England are World Cup champions! Paul Simpson’s Young Lions made history on Sunday in South Korea, defeating Venezuela 1-0 to win the U20 World Cup finals in Suwon, South Korea. Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the match’s only goal in the 37th minute, and Tottenham Hotspur products Josh Onomah and Kyle Walker-Peters both started and played all 90 minutes in the win.
This was no cautious, defensively minded tournament final as we often see at the senior level. Both England and Venezuela scored often in the earlier stages of this competition, and both sides went for the jugular in a very entertaining match.
Calvert-Lewin, who had 11 appearances and a goal for Everton this season, opened the scoring in the 37th minut off of a free kick from Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook. It took a great individual effort to head the ball down in the box. Calvert-Lewin’s initial shot blocked, but he was able to put the rebound past the Venezuela keeper for the only goal of the game.
Calvert-Lewin with the opener for England U20s pic.twitter.com/xF0Jlw93wa
— Royal Blue Mersey (@RBMersey) June 11, 2017
But there was a lot more action than just the single goal. Venezuela had a number of good opportunities to equalize, but young Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie Woodman made a number of key stops down the stretch.
Both Tottenham Hotspur players had very nice games for England. Josh Onomah rejoined the starting lineup after missing the semifinal due to suspension and slotted right back into the starting 11 in the center of midfield. Onomah was a beast the entire game, muscling past Venezuelan players and looking like a mini-Mousa Dembele.
Onomah also had one of England’s best chances of the game too, firing a knuckling long-range shot in the 57th minute that went off the underside of the crossbar but didn’t cross the line. It was a huge shot, but no goal.
England so close to a second in U20 World Cup final v Venezuela
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) June 11, 2017
Tottenham's Josh Onomah hits the bar!pic.twitter.com/gb0O4Y50VL
Kyle Walker-Peters played the entire tournament as a left back, and while that is not his natural position (he’s a right back for Spurs) he played very good defensively and was a nice outlet on the left side for England.
Venezuela never gave up, and nearly had the equalizer in the 73rd minute after young Chelsea central defender Jake Clarke-Salter brought down Adalberto Peñarando in the box. Peñarando’s penalty was saved by Woodman, who made an incredible diving stop, and England escaped danger.
Freddie Woodman saves a penalty from Venezuela's Adalberto Penaranda in the Under-20 World Cup final!!!pic.twitter.com/4Z8v8lN5Cp
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) June 11, 2017
Venezuela were worthy opponents, but it was England’s night as they win the World Cup, the first World Cup title at any level for England since 1966. Congratulations!
— England (@England) June 11, 2017