A European Championship Final and a first ever trip to the World Cup - 2007 has been a year to remember for England U17s.

The omens looked good during the early part of the season - a 4-0 win over Portugal a particular highlight - and the Young Lions bloomed in spring.

However, they needed a last minute goal from Manchester United's Daniel Welbeck to keep the dream alive. Drawing 1-1 with Serbia, England's quest for the European Championship Finals looked doomed until Welbeck secured the vital win which saw England top their Elite Round Qualifying Group.

England began the Championships in fine style with a 2-0 win over Iceland, Krystian Pearce and Daniel Rose getting the goals.

Hosts Belgium proved tougher opposition though and despite taking the lead through Rhys Murphy's 27th minute header, the young Lions had to be content with a share of the spoils after conceding just after the break.

Knowing a defeat to Holland could see them eliminated, England turned on the style to edge a thrilling game.

John Peacock's outfit were coasting at 2-0 courtesy of Henri Lansbury's 25 yard stunner and a Victor Moses header. But Holland responded with two goals of their own to level early in the second half.

But England, sensing their Euro dreams were fading, regrouped to win 4-2 thanks to Moses and Tristain Plummer.

Moses was England's hero in the Semi-Final against France, netting in the 11th minute to book a place in the Final against Spain. Unfortunately it proved a step too far.

In a game of few chances, Spain starlet Bojan Krkic, who has played for Barcelona this season, lashed the ball through a crowded box to win the trophy.

Disappointed, there was a silver lining to the cloud as England's performances guaranteed them a spot at the U17 World Cup in South Korea in August, the first time the Young Lions have reached the competition.

After a long period of acclimatisation, England made their World Cup bow against Korea DPR in the searing heat of Jeju.

Battling both the conditions and a hard working opposition, Moses gave England a dream start before embarking on his trademark somersault celebration.

Korea found England goalkeeper Alex Smithies in majestic form but they finally squeezed a goal past him to sneak a deserved draw.

England hit the goal trail against New Zealand with Moses and Welbeck scoring twice in a 5-0 rout.

That win set up a winner-takes-all meeting with tournament favourites Brazil - the victors guaranteed top spot in Group B.

The clash was following the script when Tales bamboozled Smithies with a freak free-kick which sailed in from 40 yards out. Lansbury levelled with a penalty on the stroke of half-time but there was more drama to come.

England looked doomed when Brazil won a late penalty, only for Smithies to make a wonderful save, which set the scene for England captain Jordan Spence to grab the headlines with an injury-time goal.

The victory earned England a meeting with Syria which proved a tougher assignment than it initially seemed. Without playing to their full potential, England booked a place in the Quarter-Finals thanks to goals from Lansbury, Pearce and Murphy.

England's record with Germany has been less than impressive in recent years and that trend continued.

The Three Lions managed to stay level until the break but the Germans raced clear after the break, scoring four times with England's sole riposte coming through Murphy.