WE’RE DOWN TO the final four at the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea with England qualifying for the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time since 1993.
They got the better of Mexico in a tight affair earlier today as Dominic Solanke – who has just agreed to leave Chelsea for Liverpool – grabbed the game’s only goal.
England will now face Italy next, the Azzurri needing extra-time to slip past Zambia.
On the other side of the draw, it will be an all-South American clash with Uruguay taking on Venezuela.
The former pipped Portugal in a penalty shootout after an entertaining 2-2 draw while Venezuela – the tournament’s surprise packet – needed extra-time to get the better of the United States.
24 years ago, England – with Darren Caskey as captain and featuring the likes of Nicky Butt, Nicky Barmby, David Unsworth and Chris Bart-Williams – bowed out at the semi-final stage, beaten by Ghana but they did go on to win the 3rd/4th place play-off.
The current crop are unbeaten after five games and have only conceded two goals so far.
The Italians finished as runners-up to the Uruguayans in the group stage and have kept just one clean-sheet so far.
This is only the second time Venezuela have ever appeared at this tournament but started superbly with a 2-0 win over Germany. They followed that up with a 7-0 thrashing of minnows Vanuatu and got the better of Mexico too before needing extra-time to inch past Japan in the round of 16.
From the remaining teams, though, it’s Uruguay certainly who have the pedigree. They’ve finished as runners-up twice: in 1997 when they were beaten by Argentina in the final in Malaysia and in 2013, going down to France in the decider.
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