Alex Scott: We want to make history at U-20 World Cup

Alex Scott stated England MU20s head into the FIFA U-20 World Cup confident they can create history.

The majority of the MU20 squad competing in Argentina over the coming weeks were part of the MU19 side that lifted the UEFA Under-19 Championship last summer.

There has yet to be a country lift the Under-19 EURO trophy and then claim the U-20 World Cup the following summer and Scott believes Ian Foster’s side have the potential to make history.

“I'm buzzing. I can't wait,” the Bristol City midfielder said. 

"It's been said quite a bit that no team has ever won the Under-19 EUROs and Under-20 World Cup back-to-back so we want to be the first team to do that. 

“Obviously, as the European champions, we understand there's a lot of pressure on us. However, we're going to take that in our stride and perform to our best ability.”

The squad who lifted the Under-19 EURO last summer had not previously played in a major tournament, largely due to the Covid pandemic.

Scott said the experience of winning the tournament in Slovakia was incredibly important for the squad and gives them a lot of confidence heading into the U-20 World Cup, which takes place from this Saturday until June 11.

He said: "Of course, the Under-20 World Cup is a step up. There are teams we've never played before, and it will be a tough tournament. But we know how good we are and we have full belief in the team and each other that we can go on and win it. 

“We are such a tight-knit group, and I think that helps with what happened last summer; ever since then, we have been getting closer and closer. So, it's important we stick together and get through the next month or so doing as well as we can. 

"We know we'll have support from all over the country, like we did last year, so we've just got to show everyone back home what we're about and hopefully go all the way and win it."

England MU20s kick off their U-20 World Cup campaign against Tunisia on Monday (kick off 7pm BST) before facing Uruguay on Thursday 25 May (7pm BST).

The final group match with Iraq is on Sunday 28 May (7pm BST), with the top two nations and the four best third-place teams qualifying from the six groups for the round of 16 (May 30-June 1).

The quarter-finals are then scheduled for 3-4 June, with semi-finals on 8 June before the final takes place at the La Plata Stadium on Sunday 11 June.

The tournament had originally been scheduled to take place in Indonesia before a late change to Argentina, the home of the current men’s senior team world champions.

And Scott can’t wait to take to the field in one of the world’s true footballing hotbeds.

"The passion is there in Argentina, we saw it massively in the winter during the senior World Cup,” Scott said. 

“It's a pure footballing nation. Getting there and experiencing it will be huge for us and our careers. 

“There are going to be so many fans there, especially for the Argentina games and other South American teams as well, because they are so enthusiastic about football. 

"We've got Uruguay in our group and I assume they'll bring a lot of fans for that. So, it's an experience for all of us to enjoy and relish.

“We can't wait to get going and we can't wait for the first game. The fans out there will be brilliant and it's an occasion for us to enjoy. 

"We did it last year, playing in front of fans, and most of the lads have been playing in front of loads of fans throughout the season. 

“So, we know the experience of what it's like and the pressure that brings. But we have tournament experience now. We're going to take that into this World Cup and, hopefully, win it."