World Cup 2026: These are unprecedented times for England – enjoy them

The transformation is incredible, but not a coincidence.

In 2013, shortly after taking over as chairman of the Football Association, Greg Dyke strongly criticized the structure of English football.

“The problem is serious, very serious,” Dyke said of the “worrying” lack of talent growing up in the country.

Dyke has set two targets for the England team: to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals and win the World Cup in 2022.

A lot just mocked the suggestion, external It was that successful, but it wasn’t that far off.

Dyke knew that two basic building blocks were already in place.

In 2011, a £340 million elite player performance plan (EPPP) was voted on by EFL clubs. He funded an overhaul of elite academies and restructured the system.

Then came St George’s Park.

After the Football Federation purchased the land in 2001, its construction took 11 years.

Plans were approved, then shelved, then resurrected.

It was last opened in 2012 as the destination for the coaching and development of the England team at all levels.

EPPP was not a quick fix but a long-term investment in coaching and facilities.

Today, academy players use state-of-the-art training centers with the best pitches, coaches and reserve staff.

They then meet with UK development teams at a similarly high-quality training centre.

The road is not perfect. More than 12,000 boys are in the academy system and 91% will never play a professional game.

But the past 15 years have created a pipeline of talent that has helped England become the competitive team they are today.

Bellingham, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Elliot Anderson, who has just turned 23, are the star names of the squad as products of EPPP.

The depth of available options is such that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden could be left out of the squad; These three players were part of the squad that reached the Euro final just two years ago.

Tuchel could choose not to select them and still get England into the last four of the World Cup.

The production line continues to work with Alex Scott, Josh King, Ethan Nwaneri and Rio Ngumoha in the pre-tournament training squad.

Arsenal’s 16-year-old Max Dowman has broken age-related achievement records in the Premier League and Champions League and is expected to continue that rise.