Connor Wickham netted the winning goal as England beat Spain 2-1 in the final of the European U17 Championships in Liechtenstein. Just after the break, the Town striker beat a couple of players on the edge of the area before firing a low shot across the Spanish keeper and into the net.
The first half had ended 1-1 with Liverpool’s Andre Wisdom first netting an own goal, then powerfully heading an equaliser into the Spanish net.
Wickham, who also scored two goals in the semi-final against France having failed to find the net in the group stages, might have made England’s victory more secure having made it 2-1 two minutes into the second period, but shot narrowly over shortly afterwards and hit the keeper with a tired effort late on with Spain laying siege to the England goal.
The Town striker has drawn praise throughout the competition with former Blue Russell Osman even suggesting he would rather take Wickham to the World Cup than Emile Heskey.
Prior to the match, Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association's director of football development, revealed that senior manager Fabio Capello is keeping a close eye on the side’s progress and has asked for DVDs of their matches in Liechtenstein: "This U17 group is probably the best I've seen in my time at the FA.
"If they took off their England shirts, you could not tell which country they come from.
"What is really exciting is that if we win the bid for 2018, this crop will be in their mid-20s and some of them definitely have full cap potential.
"It's really important that Fabio takes such a keen interest in the younger teams. He and we want 10 outfield players who are all comfortable on the ball, who can keep possession and play through all three thirds of the pitch.
"It is fantastic that our teams in all three age groups are playing like that and getting tournament experience."
The competition victory is England’s first at U17 level and their first in any age group since the 1993 U18 Championships.
England: 13 Jack Butland, 2 Bruno Pilatos, 3 Luke Garbutt, 4 Conor Coady (C), 5 Nathaniel Chalobah, 6 Andre Wisdom, 7 Will Keane (8 George Thorne, 67), 9 Benik Afobe (11 Rob Hall, 73), 15 Josh McEachran (14 Tom Thorpe, 79), 16 Ross Barkley, 17 Connor Wickham. Unused 1 Sam Johnstone, 10 Saido Berahino, 12 Ben Gibson, 18 Luke Williams.