England ends 51-year wait for World Cup glory as Under-20s top Venezuela

For the first time in 51 years, England can call itself a World Cup champion.

In a match that offered a little bit of everything, England bested an inspired Venezuela side 1-0 on Sunday in South Korea to capture the Under-20 World Cup.

Like so many groups of players to precede them, Paul Simpson's Three Lions will want to avoid the moniker of a "Golden Generation," though after the composed performance in Suwon, there are plenty of reasons to heap praise on the group.

Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the match's only goal in the 34th minute, but the hero was Newcastle shot-stopper Freddie Woodman, who cemented the performance with a dazzling penalty save on La Vinotinto stud Adalberto Penaranda 15 minutes from time.

Calvert-Lewin becomes just the third Englishman to score in a World Cup final, and it was a deserved tally, as the Toffees talent combined with Golden Ball winner Dominic Solanke, and Everton brethren Ademola Lookman and Kieran Dowell to form a threatening attack during the tournament.

England came close to doubling that lead 10 minutes after the interval when Tottenham's Josh Onamah - who was slotted into the starting XI for Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles - smashed an attempt off the underside of the bar.

The next great chance would fall to Venezuela's Penaranda after he was brought down in the area by Chelsea defender Jake Clark-Salter, but it was Woodman who would etch his name in World Cup lore, stopping the spot-kick despite lunging the wrong way.

For Venezuela and manager Rafael Dudamel, there are plenty of positives to take from a tournament run that exceeded all expectations. The only South American side to never qualify for a World Cup prior to this year, a Venezuela outfit had also never reached the quarter-final stage of a major tournament.

That undesirable standard has since been crushed by Dudamel's charges, and there are plenty of reasons to think this squad will form an imposing force for years to come.

Despite having a mediocre tournament, second-half sub Yeferson Soteldo was utterly dynamic with the ball at his feet, Penaranda was a threat, and Manchester City's Yangel Herrera looked an emerging talent. Pair that with some heady play from centre-half Williams Velasquez and fleet-footed midfielder Ronaldo Lucena, and the future appears bright for a nation short on footballing glory.