Josh Onomah and Kyle Walker-Peters reflected on their Under 20s World Cup Victory in South Korea and dedicated the momentous achievement to the late Ugo Ehiogu.
For the first time in history England won the Under 20s World Cup thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Venezuela and Tottenham’s very own Josh Onomah and Kyle Walker-Peters were key team-members throughout England’s road to glory.
Both of the youngsters overcame difficulties in South Korea, with Onomah having to sit out the Semi-Final against Italy due to a controversial dismissal in the Quarter-Final tie versus Mexico, whereas Walker-Peters needed to earn his place in the team having not been selected for the opening two fixtures.
In an interview conducted by the club on the official website, the two England Under 20s stars were quick to recognise Ugo Ehiogu’s influence on their careers. Josh said:
“This is for Ugo and everyone back at Spurs.”
Ehiogu of course tragically passed away in April following a cardiac arrest at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground.
When asked about the bond shared between the two players, Onomah responded:
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“My brother Kyle! I love him to bits. We’ve been working for moments like this since we were knee high and to share this moment with him is a dream come true.”
“Kyle earned his place in the team after not starting the first two games. I’ve always had confidence in him, he’s so reliable in and out of possession. Credit to him for his performances throughout the tournament.”
Answering the same question, Walker-Peters added:
“Josh has been very good this tournament, showing his strength and power in the middle of the pitch. To bounce back from an unfortunate red card and then perform the way he did in the final was incredible from him and shows his mental strength.”
“Achieving this together is extra special. I’ve played with Josh since I was 10 and never imagined anything like this, so it’s very special!”
During England’s Quarter-Final victory over Mexico, Onomah was unfortunately shown the red card with some 20 minutes left to play.
The decision baffled pundits and fans alike, with Onomah being in possession of the ball when was judged to have intentionally stamped on another player. Onomah said about that disastrous moment:
“When it happened I was so confused because I had possession of the ball!”
“It hadn’t sunk in until I watched the boys in the semi-final, but that is what football is about. You get ups and downs and have to bounce back and come back stronger.”
“Thanks to my manager as well for playing me in the final after the team did well in the semis. I tried not to dwell on it too much and concentrate on the final instead.”
Kyle Walker-Peters had to force his way into manager Paul Simpson’s plans after having been left out of the starting line-up for the first two matches in group F.
However, with only a handful of minutes coming off the bench, Walker-Peters made his mark and soon became a crucial first team member. The full-back had this to say on his development:
“I’ve learned that I’m versatile and I’m proud of myself proving I can play on either side as a full-back, which is always a good thing to have. Not only that, but I thought I performed well in the position!”
When asked about their excitement ahead of the next season at Spurs, Onomah said:
“This winning feeling is only going to push me to work harder than ever and I can’t wait to get back into pre-season with the gaffer and run my socks off.”
“I have a big chance with this gaffer and I need to take any opportunities given to me. Also, thanks to the fans and staff for their messages and support, we really appreciate it!”
Walker-Peters added:
“I’m extremely excited for next season, especially after this tournament. I’ll go into it with extra confidence, work hard and hope to get an opportunity to help the team.”
The full interview can be found on Tottenham Hotspur’s official club website.
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