England's youth teams were the envy of the world in 2017 but today the picture is completely different. It had been a bad year already, but any hope that the Under 21s would salvage things was extinguished on Friday when they crashed out of the European Championships. Coach Aidy Boothroyd is in the firing line and accepts he must answer strong questions on his return to St George’s Park. Questions have been asked about England's youth setup after the Under-21s' disappointment Under-21 coach Aidy Boothroyd made a mistake by naming Phil Foden (centre) on the bench Boothroyd will have some explaining to do when he is questioned after the tournament He made a mistake not picking Phil Foden for the crucial game against Romania but the failure in Italy was down to more than the non-selection of one player. How England and the FA respond to these setbacks will determine how they progress. Here The Mail on Sunday examines the issues that have risen and the problems that must be solved. Why has it turned out so badly for the U21s? Boothroyd took a good squad to Italy but it wasn’t as strong as it could have been. He would have included Sean Longstaff but the Newcastle United midfielder damaged his cruciate ligament and the plan to use him in the team’s holding role was scuppered. Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi (ruptured Achilles tendon) and Everton midfielder Tom Davies (badly damaged shoulder) were other key absentees. Boothroyd would have included Sean Longstaff if he didn't damage his cruciate ligament Injuries, though, are part and parcel of football. England looked ragged at the end of both the games against France and Romania — they conceded three penalties in two games, let in six goals and Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury was sent off for a horrible challenge against France. ‘We planned for months,’ said Boothroyd. ‘We knew what we were doing. We were really happy with everything. We have not been clinical. We have made individual errors towards the end of games. 'We were just not as good as we should have been. It won’t be brushed under the carpet. I don’t work like that.’ How bad have results been elsewhere? Bitterly disappointing. The Under 17s were knocked out of the European Championships in Ireland last month. It has cost them a place at the World Cup, so England will not be able to defend the title they won in India in October 2017. The Under 19s and Under 20s have both endured miserable times — the U20s finished ninth in the Toulon Tournament, where England had been victorious for three consecutive years. Only the Under 18s, who won competitions in France, Spain and at home, have reached the required level. ‘What I think has happened is Gareth [Southgate] has taken players into the senior team which is brilliant,’ said Boothroyd. ‘I have taken players into the U21s and because of that everyone is a little bit weaker but the system is stronger. I don’t think 2017 was an anomaly.’ Have players believed their own hype? It was jarring to hear Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson claim after losing to Romania that England were ‘still the best team’ in the tournament. England’s pattern has been to breeze through qualification before stumbling. ‘There might be a little bit of bravado but I honestly don’t think we have got delusions of grandeur,’ said Boothroyd. Dean Henderson claimed England were still the best team in the tournament despite their exit What is happening at St George's Park? The direction two years ago, under former technical director Dan Ashworth, was clear but the picture is somewhat muddled now. Les Reed has replaced Ashworth and he, Matt Crocker, the head of coach and player development, and Dave Reddin — head of team strategy — must deliver. England lost the services of Under-17 coach Steve Cooper, who took charge of Swansea Boothroyd signed a two-year deal before Euro 2019 but there has been upheaval. Steve Cooper and Mike Marsh, who were with the Under 17s, have gone to Swansea, Under 18 head coach Neil Dewsnip is leaving next month, while Under 21 goalkeeper coach Richard Hatis is joining Manchester United. Are The FA committed to the juniors? Every two years the same issues arise with the Under 21s — not picking the best players, quality of preparation, over-confidence. The governing body need to make it clear whether they want to win these trophies or if it is just about development. Boothroyd is still hopeful some of England's youngsters can go on and have successful careers ‘We want players from there to go into the senior team,’ said Boothroyd. ‘Hopefully in five or six years we will be sat here talking and some of them will be excelling because we taught them ring craft.’ All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility