Thomas Tuchel and his England heroes are in Miami preparing to kick off their World Cup campaign, hoping to end 60 years of hurt for Three Lions fans across the country09:58, 06 Jun 2026England’s stars look unrecognisable in these cute lion cub childhood photos.‌Thomas Tuchel and his men are in Miami preparing to kick off in the World Cup and hoping to end 60 years of hurt. Each of them will have dreamt of earning glory for England as they were growing up kicking a ball about.‌As they get ready to play on the biggest stage, see if you can recognise each wide-eyed youngster that will star for England this summer.‌Kobbie MainooKobbie Mainoo played for Cheadle and Gatley in the 2011-12 season when he was just six years old, before joining the Manchester United academy aged nine.Club treasurer Richard Hubbard said: “Kobbie was a naturally gifted young player, a miniature version of the player you see today. We'd only let him play with his left foot because he was so good. We wanted to put extra challenges on him.”‌Jude BellinghamReal Madrid ace Jude Bellingham began his football journey at Stourbridge Juniors, in his hometown where dad, Mark, coached. He later joined the youth system at Birmingham as an Under-8, rapidly progressing through their academy to eventually become the club's youngest ever first-team player.Reece James‌Reece James played for two youth clubs - Kew Park Rangers and Epsom Eagles - before signing for Chelsea aged just six. Remembering his grassroots teams he said: “My first memories of football are playing in the park with my brother Josh, sister Lauren and my dad."All three of us grew up wanting to be professional footballers so we would be out there trying to get better, improve and get to the top."Elliot Anderson‌Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson began his grassroots football career at the famous Wallsend Boys Club, in North Tyneside. He played for the club as a young boy before being scouted and joining the Newcastle United FC academy at the age of eight.Ollie WatkinsOllie Watkins began his career playing for Devon-based local side WBB Youth FC (competing in the Pioneer Youth League) and Buckland Athletic, before successfully joining Exeter City.‌Morgan RogersMorgan Rogers' first club was the Halas Hawks in his hometown of Halesowen, West Midlands. He joined West Bromwich Albion aged nine. He later represented the Young Lions at U17, U19, U20, and U21 levels.Dan Burn‌Dan Burn began his footballing journey playing for his hometown club, Blyth Town. He later had a spell at Blyth Spartans and briefly joined the Newcastle United academy as a youngster before being released at the age of 11.The towering defender eventually clawed his way into professional football through the non-league ranksNico O'Reilly‌Nico O'Reilly played his youth football for two local Manchester clubs - the Failsworth Dynamos and Moston Tigers - before being snapped up by Man City aged eight.Eberechi EzeEberechi Eze's football journey started with South London teams ProStars and Bruin JFC. He went on to play for several professional club academies across London before eventually breaking through at Queens Park Rangers.‌He said: ‘I grew up in Greenwich, near the old Greenwich Hospital, on a council estate and would play football in a small yellow cage on one of the council estates in that area."We would create goals with our jumpers and we were there every day after school, before going to training or on trial. I'd go there to play football first, and that's where I fell in love with football.”Bukayo Saka‌Bukayo Saka played youth football for local club Greenford Celtic. In an interview, Saka stated the importance of his father, Yomi, in his footballing career.Recalling starting out playing, he said: “I used to play at the back of my house and also out the front of my house, where there was a green area and everyone would come out to play after school until it would get dark.”Harry Kane‌England captain Harry Kane took his first steps in the world of football with Chingford-based Ridgeway Rovers, where he played before joining Arsenal’s academy in 2004. Ridgeway chairman Ian Marshall said: “When Harry first turned up in the early 2000s, aged seven or eight, he volunteered to go in goal."He was brilliant in goal, we had to be persuaded to put him outfield - but he turned out to be brilliant there too."Anthony Gordon‌Born and raised on Merseyside, Anthony Gordon began his youth football career with local side Whiston Juniors and briefly spent time in the Liverpool academy before moving to Everton's youth system at age 11.Declan RiceDeclan Rice grew up in Kingston upon Thames and joined the Chelsea academy in 2006, aged seven.‌He said: “There’s pictures of me at home in the garden with snow and rain coming down, wearing a nappy and pelting the ball as soon as I could walk at two years old.”Jordan HendersonJordan Henderson started playing for his local team Fulwell Juniors in Sunderland. He was also a standout player for his school team at Farringdon Community Academy before being scouted and joining his hometown club, Sunderland aged eight.‌Marcus RashfordMarcus Rashford began playing with Fletcher Moss Rangers. He shone in the local youth football tournament and was snapped up by Man United.He said; “Fletcher Moss was so important because I learned some of the traits that are key for you, not just in football but during your life, and they always gave me a space to express myself and enjoy my football.”‌James TraffordJames Trafford's first youth club was his local grassroots team, Cockermouth FC, in his native Cumbria. He said “My first memory of playing football was when was in play group with my best friend still to this day, Spencer."We were just kicking the ball and knocking all the toys off, and my mum worked there so she told me off. Growing up, we didn't have Wi-Fi until I was about maybe nine or ten and we didn't really watch television, so all we knew was farming and football."‌Djed SpenceTottenham’s Djed Spence's first club was Peckham Town, where he played from the age of six. He later moved to Junior Elite FC, before joining the Fulham FC Academy.He said: “I didn’t know if it was actually real or not but I always remember scoring a bicycle kick for my grassroots team but it is real! That was my first footballing memory. It was in a game and I scored a bicycle kick, I was playing for Peckham Town at the time."‌Jordan PickfordJordan Pickford began playing with Washington Envelopes where was spotted by scouts from Sunderland aged. He said: “I’ll never forget my roots. It’s a big privilege for myself and my family."We never forget where we come from to where we are now. When I go back home, if I get the opportunity, just going back to that area and just reminiscing of all the good times when you were a kid. There’s nothing better than home and just them memories you make as a young kid.Article continues below"I always say no matter what, I’m still that daft lad from Fatfield Washington. I’ve worked hard and come a long way to be wearing the England shirt."