England's U21 stars are preparing for a first European Championship semi-final in six years with Israel standing between them and the final.
The Young Lions, led by Lee Carsley, came through a group that included Germany, Czech Republic and their semi-final opponents with a 100 per cent record. Israel were dispatched 2-0 and, in the last eight, Newcastle's Anthony Gordon scored the winner to see off Portugal.
Anticipation is rising as England challenge at the latter end of the Euros for the first time since 2017, when they were undone on penalties by Germany. That team that narrowly fell short included a host of players who were tipped for big things, but have had differing careers since.
Some are now England regulars, picking up honours with their clubs, whilst others have fallen down the leagues with one even calling time on his career. We take a look at the XI who took to the pitch in Poland and how they're fared since.
Jordan Pickford
Undoubtedly England's No 1 under Gareth Southgate and has been for a number of years. His first major tournament was the World Cup in 2018 and he's continued to be first choice since. He helped the Three Lions win just their second shootout when he crucial spot kicks in the success over Colombia five years ago.
His form at club level has often been inconsistent, but those dips have never filtered into his international career where he's remained a constant despite credible alternatives pushing their cases.
Mason Holgate
Bar a season on loan with West Brom Holgate has been at Everton throughout his career, becoming a regular for the Toffees. Last season injury hampered him and restricted the 26-year-old to just eight Premier League appearances, but prior to that had played more than 20 games in each of the past three seasons.
He is yet to get a shot with the Three Lions despite his exploits in the youth ranks with Southgate preferring other options in his backline.
Calum Chambers
The defender, who came through the ranks at Southampton, was on Arsenal's books when he featured for the U21s back in 2017. Throughout his time at the Emirates he was never able to nail down a first-team spot, often being used a squad player, which led to loan spells at Middlesbrough and Fulham.
Eventually he opted to move to Aston Villa in January 2022 and he enjoyed a renaissance under Unai Emery as he found minutes harder to come by under Steven Gerrard.
Alfie Mawson
Injury forced the highly-rated defender to call time on his career at just 29. “It destroyed me to ultimately have to finish football,” he has admitted. Mawson had risen through the leagues impressively, going from the National League to the Premier League in four years.
His performances in the top flight even saw him named in the final England squad before the 2018 World Cup, but that was as close as he got to a cap. Mawson's career would finish in League One with Wycombe.
Ben Chilwell
The Chelsea left-back is the most successful of the 2017 team, claiming Champions League glory with Chelsea and becoming a key member with the Three Lions. Originally he had established himself at Leicester, helping them push for the top four.
A move to the Blues followed, where he's become their main man at left-back. With England he finds himself battling with Luke Shaw, who has remained a Southgate favourite, but is poised to take the role long-term.
James Ward-Prowse
Southampton's main man finds himself at a crossroads having just suffered relegation with the Saints. Ward-Prowse has remained at St Mary's when many of his fellow academy graduates have moved on, earning himself a stellar reputation as a free-kick taker as he chases down the Premier League record.
With England he's previously been involved in squads, making the 33-man provisional squad for Euro 2020 having scored his first Three Lions goal in qualifying.
Lewis Baker
Throughout his time in Chelsea's academy he was incredibly highly-rated but was serially loaned out to the likes of Middlesbrough, MK Dons and Leeds. He's never been able to fulfil his promise and now finds himself at Stoke in the Championship.
Baker had starred in the Toulon tournament back in 2016, picking up the Golden Boot, but has failed to build on those performances with no England recognition coming his way since the U21 days.
Nathaniel Chalobah
Another former Chelsea academy star, who endured a host of loans whilst at the Blues before getting the odd outing. Eventually he left for Watford and, via Fulham, has now found himself at West Brom, who he joined in January.
In August 2017 he was named in the England squad for the first time, making his debut against a year later against Spain. He has one of the shortest ever England careers, playing for less than seven minutes with Chalobah no longer on Southgate's radar.
Will Hughes
The playmaker dictated games at Derby when they were a major outing in the Championship, which eventually earned him a top flight move to Watford for £8m. In 2021 he crossed London and now finds himself at Crystal Palace, where he remains a regular.
He's been unable to make the step up from U21s to the senior side with England however. Never before has his name been mentioned and Southgate has a host of quality operators in the middle of the park
Demarai Gray
The winger has long threatened to make the most of his talent, but is yet to do so. Having come through the ranks at Birmingham he moved to Leicester before heading to Germany with Bayer Leverkusen. Now back in England with Everton, Gray looked a bargain at £1.7m, but has continued to be inconsistent.
On the international stage, with opportunities not coming his way, he's chosen to switch allegiances and has won caps for Jamacia.
Tammy Abraham
Jose Mourinho is currently relying on the Englishman to fire his Roma side to glory after bringing Abraham to Italy. The forward has proven himself at Chelsea, but began to slip down the pecking order and sought a new challenge elsewhere.
He has claimed Europa Conference League glory and that has put him in the conversation with England. Abraham has won 11 caps and is among those pushing to be Harry Kane's deputy.
