Last month, manager Gareth Southgate handpicked 26 of the best English football players to be apart of his FIFA 2022 World Cup squad.
Fast forward and England are in Qatar preparing to play France in the quarter finals on Saturday (10 December).
The Three Lions finished top of Group B after beating both Iran and Wales, and drawing with USA. They then beat Senegal 3-0 in the knockout rounds which took place on Sunday (4 December).
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling are competiting in the World Cup for a third time, whilst the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden are new to the stage of the biggest football tournament.
However, no matter if it’s their third or first World Cup, each football star started at the very bottom and had years of training in the youth academy’s across the county before making their senior teams debut.
Let’s take a look at where the 26 England World Cup players started off:
1. Harry Maguire began his senior career at Sheffield United in 2011. He began representing England U21’s a year later.
Harry Maguire (L) and Gary Madine (R) battle for the ball during the npower League One match between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane on October 16, 2011. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2. John Stones began his senior career at Barnsley in 2011. He began representing England U19’s in 2012.
John Stones in action during the Pre Season Friendly between Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion on July 28, 2012 in Barnsley, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
3. Trent Alexander-Arnold began his career at Liverpool FC in 2016. He began representing England U16’s in 2013.
Trent Alexander-Arnold in action during the Liverpool v Middlesbrough U18 Premier League game on August 22, 2015 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
4. Conor Coady began his senior career at Liverpool FC in 2011. He began representing England U16’s prior to this in 2009.
Conor Coady (L) and Andre Wisdom (R) celebrate their victory during their UEFA Euro 2010 Under 17 Football championship Final between England and Spain on May 30, 2010 in in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. (Photo by SEBASTIAN DERUNGS/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images