He is happy that his wards are one shot away from glory but England U-17 head coach Steve Cooper said that ultimate aim of all these boys is to win the senior trophy, that has eluded them for 52 years. England won the FIFA World Cup way back in 1966 defeating West Germany in the Final. "Our long term aim is to win World Cup and European Championship at the senior level. If these boys can keep playing the way they are, regardless of what happens tomorrow, for the long term, we think we will have half a chance of reaching the aims and objectives of winning for the senior team," Cooper said on the eve of the U-17 summit clash against Spain.
England have never been close to repeating 1966 World Cup heroics but Cooper said they are in the right direction with the DNA development in place at the Football Association. "We have a plan now at St George's Park. I'm a big part of that plan. We are only a few years into the plan. Nobody is getting carried away. We will commit to it through the highs and lows."
Cooper however refused to take the credit from his boys and said it's a team game. Since Euro U-17 Championship Final defeat to Spain, the Young lions have been a transformed side with six wins in as many matches, including four of them coming at the Saltlake Stadium. But Cooper thinks it will be flattering to call themselves favourites.
On their European rivals, he replied,
"They are befitting World Cup finalists. It's an amazing achievement, very good team throughout from back to front players. We know where there strength lies as well as the areas what we can exploit, because of that we are going to game confident tomorrow."
England captain Joel latibeaudiere missed the target in their bitter penalty shootout defeat to the same rivals in the Euro U-17 final but he said he's become mentally stronger now.
"We have learnt a lot from the game. We are proud of what we have achieved. We are playing Spain again, and are not looking at the past but into the future. It's about being prepared and ready."