Wembley Stadium - Why the FA should NOT sell the home of football.

No matter how many millions Shahid Zhan offers the FA for Wembley the answer should be a resounding NO. England is the home of football. From a purely football fan's point of view. Wembley is the home of English football. The home of English football should not be owned by a businessman who's primary motive is that of an American Football team. Now from the view point of a businessman. It cost £800 million to build Wembley. Shahid Khan's offer is £600 million. Minus a whole quarter from the original investment - it makes zero sense.

Now of course I am going to go into more detail then this by simply put, two concrete reasons why selling Wembley stadium is ludicrous.

I see myself as a bit of a purist when it comes to football. I feel the history of our game is being pushed further and further into the background and that simply should never happen. Now, Wembley Stadium only came into ownership of the FA in 1999, so for the vast majority of time, Wembley has been owned by an outside party. The ownership is not the problem here, the problem is the bidder. I personally have nothing again Shahid Khan or any of his business ventures, I feel however that selling to the billionaire could damage English football substantially. Simply put, the future of the home of football would be in the hands of a man who wants to use it as an American football stadium. Khan's offer would currently see the FA still able to host major cup finals at Wembley and a selection of England internationals; with the money from those events going to the governing body.

However Khan is a businessman. Say once the original contract signed with the FA runs out, Khan doesn't feel like doing business anymore and he wants total control of Wembley so he receives 100% of it's revenue. The FA will be powerless to stop him. THEN say his beloved Jacksonville Jaguars have a huge game which falls on the same day as a major international for England, which game do you think he will host at Wembley? All very hypothetical yes, but the possibility should never be there. England should not be playing their football away from their home, while American football is taking place under Wembley's arch.

Plenty of pundits and fellow Journalists have used the argument that not many of the world's elite have their own national stadium. Germany? No. Spain? No. Italy? No. The list does go on. Now, a national stadium is not essential to a country's success, a success that England have gone without since 1966. Wembley Stadium is a venue players and fans alike from all around the world dream of visiting. Right now, English football is looked down upon in a way unlike we have ever seen. Our football is shocking, our fans are embarrassing and our attitude is stuck in the past. What do we, as a country, have going for us? We have an iconic stadium which is envied the world over. Obviously Khan isn't going to airlift the ground to Jacksonville, but that isn't the point. A landmark of the game would have been struck from the map the second the new landlord decides that football is not longer the primary sport of Wembley stadium.

Staying on the topic of a Khan owned Wembley. I personally have never gotten into American Football, and a huge reason for that is the over riding sponsorship influence. An influence that has slowly leaked it's way into football. Sponsors are everywhere in the American sport, and as previously mentioned, that sport will be Khan's priority for Wembley. What happens when a multi national corporation with bottomless pockets comes along and hands Shahid a blank cheque for the naming rights of Wembley stadium? After all, Metlife, AT&T, Fedex, all major companies sponsoring stadiums the size of Wembley over in American within the NFL. Where do the Jaguar's play? The recently renamed TIAA Bank Field, you guessed it, the ground is named after the bank that sponsors them. This is the second time during Khan's ownership that he has sold the name of the ground, he isn't above it. That simply CAN NOT happen to Wembley.

Moving from pointing the finger at Khan and moving it to the FA. Without a doubt, the story pushed to the press will be that the windfall will be used to benefit grass roots football and all that comes with that. However, over the years the FA have not filled us with confidence that they will stick to their words in any way shape or form. Erratic behaviour over the past decades have lead the public to see the people making the decisions in a very negative light, and has cost the FA the trust of the people. It is 100% right to want to improve facilities for young players all around the country, building all weather pitches, providing coaches and equipment for local sides. It's what has been cried for by players across the land for years. But with the amount of money in the game right now, do you not get the idea it would have happened by now if it was going to, at all?

Solid reasoning that speaks to the football fans out there, now for the business people.

"The FA will take £600 million, clear the debt that Wembley played a part in causing, and then redistribute it within the game." Well this just isn't true at all. The money deposited to the FA's bank account will be substantially smaller then that. £112 million of public money was provided in order to finish construction of the new Wembley. That public money was donated to the FA, but not for a definite purpose so that total would be available to redistribute into grass roots football should the FA take the offer.

However, £78 millions from Sport England; £18.5 million from the department of culture, sport and media; and £16.2 million from the London Development agency were all donated for a specific cause. To build a beacon for English football upon historically significant ground. A beacon which would be under the ownership of the English Football Association who will have the opportunity to use it to move the game in this country forward.

That ideology would die the second the deed was signed over to Khan. Meaning the money invested by the previously listened organisations would be returned. That just leaves the debt still within Wembley. At one point that debt totalled over £400 million, but has now been whittled down to around £140 million. The sale of Wembley would not change this fact, and the influx of funds would have to go towards paying off the debt. Once you do the maths the only sizeable amount left of the £600 million offer is the public money, which as mentioned, would be left to redistribute into grassroots as stated. However once again, the FA have done themselves no favours and any statement made by them must be taken with a pinch of salt at this point. Would we see any of that money in grassroots? It's up in the air.

A statue of the late great Bobby Moore stands outside a ground which symbolises the home of not just English football, but the sport as a whole. Where this great game was invented. Although this new instalment of Wembley may not carry the same history as the old. The arch after all, is no twin towers. But Wembley will forever be Wembley. At this point the relationship between the English Football Association and the English fan is dwindling. The sale of Wembley might just be the nail in the coffin. Sahid Khan said that people opposed to his deal need to 'see past their emotion.' He clearly doesn't know English football. We have little all else to go on!

So... simply put.

To Whom It May Concern,

Don't you dare sell Wembley.

Yours faithfully,

The future of English football.

Who should start in the World Cup? - Marcus Rashford

The cycle of English football fans:

Step 1: Get let down and knocked out of a major tournament early.

Step 2: Realise just how average the side is and how far behind the Three Lions are from the worlds elite.

Step 3: Draw the easiest qualification group for the next competition.

Step 4: Qualify with ease.

Step 5: Regain confidence.

Step 6: Learn all the words to 'World in Motion' for the tenth time.

Step 7: "We're gonna win the World Cup!"

Step 8: Draw the opening game.

Step 9: "Quarter finals would be an decent finish."

Step 10: Scrape through the group in 2nd place and draw an average side in the next round.

Andddd repeat.

For English football fans it's becoming harder and harder to watch the national side. Many people will admit to not watching the qualifiers, not caring about the friendlies, or showing no interest in the side at all. The Three Lions have became the laughing stock of the international set up. Not because Southgate's side are losing game after game. But more because of the style of our football and the incredibly miss placed over expectation of our fans. We're boring. We're repetitive. We're generations behind the elite of world football.

I am not immune from this. I will be, like millions of others, watching the World Cup wearing the new shirt I've spent £50 on (That is a completely separate issue.) Singing God Save The Queen at the top of my lungs everywhere I go. Convincing myself that this tournament will be different to all the rest. And then, finally, I'll be writing on this blog about what exactly went wrong when we're knocked out in the second round.

In the 90's we had a wealth of the best strikers in Europe. Shearer, Fowler, Cole, Ferdinand and Sheringham. Surely success was a given? A 1996 European Championship semi-final defeat was the best we could manage. Then came the 'Golden Generation.' Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Terry, Owen and Rooney just to name a few. A catalogue of the best the Premier League had to offer in one side. Quarter final defeats in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. The same fate in Euro 2004. Total failure to qualify for the European Championships in 2008 and the Golden Generation failed. Now we have the current generation. Perhaps the most underwhelming England squad in mine, and most fans lifetimes. Now that is doing a disservice to the likes of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling who are currently ripping up the Premier League. But with the likes of Jake Livermore making the squad, Harry Winks earning a cap after a handful of good games for Spurs. Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek touted for the plane despite both being judged as 'not good enough' by Antonio Conte at Chelsea. I mean... it's not exactly the debate of the early 2000's when Sven had to pick between Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes in the heart of his midfield is it?

Now I do have a point and I'm getting to it.

I was listening to talkSPORT the other day and the question was who will be on the plane to the World Cup. Talking about attackers, Harry Kane is a certainty. You'd imagine Jamie Vardy would be also. This was what the presenters were suggesting. England usually take three or four out and out strikers on the plane with them, and the options for those slots were being suggested. Glenn Murray at Brighton. Andy Carroll from West Ham. Daniel Sturridge, currently on loan at West Brom. Jermain Defoe at Bournemouth. No disrespect to any of these players, I would celebrate a goal scored by any and all of them with everything I have. But they seem to pale in comparison when compared to the previously mentioned shoe ins. But one man was left from the list, and that man was Marcus Rashford. If you ask me, the youngster is an essential part of not only the squad, but the starting eleven.

Why exactly?

Well if I had published this piece last week you might need some more convincing. 'Rashford hasn't started since Christmas' would be most peoples response. That is very true, the influx of star power at Manchester United has seen Rashford's game time drop like a rock in the ocean. This isn't a knock on the speedy forward however. Jesse Lingard was turning heads in the first half of the season. With his brilliant goals and his shocking dance moves. He also is struggling to get a start. Jose has such a vast supply of attacking brilliance in his squad, that it's only natural that the youngsters would miss out. That brings me to Saturday 10th March. Manchester United vs Liverpool.

Perhaps the biggest game of the season on our shores. And Jose made the big decision to start the local boy. He came on against Palace the Monday before and was a catalyst in his sides comeback, from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Rashford was fronting up against fellow English youngster, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Playing left of a front three, besides Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez. Despite not being a natural winger, Rashford is gifted with such pace, and an ability to read the game players 10 years his senior would dream of having. So it came as no surprise that, despite his lack of starts, he came flying out the blocks. The greats take their opportunity when it is given to them, and that is exactly what happens from the first whistle. Two goal kicks from David De Gea; followed by two flick on headers from Lukaku. Pretty basic up to this point. Twice Trent A.A allowed Rashford to cut onto his right, and twice he was punished. Two clinical finishes gave United a 2-0 lead over their biggest rivals, and it was the local boy who had done it. Rashford was, and is a match winner. And that is what Garath Southgate NEEDS in Russia.

Harry Kane scores goals. But at Spurs he plays ahead of Christan Eriksen, a midfielder who can pick a pass as good as anyone in the world. Add Son Heung-Min and Dele Ali to the mix and Kane has constant supply. It's not like that with England. Put Southgate's men against Germany and Kane won't get a sniff. Do you know who just might? Rashford. At just 20 years old (1 day older then me... I'm not jealous at all!) The United man is still filled with such hunger that seems to die down as players get older. But despite his youth, he's made 70 first team appearances for one of England biggest clubs; as well as 15 England caps. Vastly experienced when compared to many his age, combined with the hunger of youth, he has a unique advantage. Drifting onto Alexander-Arnold against Liverpool was no accident. He knew the 19 year old would have a rick in him, he's still learning after all. He knew if he came at the full back, he might just be allowed to cut inside and from that point on it was curtains. As a natural striker you'd almost expect Rashford to come inside, into the channels between the centre back and full back, playing off the through balls from midfield. But he saw an opportunity and took advantage of it, it may seem so slight but it proved huge.

Over the past two seasons in particular, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have proven just how scary pace down the flanks can be. And this time around Salah and Mane have been terrorising defences, but also exciting the fans. Nothing quiet gets a crown to come alive like seeing your winger in full flight, burning past defenders. Raheem Sterling's incredible growth under Pep at Manchester City this season makes him a certainty for Southgate's team you'd imagine, and down the opposite side, Rashford is the only option in my eyes. No one who is even being considered for the squad is as direct as Rashford. He will just as easily get his head down and leave a full back in his dust as he will drill the ball into the bottom corner.

This brings me back to my point earlier about Harry Kane. Spurs' number 10 needs the supply, an excellent finisher no doubt but without support he can be snuffed out. Any defender will tell you they HATE dealing with a player with pace who knows how to use it. Rashford can create chances for himself. His raw physical abilities, pace, size and strength. When combined with the knowledge and know how to read the game and take advantage (proven against Liverpool) makes for a match winner. A game changer.  Now I hate to do this to you, but cast your mind back to the summer of 2016. England vs Iceland. Perhaps the lowest point for England in the last two decades, yes I'm including 2008. Marcus Rashford was introduced in the 86th minute, and created more danger in four minutes then any other player in white did in the whole 90. He instantly showed drive, and a desire to get in behind, which was non existent leading up to the change. Now, two years on, the desire remains but his knowledge of the game has grown substantially.

In the summer of 2018 Marcus Rashford will no longer be the 'new kid on the block'. But the proven goalscorer, constant threat, and injection of life England need. A world class attitude, after not starting since Christmas 2017, shows a maturity beyond his years. A fan favourite no doubt, and a player who will just continue to get better. With a run of games on his back, heading into the world cup, Rashford will be flying long before he gets on the plane. After his performance against Liverpool, how can Jose leave him out? Answer, he can't.

Kane might be the star of the show come Russia, but my money is on Rashford stealing it.

Germany Win - In other news grass is green.

Before you read on just scroll to the bottom of the page and read the quote. Gary Lineker really knows his stuff.

Germany have added two more titles to their incredible tally in the last week, with the U21's winning the European Championships, beating favourites Spain in the final. And last night the senior team won their first ever Confederations cup by edging out Alexis Sanchez's Chile side, also by 1 goal to nil. So Germany winning major tournaments, what's new? Germany are the joint second most successful side in World Cup history (Level with Italy on 4 titles, 1 behind Brazil) and the most successful side in the history of the European Championships, winning three titles. The are also currently ranked 3rd in the World in the FIFA world rankings but their Confederations cup win will see them up to first when the new rankings are announced. So, I ask again, what's new? Why is Germany winning two more titles such a news worthy event?

Let's start with the U21 European Championships. Going into the tournament the heavy favourites were Spain, and the Spaniards appeared to be taking the competition very seriously, brushing teams aside on route to the final. Then we have Germany. First of all, the team that featured was not the Germany U21 side, in fact 10, yes 10 players who could have featured in the tournament weren't even part of the squad. And these aren't squad players, these are guaranteed starters. The likes of Emre Can from Liverpool, Joshua Kimmich of German champions Bayern, Manchester City's Leroy Sane as well as Bayer Leverkusen stars Jonathan Tah and Juilian Brandt, none of these players made the squad. Why? We'll get to that. In fact with the missing players, you can put together an entire outfield side that could have won the tournament. Then we have, what I like to call, typical Germany. Why is it that, no matter how good the side, as soon as they face Germany they forget how to play football. This means that Germany don't even have to play well to win on many occasion, and that is often the case, including during this tournament. Germany didn't even win their group, finishing second to Italy via the head-to head rule. But then we reached the knock out rounds, the matches that actually matter to the Germans. Despite being taken to penalties by England, they were by far and away the better team, out classing the young lions at every turn. This still however wasn't a convincing Germany win, but that's the key word, win. Then we reached the final, their opponents Spain tore Italy apart 3-1 in their semi final and looked in great form. But form doesn't matter when Germany are involved. It was a tactical masterclass by the under dogs (How can I call Germany the under dogs!?) Limiting Spain to very few chances, the fast flowing football that had lead the Spaniards to the final was no where to be found, and one glancing header later, Germany were champions. They played their best football once all tournament, with a drastically weakened team, and they won the entire thing. Of course they did.

Now to the Confederations cup.  This is a very strange tournament, with some sides taking it incredible seriously and featuring their star players (Like now former holders Brazil in 2013) and with some sides featuring weakened sides. Now Germany fall into the column of the later. Do you remember when I said 10 Under 21s didn't feature in the U21 European Championships? That was because they were all playing in Russia. The U21 team were effectively representing the senior side, the likes of Leon Goretzka, captain of the side Julian Draxler and star striker Timo Werner. These U21 players were staring for the senior side, and as you now know, winning the entire thing. And much like in the U21 European Championships, Germany won it without every really hitting top gear! Much like Spain in the before mentioned tournament, opponents Chile came into the Confederations Cup final looking like the better side. The likes of Sanchez and Vidal were tipped to be too strong and experience for this second string German side. Now Chile managed a lot more chances then Spain's U21s but once again Germany did a number on their opponents. Scoring an early goal through a defensive mistake and then sitting back and playing on the counter. Now this is what makes the current situation so impressive from Germany's point of view. If you class the Confederations Cup winning side as German's B team, and their U21 winning side as their C team, you are, of course, left with their first team, the current World Champions. This means Germany currently are able to put out three entirely different sides, knowing they can win on the world stage. They beat the current, back to back Copa America winners Chile, without the likes of Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Marco Reus, Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil just to name a few. Chile featured their strongest side, a side that turned over Lionel Messi's Argentina to reach the competition, and Germany's second team out thought them, beating them and claiming their first Confederations cup title. 

The level of depth Germany currently have with their national side is simply remarkable and it is all a product of their reshuffle following the European Championships in France in 2000. After a poor tournament the German FA restructured their national league and everything below it to be a platform for the national side. The growth of young players was the priority, with the goal to become World Champions again by 2014. And now, in 2017, we can see that Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but have continued to grow, with their depth and pool of talent the envy of the rest of the footballing world. The German players now all posses a winning mentality, they know how to win when the pressure is really on. This is what allows them to win big games without playing well, they just know how to win, it's been pumped into them from the grass roots level, the overhaul in the early 2000's and it is now paying off big time on the national stage. 

Every side on the planet right now can learn from Germany, but really we've been saying this for years! The perfect execution of the plan set up by the German FA is an example of a long term goal being reached and surpassed, but to reach a long term goal you first have to set one! That is a big problem, in particularly with the English national side. Too much pressure is put on the 'here and now' and not enough thought is being put into the future. Joachim Low saw the Confederations cup as a chance for some of his younger players to shine for the senior side, win the competition, gain that vital winning mentality. The side Germany's U21s beat in the semi finals of their competition, England, and despite the close score line they out classed them with a side that was very much their junior! The side that player were effectively German's C team and they seemed far more matured and used to playing on the national stage. If the likes of Deli Ali and Marcus Rashford where at the tournament then that game could have gone very differently and it would be young English players learning how to win and gaining the vital experience that the German's clearly already possesed, but yet again it's the German's. Of course it is. What was that quote again Gary? 

Football is a simple game, twenty two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win. 

English youth football - Why isn't this a bigger deal?

On the 11th June 2017 England reached their second ever men's World Cup final and their first since 1966. However unlike that famous day at Wembley, this final saw the under 20's take on South American side Venezuela... and they won! That's right, England are world champions! So why isn't this everywhere? Why do so many people not seem to care about history being made in English football? Simple. In this country, we don't take youth football seriously.

Now this isn't everyone, I for one am a firm believer in youth internationals and think they should be taken just as seriously as senior internationals. They help to prepare younger players for international football, where a mesh in styles makes it a completely different animal to the domestic game. Also preparing the future first team players for the travelling involved with qualification for major tournaments and the tournaments itself will make the experience much let daunting. Most of all however the experience gained by youth internationals is one which could set the precedent for the years to come, it could be a sneak peak into the countries future successes on the world stage.

Now with the FIFA U20 World Cup and the UEFA U21 European Championships you would expect to see the winning nation's senior side mirroring it's youth systems success a few years on, and on plenty of occasions that is correct. Italy perhaps being the prime examples, between the years of 1992 and 2004 Italy won 5 out of 7 under 21's European Championships. The next competition they won? The 2006 FIFA World Cup. The best way to look at this is to see the group of players that featured in Italy's youth successes leading up to their 4th world cup win. Starting with their 1996 tournament success, the man named player of the tournament that year was none other then Fabio Cannavaro, the future Italian captain who would lift the World Cup for Italy a decade later. In that same side we saw great AC Milan centre back Alessandro Nesta, who played a crucial role in the Azzurir's senior defence for 10 years to come. And of course, Francesco Totti, the Roma striker who has just announced his retirement a very impressive 21 years after scoring the winner in the semi finals of the 1996 Under 21's European championship on the way to winning the competition. Now to the year 2000, straight out of the block can you guess the scorer of a brace in the final and winner of player of the tournament as well as the golden boot? Andrea Pirlo. The midfielder went on to have an incredible career at the top, playing for the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus, during the 2006 World Cup Pirlo was voted as the third best player in the competition, showing his success on the national stage. Much like Pirlo a future anchor in Italy's midfield featured in the before mentioned tournament, Gennaro Gattuso. The hard tackling midfielder went on to feature 73 times for the senior side and was named man of the match in the 2006 World Cup quarter final, proving to be a very important part of that side. And finally onto Italy's 2004 Under 21's European Championship win which saw Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Gilardino and Andrea Barzagli all starting in the final two years before playing a part in Italy's World cup win, with Gilardino, much like Pirlo 4 years prior, winning the golden boot and title of best player of the tournament.

Italy are a prime example how success on the youth level can translate to success at the senior tournaments, but they aren't the only example. Germany are the current World Champions after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, just 5 years prior at the 2009 Under 21's European Championship, they managed to roll over England 4-0 in the final (We'll get back to that later). In that final Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Mesut Ozil, Howedes and Manuel Neuer all started, these same five players also started the 2014 FIFA World cup Final. Sami Khedira also started in the youth final and despite not featuring from the start in their World Cup winning performance, was a big part of their overall campaign. During Spain's most successful period in their history, winning three major senior tournaments back to back to back and making history in the process, their Under 21 side also won the European Champions in 2011 with Juan Mata staring. The current Manchester United midfielder won player of the tournament, and just one year later scored in Spain's 4-0 win against Italy during UEFA 2012 European Championships final.

Italy, Germany and Spain are the three most recent sides to translate youth success into senior titles. Until Portugal's European Championship win in 2016, the previously mentioned nations were also the only three sides to win a major international competition in the previous decade, proving that success at the youth level can be a sign of things to come. So why aren't more Englishman sighting the Under 20's World Cup win as a look into the future? Why, do we not have the confidence that this group of players can end what is now over 50 years of hurt? Simple, England and the FA don't take youth internationals seriously. Remember the U21's 2009 European Championship I mentioned earlier? When a German side made up of 5 future world champions beat England 4-0? This was the first final ANY England side had reached since the 1980's, which is a major achievement. Well lets look at that England side. Now at the time of writing this, 14th June 2017, England have just faced and lost 3-2 to France in a friendly in Paris. Do you know how many members of the 2009 under 21's side were a part, not of the starting eleven, but of the twenty three man squad? Zero. Overall nine of the German players from the match day squad in 2009 featured in their most recent squad, but zero for England. The players who were seen as the future of English football have, in the most part, done nothing of real note since their losing effort against Germany in 2009, with only 6 of them ever playing for the senior team, three of which playing within the last 12 months but as of right now, not a single member of the 2009 Under 21's side is a part of the England squad.

Okay but a bad history of translating youth success into senior success isn't everything, a lot of very talented youngsters break through the ranks every year around the country, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Dele Ali are two prime examples. Recent research has valued Ali as the second most valuable player in Europe (trailing only to Neymar) and the Spurs midfielder is the current PFA Young Player of the Year! Now Marcus Rashford, despite a relatively slow season, scored 5 goals in his first 11 league games for Manchester United and shot to stardom very quickly, being touted as the leader of England's next generation of front men. However this is my problem, Ali and Rashford are 21 and 19 years old respectively, and yet despite the Under 20's World Cup taking place, as well at the Under 21's Toulon Tournament both of which England won, neither Ali or Rashford were featured in the squads. Also in two days (16th June 2017) the Under 21's European Championships for 2017 gets under way, the tournament which has shown a bigger glimpse into the future then any other, and yet again, neither Rashford or Ali are featuring. This takes it right back to my very first point, neither player is going to these tournaments because the FA do not see youth football as a priority. Now with Dele Ali it is different, he is a guaranteed starter in the England team so to some degree you can understand his involvement being solely with the senior team. But Rashford does not start for England and rarely features at all, so you'd think the opportunity to win some silverware and be a focal point for the youth sides going into competitions would be a great opportunity for the teenager to get some experience on the international level, putting him in a much better position for the future. But no, instead he sits on the bench for the senior team. And this is why expectations are virtually none existent coming from the Under 20's World Cup win, yes it's a great achievement, but how can we tout these players as the 'future of English football' if the best young players in England right now don't even feature in the squad despite being eligible?

As soon as a player is seen as 'good enough' he is forced into the senior squad whether he's ready or not. Player for the senior sides at a younger age is fine, there is nothing wrong with that, what is wrong with it however, is if sitting on the bench watching a senior friendly takes precedent over playing in a youth world cup final. Players being made unavailable by their club, the FA or simply not being interesting in featuring in youth internationals is exactly why winning the Under 20's World Cup means nothing. The 'next generation' of England players will likely have a handful of Under 20's and Under 21's caps between them purely because it isn't treated with the respect it deserves, which is the respect other countries treat it with. Footballing giants like Germany use the youth systems to build teams, to build players and to give them the experience that will help them drastically in the senior competitions to come. England use youth football as something for EFL players and Premier League kids to feature in who will likely never get a real shot at the first team.

But yay... England are world champions.