524 days is how long England U19s coach, Lydia Bedford, has calculated since her group of young footballers had an international fixture. It is a large amount of time by any stretch, but particularly so in the cycle of youth football that prepares the next generation for their senior careers.
England’s U19s are heading to the 2019 European Championships after a strong 2-0 win over Italy on Wednesday afternoon.
The first international week of the year took place over the last fortnight. The Home Nations and the Republic of Ireland had teams from across the age groups competing in friendlies around Europe and beyond.