Trent Alexander-Arnold becomes just the seventh teenager to travel to a World Cup with England... so how did the six who came before him fare?
- Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to make his England debut against Costa Rica
- The 19-year-old is the seventh teenager called into an England World Cup squad
- Michael Owen and Rio Ferdinand were included in England's team for 1998
- Theo Walcott was a shock inclusion in 2006 but never played a World Cup tie
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold will make his England debut when they face Costa Rica in their final World Cup warm-up match at Elland Road on Thursday.
And, should he come through that unscathed, the 19-year-old will become just the seventh teenager in history to travel with the Three Lions to the World Cup finals.
Here, we take a look at the previous six and see how they fared before, during and after their breakthrough.
![Trent Alexander-Arnold will make his England debut against Costa Rica on Friday evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/4CF8D8C700000578-5816845-image-m-2_1528375273544.jpg)
Trent Alexander-Arnold will make his England debut against Costa Rica on Friday evening
Michael Owen - 1998 (Aged 18)
Why was he called up?
The Liverpool striker was the Premier League’s top scorer (18) and its official Player of the Season, as well as picking up the PFA Young Player prize.
He had made his England debut in February - becoming the youngest Three Lions player of the 20th century and later their youngest scorer - and there was no chance of him being left out of Glenn Hoddle’s squad - the only question was whether he would start or not.
How did he get on?
Owen was left out of the first two games against Tunisia and Romania but, when he came from the bench to score in the latter, the clamour was too great for him not to be included from the off.
He started the final group match against Colombia - a 2-0 victory - before scoring one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history against Argentina in the last 16, dashing by the entire opposition defence before firing into the top corner.
The game went to a penalty shootout - during which Owen scored - but England exited. A star, however, had most definitely been born.
What happened next?
He was part of the team which reached the last eight in 2002 - scoring twice along the way - but saw his tournament ended in 2006 when he suffered cruciate ligament damage in the opening minutes of the final group game against Sweden.
Owen also went to two European Championships and his international career finished somewhat prematurely in 2008 with a record of 40 goals from 89 appearances.
The assumption that he would become England’s record scorer after his breakthrough aged 18 fell down because of injuries and, towards the end of his career, a loss of form which saw him score just six Premier League goals during his final four seasons.
![Michael Owen burst onto the international scene with one of the World Cup's most iconic goals](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/000EEC3000000258-5816845-image-m-13_1528375458111.jpg)
Michael Owen burst onto the international scene with one of the World Cup's most iconic goals
Rio Ferdinand - 1998 (Aged 19)
Why was he called up?
He had just played 35 times for West Ham in the Premier League - winning their Hammer of the Year prize - and had emerged as one of the country’s best young players. With that came an international debut in November, 1997.
His inclusion, though, was very much as a back-up option.
How did he get on?
He did not feature and remained on the bench as England made the last 16.
What happened next?
Ferdinand was a starter by the time the 2002 World Cup came around and he scored in the last-16 victory over Denmark. England, though, went out to eventual winners Brazil in the quarter-final.
He was still a regular in 2006 but did not take a penalty in the quarter-final exit to Portugal. He never went to a European Championships due to not being selected in 2000, a ban for a missed drugs test in 2004 and England’s failure to qualify four years later.
He was named England captain in 2010 but missed the World Cup because of injury and was left out of Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2012. He retired from international football a year later having earned 81 caps.
![Rio Ferdinand did not play a minute of the World Cup in 1998, but returned as a starter in 2002](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/000E9BC900000258-5816845-image-a-4_1528375373962.jpg)
Rio Ferdinand did not play a minute of the World Cup in 1998, but returned as a starter in 2002
Theo Walcott - 2006 (Aged 17)
Why was he called up?
It was a major surprise when, after just 23 senior appearances for Southampton and 25 minutes for England, Sven-Goran Eriksson included the rookie in his squad for Germany.
Walcott had joined Arsenal in the January for £5million but had not featured for them and his call-up was seen as something of a learning curve for a player with a long international future ahead of him.
How did he get on?
Walcott was a spectator throughout as England went out in the last eight on penalties.
What happened next?
He did not win another cap until two years later and was the shock exclusion from Fabio Capello’s squad for 2010 in South Africa.
His only major tournament has been Euro 2012 when he came from the bench four times, scoring once in the 2-2 draw with Sweden in the group stage.
The last of his 47 caps (eight goals) came in November, 2016 and it would appear his England days are over at the age of 29.
![Theo Walcott was a shock inclusion the 2006 squad, but he failed to play a single minute](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/04C570DA0000044D-5816845-image-m-6_1528375387965.jpg)
Theo Walcott was a shock inclusion the 2006 squad, but he failed to play a single minute
Aaron Lennon - 2006 (Aged 19)
Why was he called up?
The winger was uncapped when Eriksson included him in the World Cup squad on the back of an impressive season at Spurs. Just two substitute appearances followed before the tournament but he had demonstrated his ability to impact with his pace from the bench.
How did he get on?
Lennon came on twice as a substitute, including when he replaced the injured David Beckham in the quarter-final against Portugal. However, he was substituted himself shortly before the penalty shootout.
What happened next?
Lennon was a starter come 2010 but failed to impact and was dropped after the group-stage draws against USA and Algeria.
He has not started a game for England in the eight years since, making just two substitute appearances. He has 21 caps and no goals.
![Aaron Lennon came on twice as a substitute as England made the quarter-finals in 2006](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/04C7FA620000044D-5816845-image-a-8_1528375409841.jpg)
Aaron Lennon came on twice as a substitute as England made the quarter-finals in 2006
Raheem Sterling - 2014 (Aged 19)
Why was he called up?
He had debuted aged 17 so his inclusion for Brazil was not a surprise, especially after scoring 10 times for Liverpool as they finished second in the Premier League. He was, however, sent off in a warm-up match against Ecuador after a clash with Antonio Valencia.
How did he get on?
He was winning just his fifth cap when starting the opener against Italy, a 2-1 loss. He kept his place for the subsequent Uruguay defeat and England were out after just two matches.
What happened next?
He was a regular during qualifying for Euro 2016 and started the opening two group matches, although he was replaced at half-time against Wales and did not feature in the third game versus Slovakia. He returned to start against Iceland but was hooked after an hour of the 2-1 defeat.
Sterling is now a Premier League winner with Manchester City and has 38 caps heading into this summer’s tournament as a likely starter.
![Raheem Sterling was inexperienced but performed well for England at the 2014 World Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/1EC5BE2800000578-5816845-image-a-9_1528375415416.jpg)
Raheem Sterling was inexperienced but performed well for England at the 2014 World Cup
![Sterling sent England fans wild for a long-range effort that appeared to go in against Italy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/1EC5154000000578-5816845-image-m-11_1528375426569.jpg)
Sterling sent England fans wild for a long-range effort that appeared to go in against Italy
Luke Shaw - 2014 (Aged 18)
Why was he called up?
After 60 top-flight appearances for Southampton in two seasons he was seen as the future of England’s left-back position and was included at the expense of Ashley Cole, who retired immediately.
Manchester United were also in the process of signing him for £30m, a British record for a teenager.
How did he get on?
He was second choice to Leighton Baines and, by the time he became the tournament’s youngest player in the final group match against Costa Rica, England were already out.
What happened next?
It is remarkable that Shaw has won just four caps in the four years since. Both injury and a loss of form have contributed and he is currently way down the pecking order under Gareth Southgate.
![Luke Shaw was a member of England's ill-fated 2014 squad who failed to win a single group tie](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/07/13/1F15848900000578-5816845-image-a-12_1528375436144.jpg)
Luke Shaw was a member of England's ill-fated 2014 squad who failed to win a single group tie
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