Lee Carsley and Ashley Cole’s Cobham coffee meeting set the Young Lions on road to glory

Lee Carsley was plotting this in a Cobham cafe. Ashley Cole, who would become his assistant after one chat, sat enthused. England were going to do things differently. They would be bold, daring. They would make history. Or at least try.

Saturday night, a brilliantly chaotic and confusing evening in the mugginess of Batumi, Georgia, was the end product of that coffee. What Carsley, Cole, Joleon Lescott and FA head of coaching Tim Dittmer have done for the Under 21 team is nothing short of exceptional. This really is a moment in time and should not just be chalked up to having good players.

England always have good players — but the last three weeks have been different. A style, a pride, an identity. Carsley could walk into any Premier League club and do this given the time and resources. And there’s a big job available in a year or two that he could excel in.

But that is for further down the road. Now, as England celebrated in the Sheraton Hotel’s ballroom with friends and family, taking in this achievement, thoughts cast towards the horizon. England didn’t concede a goal at this tournament. Six clean sheets for James Trafford, a goalkeeper nobody who didn’t devour the EFL had heard of until the beginning of May.

Lee Carsley (left), Ashley Cole (right) and Joleon Lescott led England to their first U21 Euros title since 1984

Carsley’s men beat Spain 1-0 in the final on Saturday courtesy of a brace from Curtis Jones

England and James Trafford didn’t conceded a single goal for the entire tournament (six games)

Trafford is off to Burnley for £19million. Manchester City, his parent club, would be within their rights to add a few extra pennies after a stunning stoppage-time penalty save to repel Spain — and the No 1 is not the only player in this squad who has been courted during these Euros.

Levi Colwill is the main one. A defender with only a handful of top-flight games for Brighton in his legs, he already looks ready for Gareth Southgate, who was basically in Georgia specifically to monitor his progress. Still eligible for the Under 21s, it would be a major surprise if he doesn’t earn senior recognition this season.

Much of that will depend on whether he is playing. Brighton are desperate to sign him this summer but Chelsea want to keep hold of someone who oozes modern-day centre back. An arrogance in possession, an absolute refusal to allow anyone through either.

‘We’re all pushing and knocking on the door,’ Colwill said. ‘Everyone has to pay attention to every player here. I feel like this team we had was more than just individuals. In the past England might have lacked with that. We’ve always had great players but I think this team is so much different. I love this team.

‘I’ll speak to my family, speak to everyone I need to and make a decision. I’ve got to play at the end of the day, to hopefully get there and go to the next (senior) camp.

‘But if I’m here, I’ll still be happy. You’ve always got to be happy when you’re picked for any England age group. It’s an honour.’

Carsley takes all the credit for this team. It is his vision.

But Cole in particular — often leading sessions with clipboard in hand — has had a major impact. ‘Me and Ash have had conversations about anything that will help me,’ Colwill added. ‘Ash gave me a big bit of advice for when I try to break lines and hit a pass with a lot of power. Normally my right foot goes in front of the ball. He showed me, I hadn’t even noticed.

‘At training the next day, I made a pass with my right foot behind the ball. I couldn’t thank him enough. It’s those little things that no one had ever told me.

‘With Cars, he’s so humble, he downplays everything. I’m honoured to play under him.’

These players are learning but so is Cole, who could be in with a shout of the top job if Carsley does go looking for something new in a few weeks.

‘Lee is kind, loving… someone that thinks about the players more than himself,’ Cole said.

‘Tactically, he is very astute. It was my first major job. He has trusted me to do whatever I feel works for the team. I owe him a lot. He is a great character.

‘The environment is massive to keep retaining players and for them wanting to come and play for England when they could be on holiday. Me now as a coach I am like, “No, you should want to represent England”, but it is not that easy.

‘I love it. When I got towards the latter stages of my career in Los Angeles, I got a little bit more responsibility trying to help the younger players and that really grew on me.

‘I want to give something back. I love the game and want to help as much as I can. This was the perfect job at the perfect time for me. Hopefully, I can go on and do something myself.’