‘The new lads will thrive’: England’s youthful

Many of those selected will be playing in their first major tournament this summer

While several of England’s more experienced stars were sweating on their places in Gareth Southgate’s squad last month, Eberechi Eze was giving something back to the community that helped to raise him.

The Crystal Palace midfielder set up the Eze Invitational tournament last year in an attempt to inspire young players at a grassroots level, and provided new boots, jerk chicken and ice-cream for more than 100 players who took part at the end of May in south London.