West Ham United legend Sir Trevor Brooking admits England's U17 Euro winners are the real deal.
Brooking is the FA's technical director.
"They're the best passing team in the seven years I've been at the FA," he told the London Evening Standard. "We beat France in the semi-finals and Spain in the final. The great thing about this group was they never panicked. If they were under pressure at the back, they didn't just whack it clear. They actually passed their way out of trouble.
"You could've taken their shirts off and put them on any of the countries that are more recognised for doing development and you wouldn't have known they were English. But what we haven't got is the depth of talent and we're not producing such players every year."
In the past England compensated with passion. "The problem is that passion alone is not enough," says Brooking. "Other countries have caught up with us. They are also physically strong and technically better. We have to catch up with them technically. Let's face it - after 44 years we haven't won anything."