FOUR of the region’s most promising footballers are celebrating after helping England to the semi-finals of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

Newcastle duo Adam Armstrong and Freddie Woodman as well as Middlesbrough pair Dael Fry and Harry Chapman are all part of the squad in Korea – and they overcame Mexico in the quarter-finals at lunch-time.

England booked their place in the last four for the first time since 1993 when Dominic Solanke, set to join Liverpool, gave Paul Simpson’s side the narrow victory over Mexico.

Solanke scored the only goal just after the break to set up a showdown with Italy in the last four on Thursday – even though Tottenham forward Josh Onomah was shown a second yellow card 18 minutes from time.

Newcastle striker Armstrong spurned decent opportunities inside the first 15 minutes but they didn’t return to haunt him as his team-mate Woodman, the goalkeeper, kept the Mexicans out at the other end.

And two minutes after the break Solanke put England ahead with a tidy left-footed strike after being sent through by captain Lewis Cook for his second goal of the tournament.

Fry was part of the backline that performed admirably in front of Woodman, while Chapman, who has appeared twice so far in the tournament, was an unused substitute this time.

Now England will face Italy in Jeonju for a place in Sunday’s final. The ten-man Italians needed extra-time to secure a 3-2 win over Zambia following Giuseppe Pezzella’s dismissal via a video assistant referee review in the first half of normal time.

When England last reached the semi-final of the competition they lost to Ghana 2-1 but went on to claim third place.