It's not too often that England get to celebrate getting to the knockout stages of a World Cup these days, never mind being one of the genuine favourites. So you'd think the team could do without losing one of its best players but that's what has happened to the under 17s.
Three years ago, at the World Cup, England found themselves back home before anyone had kicked a ball in a knockout match with Roy Hodgson's team failing to get out of a difficult group of Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica.
Four years before they made it through to the knockout stages only to be destroyed by Germany, it's not been a great time for English football at the World Cup. So when teams such as the under 20s win their version of the competition we should hold onto it tightly.
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England under 20s celebrate their World Cup win. Image: AS
And the under 17s are well on their way to adding to the success with the likes of Manchester City's Phil Foden and Manchester United's Angel Gomes impressive. Arguably the most impressive player has been Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho but the youngster will take no further part.
England had been in negotiations with the club for the 17 year old to stay but manager Steve Cooper revealed he's due to join up with his club team instead, saying, "Jadon loves playing for England and this team in particular so it's sad to see him go.
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"I can only imagine Dortmund want him back to play in their first team at the weekend and I assume he will be starting for them, because I can't think of a reason why you would take a player away from a World Cup."
Sancho celebrates with his former teammate at City Phil Foden. Image: PA
Sancho has bagged three times for the Three Lions so far in the tournament as they topped the group without dropping any points and advanced to play Japan next up.
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On Saturday Cooper had said the former Manchester City player would be staying in India, saying, "Jadon will be here with us. We don't have any news on him leaving."
Image: PA
Sancho will now fly to Cyprus, with Dortmund playing both Champions League and Uefa Youth League games against Apoel Nicosia on Tuesday. Having not played for the first team he's likely to be playing in the Youth League.
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If Sancho doesn't play first team football this week Cooper is likely to be very annoyed.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, England, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League