England U18 once again showcased their immense potential during the October international window, claiming a win and a draw against France at St. George’s Park. Under the guidance of Neil Ryan, the Young Lions extended their unbeaten run and continued their fine form ahead of next month’s FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. After a dramatic 1–0 victory in the first match thanks to a stoppage-time header from Elijah Upson, England showed their fighting spirit in the second, coming from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 courtesy of goals from Igor Tyjon and Reigan Heskey.
A near-perfect build-up to the World Cup
The Young Lions entered the October camp full of confidence following their triumph at the Costa de la Luz Tournament in Spain last month, where they recorded three wins from three — 3–1 over Uzbekistan, 4–1 against Morocco and 3–2 versus Canada. Neil Ryan named an extended 27-man squad, combining experienced youth internationals with several fresh faces as preparations for the U17 World Cup intensified.
Among the regulars were Seth Ridgeon (Fulham), Landon Emenalo (Chelsea) and Bendito Mantato (Manchester United). Up front, Reigan Heskey (Manchester City), son of former England striker Emile Heskey, led the line alongside Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais). Once again, the group underlined the remarkable depth of England’s youth talent pool.
A stoppage-time winner to kick things off
In Thursday’s opening fixture, England dominated proceedings from start to finish. From the early stages, Heskey and his teammates looked sharp and purposeful, creating several promising chances. Captain Seth Ridgeon impressed with his quick feet and composure in possession, while Freddie Simmonds (Brighton) came close to breaking the deadlock with a powerful header before half-time.
Despite their control, the Young Lions were repeatedly denied by the French defence and goalkeeper — until the final moments. Deep into stoppage time, Elijah Upson (Tottenham Hotspur), making his first-ever England appearance, rose highest from a corner to power home a decisive header and clinch a deserved 1–0 victory. It was a fitting reward for England’s patience, persistence and collective dominance.
Defensively, Jun’ai Byfield (Tottenham) and Wesley Okoduwa (Wolves) stood firm throughout, while the partnership between Harrison Miles and Reigan Heskey added mobility and attacking intent in the final third.
Comeback kings in the second clash
Three days later, the sides met again for a second encounter filled with rotation and tactical tweaks. England started brightly, with Alejandro Rodriguez and Tynan Thompson particularly lively, but were caught out just before the break. France struck twice in quick succession through Melvin Gomes da Veiga and Antoine Valero, punishing a rare lapse in England’s defensive organisation.
Trailing 2–0, the Young Lions showed remarkable character to claw their way back into the match. Second-half substitutes Igor Tyjon (Blackburn Rovers) and Benjamin Casey (Crystal Palace) injected fresh energy into the attack. Tyjon coolly converted a penalty on 70 minutes to halve the deficit, before Reigan Heskey — once again among England’s standout performers — levelled the score eight minutes later with a smart finish from close range after fine work from Casey on the wing.
England pressed hard for a winner in the closing stages, but despite their dominance, the game ended 2–2. It was another display of maturity, resilience and quality from Ryan’s young side.
With five wins and one draw from six matches this season, England U18s boast an impressive record — 18 goals scored and just six conceded. Neil Ryan used the two games to rotate his squad extensively, ensuring valuable minutes for nearly every player in the group. Key figures such as Heskey, Tyjon, Emenalo and Ridgeon all stood out, but it was the collective performance that truly caught the eye.
The balance of physicality, technical skill and tactical discipline displayed across the two matches bodes well for the future — and particularly for next month’s World Cup campaign. With their rhythm, depth and confidence growing match by match, this England U18 squad has every reason to believe they can make a major impact on the global stage.
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