'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
England surprised everyone with their performance at the 2018 World Cup: inexperienced manager Gareth Southgate somehow took his team to the semi-finals, where they were comfortably beaten by Croatia.
Too long disappointing their fans with poor showings at major tournaments, it re-instilled a sense of pride in the nation. Optimism, therefore, is high as Southgate readies his side for the future. England's squad at the World Cup was a relatively youthful one and many of those players should be ready and available for the next outing.
Southgate, too, has named several uncapped players in his most recent squad, for games against Croatia and Spain. This list looks at 5 young English talents who should lead England into the next World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
In Liverpool's stunning start to the season, Alexander-Arnold hasn't looked out of place one bit. He's made the right-back position his own, usurping his English competitor Nathaniel Clyne in the process.
He's a local lad, a Liverpool supporter, but he also has the talent to back it up. To start a Champions League final against Real Madrid at the tender age of 20 is mightily impressive and indeed this made him the youngest Liverpool player to achieve this.
This summer, Alexander-Arnold was named as a nominee for the Golden Boy award, given to the best player in Europe under the age of 21. Right-back hasn't been a problem position for England in recent times, with Kyle Walker and Gary Neville being assured presences, but with the former being preferred by Southgate at centre-back these days, the position is Alexander-Arnold's to lose. He's calm in possession, skillful in attack, and diligent in defence; everything needed to be a world-class right-back.
#2 Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Londoner Sancho took the unusual and brave decision to move abroad from the EPL in 2017; his success since may just convince other youngsters to try the same idea. Last season saw him appear only fleetingly but since the start of this campaign he's been a revelation for the Bundesliga side: in 7 league games, Sancho has assisted an astounding 6 times, despite appearing mostly from the substitutes' bench.
This impressed Southgate enough to hand him his first full international call-up this week, aged just 18. Sancho plays in a style that England have been lacking for a while now, a tricky and inventive winger. He's not as pacy or direct as Raheem Sterling but offers more skill in possession.
Sancho was a star at under-17 level, scoring 14 goals in just 18 games and winning the under-17 World Cup in 2017, and if he can bring this form to the full national team, England have a supreme attacking talent on their hands.
#3 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Rashford represents an intriguing case. He's been hailed as the great hope of English football for a few years now yet his career has stalled recently, mostly due to playing under the pragmatic Jose Mourinho.
His club manager has confined him to the bench, publicly questioned his desire, and simply not trusted the youngster to play enough. Rashford still has time on his side being only 20 but perhaps Southgate will be secretly wishing for a transfer for his forward. Rashford possesses the raw talent to play for most of the top 6 EPL sides, if entrusted.
He's already shown impressive form for his national team, scoring on debut, and will hope for more opportunities in the future. Full of electrifying pace and finishing ability, Rashford's best years should lie ahead of him.
#4 Phil Foden (Manchester City)
When Pep Guardiola compares you to Andres Iniesta, you know you're a special talent in the making. Foden has had both fans and pundits alike full of excitement since winning the under-17 World Cup Golden Ball award in 2017.
He plays in a distinctly un-English style, looking more like the aforementioned Iniesta or David Silva on the pitch: he glides elegantly past opposition players, seeing passes few others can see.
England's midfield have sorely lacked creativity in recent years, being stifled by solid but unspectacular players like Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson and Foden should provide the antidote to this.
His path to the Manchester City first-team has so far been blocked by imperious talents like Silva and Kevin de Bruyne but his potential is undeniable. Southgate will be delighted too that he's under the tutelage of Guardiola, for the Spaniard is probably the best coach to guide Foden in his early career.
#5 Harry Winks (Tottenham)
Slightly older than the other players on this list - he'll turn 23 during this season - Winks nevertheless should have a prominent place in England's future. Like Foden, he presents something which his country have been lacking in midfield.
He's a tremendous passer of the ball, perhaps similar to Michael Carrick: Winks is capable of dictating the play from his holding role, finding those around him with a wide array of passes. His club manager Mauricio Pochettino is beginning to show more trust in him and Southgate should too.
Although his team were humbled 4-2, Winks impressed against the stars of Barcelona in the Champions League last week, being arguably Tottenham's best player on the night. With someone robust and defensive-minded beside him, Winks has all the capabilities to operate for England like Sergio Busquets does for Spain so successfully.
