(^62) THE WEEK NOVEMBER 12, 2017
SOCCER
U-17
WORLD
CUP
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CCCCUUUUUUPPPPPP
work together at the mega facility.
The programme has also facilitated a better
understanding between the FA and the clubs.
The clubs have seen the benefits of the project on
young English players and are willing to let play-
ers train at the facility. Guardiola had said that
he was impressed to see England finally devel-
oping their youngsters and compared it to how
Spain developed their players in the 2000s into
becoming world beaters at the senior level.
For Cooper, the long-term development of
players was a common theme at every press con-
ference. In his first interaction with the media,
Cooper said: “Of course the ambition when we
come to such events is to be as successful as we
can and to bring our identity. Our main aim is to
win senior world cups and we are always work-
ing towards that.”
It is something that the players understand.
Captain Joel Latibeaudiere told me about the
crowd cheering for Mexico, “As young play-
ers, we need to get used to this as we will face
more opposition crowds in future,” he said. “The
facility back home is helping us play together, to
focus on fitness and to understand each others’s
game. We want to win more.”
To prepare his players for the weather con-
ditions in India, Cooper had spoken to English
managers Ashley Westwood, Steve Coppell and
Stephen Constantine who have coached teams
in the subcontinent. He had also consulted staff
from the England Cricket Board, aware of their
involvement in cricket-crazy India. On arrival,
Cooper was constantly in touch with Gareth
Southgate, the head coach of the senior team.
When asked whether Cooper would adjust
his team’s style of play based on the opponent’s
approach, he was obstinate. “We will never
change our style, we will never change how we
play,” he said.
After the semifinal, Brazil coach Carlos
Amadeu was full of praise for England’s dedica-
tion to youth development. “What they are doing
there is incredible,” he said. “All their youth
teams are very good and they are developing
really great players. They have some of the best
youth sides in the world.” Spain coach Santiago
Denia, whose team had beaten the English in the
final of the U-17 Euro, admitted before the final
in India that England had vastly improved since
the Euros and that there was no doubt English
teams in the future will benefit from the current
youth programme.
Former England international Sol Campbell,
who is a member of FIFA’s technical study
group, was effusive in his praise of the team’s
campaign. “It is fantastic for England, how they
are producing players for the future,” he said. “I
think it is all about how they progress after this.
They need to have more games in the first teams,
that is important.”
The former Arsenal and Tottenham defender
said: “St. George’s Park is helping England have a
focus and we have not had that since Lake Shore,
another sports centre,” he said. “Focus on fitness
and tactics is pleasing to see, it has shown prog-
ress in their individual development.”
Perhaps the biggest obstacle the England
team had to face was the Kolkata crowd. The
team played six of its seven games there. Despite
the entertaining football, the stadium, which
had the largest capacity among the six venues,
always backed the Three Lions’s opponents. But
the final changed everything. The game began
with the crowds cheering every Spanish attack.
When England started ramming in the goals in
the second half, the crowd eventually gave in
and unanimously applauded the English for a
change. Kolkata had accepted the fact that there
was only one team that deserved to win. ◆
Oozing class:
Phil Foden had
an outstanding
tournament and
won the Golden
Ball award
SALIL BERA
sharon
(sharon)
#1