Henry Winter: Looking back on England's victory at the Under-17 World Cup in 2017

Analysis

When Steve Cooper coached the England Under-17s side, he stuck a string of instructions on the wall of the players' meeting room at St George's Park. Some were about ways of quietening the crowd, others about frustrating the opposition and working the referee. Nothing was left to chance by Cooper in preparations to win the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.

Cooper flew out to India twice for recces, checking out the facilities and climate. He stayed on after the draw and visited venues where England could play. He spoke to England cricket staff on pitfalls of playing in India. He talked to coaches who'd worked out there like Steve Coppell.

England were so well-prepared.

None of the other teams had a backroom staff as big as England's. Cooper took a psychologist who worked with him on his body language towards the players, setting the tone.

The medical staff were meticulous, taking players' urine samples every day. The FA sent 15 performance staff out to the tournament. Cooper and his players were backed all the way, and they went all the way.

The latest edition of the competition takes place in Qatar in November. England's coach, Neil Ryan, aims to try to repeat Cooper's success and inspirational qualities with young players.

One of the reasons behind Cooper's recent decision to pick Brondby over several Championship clubs was the Danish outfit's desire for him to develop players. He's very good at it.

Also on the wall of St George's were further instructions aimed at all age-group players: "STARTERS preparation, body language, work hard, know roles (and others), respect for finishers."

Even when trailing 2-0 to Spain in the final in front of 66,684 in Kolkata, England's body language remained strong. They had resilience, recovering to win 5-2. They had Cooper's teaching to "be brave on the ball."

Six of the players involved in that final triumph are now full England internationals. Marc Guehi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Phil Foden are all excelling in the Premier League, all playing in Europe and have more than 75 senior caps between them.

Guehi brought alert defending and leadership, Gibbs-White creativity and energy, and Foden was named Player of the Tournament for his goals, assists and exquisite touch.

They had wide players like Callum Hudson-Odoi, who won three senior England caps under Gareth Southgate back in 2019, and Steven Sessegnon delivering crosses to Rhian Brewster, a finisher in the form of his life.

And the subs were ready. Also on the wall at St George's was an instruction for those who begin on the bench: "FINISHERS prepare like you are starting, attitude towards training/team, concentration, encourage starting players, ready to be used at any time".

Angel Gomes and Conor Gallagher, who completed the six who have stepped up to the seniors so far, came on in the final.

It's a year group celebrated for winning the Under-17 World Cup but it wasn't a launch pad for all. Even some of those at good academies, like Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, found the pathway to the first team too challenging. Nya Kirby, who came off the bench in the last 16 to convert the decisive penalty against Japan, failed to make the grade at Spurs, then struggled at Crystal Palace. The midfielder went on loan to Blackpool and Tranmere Rovers before drifting into Non-League with Oxford City and currently Croydon Athletic.

Cooper's keeper, Curtis Anderson, a prospect at Manchester City who also nailed his penalty against Japan, made an astonishing save in the final from Juan Miranda, who was then close to breaking into the first team at Barcelona (and now at Bologna).

Anderson fell out of the professional game, retired in 2023, and became a financial advisor helping footballers.

Too many young players receive huge sums. They need expert advice they can trust. Anderson understands the game, and knows what it is like to be feted young, so can give insightful advice. At 18, he was keen for more minutes so left Manchester City for the States but gradually fell out of love with the game. He's now helping the game.

The defender, Joel Latibeaudiere, was also at City. He stayed in the game but dropped down to Swansea City and now Coventry City, and switched his international allegiance to Jamaica.

Almost three quarters of players on the England pathway are also eligible for other countries.

Brewster, who is still eligible for both Turkey and Barbados, was the bright young striking hope at Liverpool, dreaming of following the pathway of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. He scored successive hat-tricks in the quarter-finals and semis, poached another goal in the final, taking his tally to eight and the Golden Boot, but his career drifted. He never kicked on at Liverpool, and although he made the bench in the 2019 Champions League final, and paraded with a medal, he was moved on, released by Sheffield United and is now at Derby County.

Sessegnon went from Fulham and is now at Wigan Athletic. Centre-back Jonathan Panzo went from Chelsea's academy and, seven clubs later, ended up in Portugal at Rio Ave. Midfielder George McEachran, also in the Blues development scheme at Cobham, is now in League Two with Grimsby Town.

The midfielder, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, was at Spurs while becoming champion of the world, dropped into the EFL, headed to Portugal and now Scotland with Dunfermline Athletic.

The Boys of 2017 are scattered all over, and their inspirational coach in Denmark, but wherever they are, whatever level they are playing at, Cooper and his players will always have the memory of the glory of Kolkata.