For England, the future isn't just very promising. The future is now.
Lee Carsley's Young Lions became European Under-21 champions on Saturday when they saw off Spain in the final in Georgia, with their 1-0 success ensuring that they made their way to tournament glory without conceding a goal across their six matches.
There were several standout performances throughout the side, with Chelsea's in-demand defender Levi Colwill impressive at the back, Liverpool's Curtis Jones pulling the strings in midfield and the Nottingham Forest livewire Morgan Gibbs-White terrific going forward.
But which of those players stands out the most for our Mirror Football team? And who could even force their way into Gareth Southgate's senior squad for next year's European Championships?
That's this week's big debate.
Simon Bird
Levi Colwill. Unless Harry Maguire starts to play regularly, the Chelsea defender could be the first to be promoted into the senior squad permanently.
He was a rock for the Under-21s, showing tough defending, reading of the game, pace, composure and passes which broke the lines and sent midfielders into good positions.
He played a handful of games for Brighton last season, who want him back for £30m. Chelsea need to make a decision on him quickly so his senior England career can progress.
Others pushing for call ups this season include James Trafford, Morgan Gibbs-White and Curtis Jones. But Colwill, after his taster with the seniors training and travelling for the Malta game in June, is at the head of the queue.
John Cross
Without a shadow of a doubt: Levi Colwill.
The Chelsea defender was magnificent for the under-21s, helped them keep six clean sheets and is such a composed, classy centre half.
Colwill showed he is Premier League ready last season during his loan spell at Brighton.
His reading of the game, ability to step up into midfield and quality on the ball makes him stand out a mile.
And he also ticks a box for England which is a major problem for Gareth Southgate: he can fill the left-sided void in central defence.
I’m convinced he will be in the next senior squad for England - and has all the quality to become a starter for the European Championships next summer.
The other player who has impressed so much - not just for the under-21s but also in the second half of the season - is Morgan Gibbs-White.
He is a top quality player. He has proved all the doubters wrong, is a leader and an inspiration. He was huge for Forest in the run-in.
His problem will be the competition for places in the forward areas. But I bet he’s in a senior squad soon.
Which England under-21 star do you think is in line for the best season? Have your say in the comments section
Andy Dunn
It is a measure of the size of England’s achievement that they won the Under-21 Euros having lost a key player to injury in the quarter-final win over Portugal.
Jacob Ramsey’s performances before he suffered a broken metatarsal were typical of his form for Aston Villa last season, in which he was quietly outstanding.
For some reason, Ramsey’s development into an elite operator has gone under the radar but he has been knocking on Gareth Southgate’s door for some time.
Unfortunately, he will miss the first couple of months of the season with his injury so will not be a contender for a place in the senior squad for the September fixtures.
But don’t be surprised if he at least forces his way into Southgate’s provisional squad for Euro 2024.
James Trafford was the obvious eye-catcher from the tournament in Georgia and Romania and he will get plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent at Burnley.
Ben Husband
Levi Colwill is the defender everybody is talking about, but if he remains at Chelsea, there are still question marks over how much he will actually play. Thiago Silva remains a mainstay, despite his age, and it would take a brave manager to completely ditch £75m Wesley Fofana.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis may actually find a route to regular Premier League football a little easier. The Manchester City academy graduate shone at Burnley last season and is now primed for a move within the top flight.
The Clarets want him back, but will face a battle with Everton and Wolves - amongst others - also linked. Vincent Kompany has already tipped him for the top and predicted that in a year or two his reputation will be even greater.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if in 12 months' time we’re talking about Harwood-Bellis as a genuine contender for the senior squad.
Tom Victor
The England Under-21s were dominant across the pitch, so there are plenty of contenders, but Levi Colwill was the stand-out man (boy?) for me.
Spain’s late penalty in the final, had it gone in, would have been extremely harsh on the stand-out player in that match and one of the most impressive performers in the tournament as a whole.
Colwill showed at the tail end of last season that he is already a Premier League quality defender, and the only question is whether he’s allowed to show that with regular minutes at Chelsea or feels he has to leave.
With Harry Maguire’s status within the England squad far from certain if he struggles for game time this term, a spot in the middle may well open up for Colwill to take his spot.
An honourable mention goes to Morgan Gibbs-White, but the depth of quality in front of him in the queue at senior level means my vote goes to Colwill.
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Alex Richards
James Trafford became a national hero with his injury time penalty save to hand England’s Under-21s glory.
It capped off a remarkable tournament for the ‘keeper, who didn’t concede a single goal and was a calming presence throughout for the Young Lions.
Now Trafford, only 20, is heading to Burnley in a massive £19million move from Manchester City, to be the new No.1 for Vincent Kompany’s Premier League new boys. He’ll be making a big leap from League One, where he’s spent the last 18 months at Bolton Wanderers, breaking records while with the Whites - keeping nine successive home clean sheets last season, and 26 in all.
Trafford said his time with the Trotters has turned him from a "long, skinny boy" into a "long, skinny man" and Kompany is banking on him being the perfect last line of defence for a Clarets side that will attack the top flight with gusto and look very different to previous top-flight Burnley sides.
He’s proven himself to be up to every challenge - and then some - in his young career so far and is going to have a huge role to play in the 2023-24 season. An outside bet to be one of three keepers at next summer’s Euros.
Alan Smith
Levi Colwill would be an obvious choice if he gets sufficient playing time at Chelsea but there can be no guarantee of regular starts under Mauricio Pochettino.
So let’s go with Morgan Gibbs-White, who is already a key player for Nottingham Forest and should kick on in his second season there.
Coaches believe that scoring consistently is the one significant thing missing from his game - he hit double figures on loan at Sheffield United two seasons ago, found the net five times last season - but he is working on it.
As for his senior England hopes, it’s a tall order considering the depth available to Southgate but Gibbs-White is closer than most.
Fraser Watson
Ok. So by the time the Under-21s European Championships kicked off last month, Morgan Gibbs-White was no longer a secret.
But following a fortnight where the Nottingham Forest midfielder was his country’s most creative, and arguably, best player, the question is no longer whether he can excel at age group level.
In Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, Gareth Southgate has two nailed on starters in his England midfield. But amid the struggles of Kalvin Phillips, Gibbs-White is now surely in the frame to join them.
Proven in the Premier League, and now proven on the international stage at under-21 level, the experience of performing - and winning - at a major Championship must now pave the way for Southgate to give him an opportunity.
Daniel Orme
Despite not playing a role for England in the final, there’s no doubt that Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey is destined for stardom should he continue his current trajectory.
Ahead of seeing his tournament cruelly ended with injury, he had put in a series of stellar showings including scoring in the Young Lions’ opener against the Czech Republic.
His teammates also underlined his importance and popularity within the squad as they celebrated with Ramsey’s number eight shirt after lifting the trophy.
Whilst the 22-year-old midfielder’s impact on the England under-21s has been excellent, he has also more than found his feet in the Villa side over recent seasons.
Despite his tender age, he has already accumulated over 100 appearances for the Birmingham outfit, whilst he directly played a role in 14 goals in all competitions last term.
He will no doubt receive more opportunities next term as Unai Emery takes Villa into Europe for the first time since 2010. With Gareth Southgate keen to usher in the next generation of his Three Lions midfield, Ramsey could be a perfect candidate to bring added creativity to the senior set-up.
Mark Jones
When they eventually emerged from their long slumber last season, Liverpool were often playing to the beat of Curtis Jones.
A player who has always had raw ability a Scouse self-confidence, Jones had shown glimpses of his talent during three years on the fringes of the Reds first-team - remember that Merseyside derby winner? - but the glimpses were often too fleeting, with freak injury issues holding him back.
Now, stationed on the upper left of what becomes a 'box' midfield when Trent Alexander-Arnold moves in there, he's become a vitally important player for Jurgen Klopp, and one who deserves to hold onto his shirt for the start of the season regardless of how many midfielders arrive.
For England he was the midfield metronome, completing a tournament high 94 per cent of his passes en route to the Young Lions' victory, which came via his fortunate goal in the final.
A calm, assured midfielder who protects the ball so well, he's got a big club campaign ahead and senior international honours in his future.
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Tom Blow
I'm lucky that two of England's heroes on Saturday, Tommy Doyle and Morgan Gibbs-White, have completed loan spells at my club, Sheffield United, in the last two years.
Doyle is one of the best players I've seen at Bramall Lane in recent years (and that's saying a lot because we've actually been pretty good for once). The Manchester City talent has all the dynamism and technical ability needed to dictate the game in the No.6 role and there's no doubt he'll play for England at first-team level in the future, just maybe not in the next 12 months.
That's why I've gone with Gibbs-White. He was outstanding during his loan spell at Bramall Lane during the 2021/22 season, as he played in midfield, on the wing and even up front to help solve an injury crisis.
Gibbs-White finished the campaign with 12 goals and 10 assists to win Sheff Utd's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards. It was so painfully obvious that he was far too good for the Championship.
That's why it was no surprise to me when Nottingham Forest agreed a £42million deal with Wolves a year ago. Many fans laughed at Gibbs-White's price tag at the time, but no one's laughing now. He went on to be named Forest's Player of the Year before playing a crucial role in the U21 Euros triumph.
Gibbs-White has a natural talismanic aura about him and Gareth Southgate would be a fool to not consider him for his Euro 2024 squad. Wolves should regret letting him go.
Which England under-21 star do you think is in line for the best season? Have your say in the comments section
