Paris, Lisbon, Sao Paulo … Stockport - The unlikely football talent factory supplying Man United, Man City and England
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe banlieues of Paris, the street footballers in Sao Paulo, the academy talent factories in Lisbon - all of them production lines for a steady flow of talent - but to the list can be added a small triangle just south of Manchester that might be called upon to help rescue England's Euro 2024 campaign in Germany tonight.
For 18 minutes against Slovenia on Tuesday, the grassroots clubs around Stockport accounted for three players representing England at a major tournament.
After their impact, the trio of Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden could all be involved from the start for the last-16 tie against Slovakia.
Mainoo and Foden were born in Stockport and Palmer in Wythenshawe and just five years separate a trio of Premier League stars that are bringing a degree of technical excellence to the England squad.
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