Image source, Getty Images

That 1984 side had some familiar names, but not a whole host of players who went on to huge international success after.

You may be familiar with Gary Stevens, Steve Hodge, Paul Walsh and Mark Hateley. Dave Watson, Gary Mabbutt, Paul Bracewell and Mel Sterland too. Good players, but not elite-level senior internationals.

The current U21 side has some players who have a chance. Levi Colwill, Curtis Jones, Emile Smith Rowe, Morgan Gibbs-White and a few others could well make the step up if they get the minutes and seize them.

There's a neat little link between the 1984 side and the 2023 version that may act as a nice omen for the latter - their final opponent is the same...

Alex Howell
Football reporter at the Batumi Arena

A lot of has been made of the attacking line-ups Lee Carsley has named in the route to the final. It shows it's worked in the players stats - according to the UEFA website, five different England players have three or more goal involvements in the tournament so far.

It's the joint-most from a single team in tournament history. Spain also did it in 2019.

England make one change from the side that beat Israel in the last four.

Max Aarons is back from suspension and starts in defence, with Luke Thomas dropping to the bench.

Fellow full-back Ben Johnson is also available after a ban but starts on the bench.

England XI: Trafford, Garner, Aarons, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Gomes, Palmer, Jones, Smith Rowe, Gordon, Gibbs-White.

Subs: Griffiths, Rushworth, Johnson, Thomas, Branthwaite, Cresswell, Skipp, Elliott, Doyle, Archer, Madueke.

Spain have no fitness concerns and so name the same starting XI that beat Ukraine 5-1 in their semi-final.

Spain XI: Tenas, Victor Gomez, Miranda, Paredes, Pacheco, Baena, Rodrigo Sanchez, Blanco, Sancet, Sergio Gomez, Ruiz.

Subs: Roman, Agirrezabala, Guillamon, Manuel Sanchez, Martinez, Gila, Bernabe, Oroz, Riquelme, Veiga, Barrenetxea, Camello.

That England are now such a force in youth international football is largely down to the work done in the aftermath of the 1998 World Cup - research and thought that ultimately led to the building of St George's Park academy and the restructuring work around it.

Since 2012, it has been a period of growth leading to the flourishing system we now see spitting out winners.

This would be another big leap forward, with a generation of U21s ready to match what was done by the teams of 1982 and 1984 that bagged this competition.

Image source, Getty Images

It's undeniable now... good things are happening with the England national football system.

The seniors may not (yet) have ended all those years of hurt with a major piece of silverware - although they have come mighty close - but the youth system is certainly ensuring the FA need to keep a decent stock of polish.

The U17s, U19s and U20s have all won major tournaments in the last decade. Now all it needs is the U21s to follow suit and collect their first Euros win in just shy of 40 years.