Although they were eventually beaten 2-0 by the hosts, it suggested that the future of youth football in England was bright.
And this year’s run has confirmed that despite the senior team’s poor showing at the 2010 World Cup finals, there are reasons for England fans to rediscover their optimism. With the aid of players such as Arsenal defender Thomas Cruise, Tottenham midfielder John Bostock and young strikers Frank Nouble and Nathan Delfouneso, the under-19s have advanced to the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, and now bid to cause a major upset in Normandy.
Like their senior counterparts, Spain’s under-19s are the most exciting team in Europe right now. As a result, it came as little surprise to anyone to see the Spaniards seal maximum points in the group stages, and they will be firm favourites going into Tuesday’s match against England.
The tiki-taka brand of football which served Vicente del Bosque side so well in South Africa has been showcased among the nation’s rising stars in France, and England will need to counteract this by hustling their opponents at the Stade Louis-Villemer.
This will be easier said than done, though. Blake’s men will have to produce their standout performance of the summer to avoid being taught a harsh football lesson by the talented Spaniards.
With flair in abundance, Spain have assembled a squad of players who will challenge for places at both Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup finals. It’s now up to the England under-19s to showcase their own abilities against the very best, and like their opponents, give the manager of the senior side something to think about.
Unfortunately, Capello is not due to attend the semi-final in Normandy tomorrow afternoon. The Italian has been pre-booked to host a charity golf event in Spain.
With the Euro 2012 qualifiers coming up, Capello – who earns £6million a year – might be best advised to scour the talent of his under-19 side. On the evidence of recent results, there could well be one or two raw diamonds just waiting to be unearthed.
A shock victory over Spain tomorrow would certainly force the England boss to stand up and take notice.
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