If Greg Dyke’s infamous countdown clock was still on the walls at St George’s Park this morning it would show that there are 501 days remaining until the World Cup in Qatar, where England should arrive even better equipped to lift the trophy than they have been in this thrilling tournament.
Sunday’s final against Italy will not be the end of the road for this rapidly developing side, who will be strengthened by the continued development of stellar talents such as Jude Bellingham, Jadon Sancho and even Phil Foden, who have had to be content with important if bit-part roles during this potentially glorious summer.
The conditions will be alien in Qatar and there will be no repeat of the incredible, raucous scenes that followed last night’s final whistle, but the quality and depth of players at Gareth Southgate’s disposal should be even greater than this impressive group.
England are into the final of Euro 2020 after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Denmark at Wembley
Gareth Southgate put his faith in youth after taking over and it paid on Wednesday night again
The England manager has revolutionised the players’ attitude and accomplishments with the national team, as epitomised by the extraordinary three-minute period of controlled possession with which they played out at the second-period of extra-time.
In their final game of the previous European Championship five years ago England could barely string a single pass together.
The so-called easy run to the World Cup semi-finals three years ago was supposed to be the once-in-a-lifetime chance for England to finally end the years of hurt, but over the past month Southgate and his players have made a mockery of such fatalism, and with an even younger group that first enchanted the nation in Russia.
When Sam Allardyce was appointed following defeat to Iceland he was so unimpressed with England’s playing stock that he inquired about the eligibility of former France under 21 international Steven Nzonzi, a far cry from the faith Southgate has shown in youth.
Mason Mount has made a rapid rise in the last two years, and Southgate quickly involved him
Bukayo Saka setup England's first and is a Three Lions star who barely snuck into the squad
Southgate has also had to contend with the challenges posed by the pandemic, the postponement of last year’s tournament and not seeing his players for six months, which makes an already historic achievement all the more impressive,
For all his belief in long-term planning in many respects England’s tournament team was thrown together at the last minute.
Two years ago Mason Mount ended the season playing at Wembley in a Derby team beaten in the Championship play-off final; less than 12 months ago Kalvin