MY ACCOUNT
England left Qatar in disappointment, falling in the World Cup quarter-finals for a record seventh time.
France were the victors against Gareth Southgate’s men in the last-eight clash and now the Three Lions will swiftly turn their attention to Euro 2024, where they will attempt to go one step further than their loss in last year’s final.
Although Southgate’s squad is already filled with many talents, there is another crop of youngsters who will be hoping to play a role for their country in the next continental showpiece.
We take a look at five future stars who will be vying to break through into the England ranks.
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has found himself granted regular minutes this season.
At 19, Elliott already has a taste for success following the Reds’ domestic and European glory in recent years.
Versatile and determined, the 5ft 7in playmaker is tied down to the Merseyside club until 2027 with the expectation of becoming a key player under Jurgen Klopp.
Having played 31 times across the Premier League and Champions League, Elliott is gaining experience at the top level and is on track to be pushing for an England place in 2024.
Although the youngster has only appeared three times for England’s Under-21s, his quality suggests that he could be an important figure for his country alongside current stars Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
Cole Palmer (Manchester City)
Cole Palmer finds himself in a similar vein as Elliott when it comes to thriving under one of the best managers in the world.
The 20-year-old midfielder has made 12 appearances for Manchester City this season, with four of those outings coming in the Champions League.
With an abundance of world-class quality on show, you must have incredible potential to be given a chance under Pep Guardiola.
Palmer has three goals to his name for City and is likely to be given more minutes when domestic football returns after Christmas.
He is another who is yet to tally many appearances for the England youth teams but could make the leap into the senior picture sooner rather than later.
Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
Dubbed a future star for both Chelsea and England, Levi Colwill has had to be patient while on loan at Brighton.
The defender was subject to huge interest from multiple Premier League clubs last summer, but the Stamford Bridge outfit prevented the prospect from leaving on a permanent deal.
Part of Chelsea’s academy since the age of eight, the 19-year-old’s most impressive performance came in Brighton’s 3-1 win against Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup tie.
Capable of playing in the heart of defence or at left-back, Colwill’s strengths lie with his pace and long passing, two signs of a great modern defender.
And with both Harry Maguire and John Stones approaching their 30s, there is an opportunity for someone with Colwill’s stature to cement themselves as an England regular for the next decade.
Folarin Balogun (Arsenal)
Folarin Balogun may not have made an impact yet in the Premier League, but the 21-year-old is earning plenty of experience on the continent.
The Arsenal striker is currently on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims, where he has 10 goal contributions in 15 games.
He also has six goals in 11 appearances for the England U-21s side and will be targeting the centre forward spot currently occupied by 29-year-old Harry Kane.
Balogun is one of Arsenal’s more successful youth products and the New York-born goalscorer already has 10 senior appearances for the Gunners.
He will face stiff competition from Tammy Abraham to become England’s next striker, but he has proven his worth in France and is likely to play a larger role back at the Emirates under Mikel Arteta next season.
Anthony Gordon (Everton)
Both Chelsea and Tottenham were keen on bringing Anthony Gordon to London last summer, but Everton’s stance was that he was not for sale at any cost.
A key player on Merseyside, Gordon seized his chance under Frank Lampard having emerged through the Toffees’ youth system.
Capable of playing anywhere in a front three, the 21-year-old could prove to be a versatile option in future England squads should he continue his rise.
If the Liverpudlian can secure a move to a Champions League club in 2023, his case for a spot in the Three Lions team would certainly increase.
However, the attacking quality that exists within the current cohort means that Gordon would have to match the likes of Foden and Bukayo Saka and their contributions in front of goal.
