The men’s England international football team is in the best place it has been for many, many years right now. After reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, Gareth Southgate’s side went one better at Euro 2020 and secured a place in the final at Wembley Stadium. They came agonisingly close to winning a first major trophy since 1966, with Italy eventually prevailing in a penalty shootout.

Further heartbreak has followed in recent times at the World Cup in Qatar, where the Three Lions were narrowly defeated by eventual runners-up France at the quarter-final stage, before they were bested in the final of Euro 2024 by Spain. But there’s still huge cause for optimism, especially when you remember how many youngsters are already key members of the squad. Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Phil Foden, and many more are already showcasing their enormous talent on the international stage.

However, it’s important to remember that not every youngster tipped to be an England star will end up fulfilling that prophecy. Back in January 2016, the Telegraph named what they believed was the best XI made up of teenage English players and at the time, you’d have sworn most of them would be mainstays in the national team’s senior setup in the coming years. But that certainly hasn’t been the case, with not a single member of the lineup being selected by Southgate for the country’s FIFA World Cup squad in Qatar.

Goalkeeper – Freddie Woodman (Preston North End)

England caps: 0

Remember when Woodman was all the rage back in the day? Granted, he has represented England at every level from U16 to U21 but hasn’t earned a senior call-up and the prospect of making his senior international bow is not looking overly likely any time soon given the host of talent the nation boasts between the sticks.

He’d been a Newcastle player since 2014 before signing for Preston North End in the summer of 2022, although the majority of his domestic appearances had come in various loan spells at the likes of Hartlepool, Crawley, Kilmarnock and Swansea. It doesn’t appear that the 27-year-old will break into the senior squad, but he’ll always remember winning the Under-20 World Cup back in 2017.

Defender – Joe Gomez (Liverpool)

England caps: 15

Had Gomez not been struck down by a serious knee injury in 2020, he’d have been a consistent and key player for both England and Liverpool in recent years. Although he’s struggled for starts, due to the sheer amount of depth at Anfield in his position, the former Charlton defender consistently racked up minutes during his Anfield career.

Having not made a senior appearance for the Three Lions since 2020 against Wales, Gomez was included in the squad by Gareth Southgate for games against Brazil and Belgium. That saw him included in the squad for Euro 2024, although he never got off the bench during England’s run to the final.

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Defender – Reece Oxford (FC Augsburg)

England caps: 0

Once a FIFA Career Mode gem, it’s not unfair to say that Oxford’s career hasn’t been as fruitful as many had tipped it to become. Bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old at West Ham, the London-born centre-back quickly faded into the depths of obscurity. Though life in England didn’t work out, the versatile defender has rebuilt – albeit slowly and surely – his career out in Germany for FC Augsburg after his permanent move in 2019.

That has been marred by a flurry of injury woes, however, as the 26-year-old missed all of the 2023/24 season because of a muscle injury. Having played for every England youth team from the under-16s to the under-20s, he is still waiting for his senior bow.

Defender – Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle)

England caps: 0

The ex-Everton full-back is now with Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle after a short spell at Luton Town. Since his move down the English pyramid, Galloway has played 84 times for his current employers and has duly recorded three goals and three assists so, perhaps, The Telegraph can file this in their ‘shouts to forget about’ cabinet. Especially seeing as the defender has now switched international allegiance to Zimbabwe, the country of his birth.

Since, he’s played five games for the African nation – although Galloway missed the 2021 AFCON through injury. Despite featuring for England between the U17 and U21 age groups, he never got the chance to shine at senior level.

Defender – Ben Chilwell (Crystal Palace – on loan from Chelsea)

England caps: 21

The only member of the XI who actually made England’s Euro 2020 squad, Chilwell is an exceptional left-back when fully fit. At 28 years of age, Chilwell has 21 senior England caps under his belt, but seeing as his lack of recent game time has been hamstrung, his inclusion in the England set-up in the near future is currently hanging in the balance.

After falling out of favour under Enzo Maresca, Chilwell was shipped out on loan to Crystal Palace in the January transfer window, where he will be looking to impress and force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans.

Midfielder – Lewis Cook (Bournemouth)

England caps: 1

Cook made his England debut all the way back in 2018 against Italy. Just 21 years old at the time, Cook was expected to continue improving and become a regular for the Three Lions. However, seven years on and Cook still has the unfortunate of being a ‘one cap wonder’.

Cherries boss Andoni Iraola seems to appreciate Cook, though, playing him regularly. Despite seeming like he has been around for an age, Cook is still just 28 and with plenty of years left in the tank, a belated surge in performance could raise the eyebrows of the Three Lions coaching staff.

Midfielder – Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan)

England caps: 10

Loftus-Cheek was part of England’s 2018 World Cup squad; however, he hasn’t played for the Three Lions since November of that year. And even then, that was a friendly against the United States. The silky, long-limbed midfielder was decent in patches during his west London stay and excelled in his first season Italy with AC Milan, so it’s impossible to rule out a sensational international comeback by him just yet.

The issue he has is that England are so stacked in the engine room, so the 29-year-old will find it hard to break into the squad.

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Midfielder – Dele Alli (Como)

England caps: 37

Dele Alli’s decline in recent years has been sad to see. For a while, he was a free-scoring midfielder at Tottenham and an England regular, who was hailed for scoring in the 2018 World Cup quarter-final versus Sweden. The world was at the midfielder’s feet as many pundits and managers alike tipped him to be England’s next big star.

But an eventual below-par move to Everton beckoned before he moved overseas, albeit on a temporary loan to Besiktas, a club where he managed just 15 appearances. The 37-cap England international opened up about his childhood struggles in an interview in 2023 and revealed how he was looking to get back to his best. Whether the midfielder, who recently signed for Serie A outfit Como, will play for his nation ever again, though, is unknown.