Are the kids alright?

For the next week or two, starting against Croatia on Monday, they will be representing not only their country but the argument that England's future is rich in potential rather than hamstrung by failing academies and a dwindling number of Premiership-bound graduates.

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All eyes will be on Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young and David Nugent for evidence that, despite foreign imports monopolising Premiership places, there is still enough homegrown talent to keep England competitive on the world stage.

Some will be looking more expectantly than others, judging by a growing sense of unease over the long-term outlook. Former England manager Graham Taylor fears quarter-final elimination may be the country's true level at major tournaments, while Howard Wilkinson paints a gloomy picture of a set-up that was designed to increase, let alone safeguard, the supply of prospective internationals.

As the Football Association's technical director, Wilkinson revolutionised youth development by introducing the Charter for Quality and shifting the authority for nurturing young talent from schools and county associations to professional club academies.

The former Leeds manager's vision was for the country's top youngsters to be given the finest education, in a football sense, and be delivered to the senior ranks, ready to make an impact not only on the Premiership but at international level.

The reality is not quite so rosy. Not so much a steady flow of emerging world-beaters as barely a trickle. Wilkinson points the finger at an unseemly scramble for Premiership riches and the quick-fix option of buying from abroad.

He said: "This Under 21 squad looks strong, with a lot of Premiership experience, and they will benefit from playing tournament football. But the lack of opportunities for English kids in our game is a massive problem that is getting worse.

"It is going to have a long-term effect on the game and the first area it will impact on is the national team. If this trend continues, the Under 21 manager is going to have less and less to choose from. Even the current squad is a worry. One player from Manchester United, one from Arsenal and none from Liverpool or Chelsea.

"It's all very well having lads from Reading, Fulham, Cardiff, West Ham and Wigan but the best players tend to be at the best clubs. People go on about restriction of trade and I know there are legal difficulties, but the Premier League and FA have got to sit down and come up with measures to safeguard the longterm good of the game.

"The Premier League would do well to remember they are based in England. They have a responsibility to look after the environment in which they operate. The general view seems to be that the Premiership is great and we have terrific footballers and managers with enough money to continue bringing them in from all over the place. Fine, but I look at the broader picture and can't help worrying about the development of domestic players and the long-term welfare of our game.

"Gordon Brown talks about bidding for the World Cup in 2018, but is it such an attractive idea if we don't have an England team capable of winning it or even getting out of the group stages? That is what I fear will happen."

But former Under 21 boss Peter Taylor takes a contrary view and is convinced England will continue to be a major force. He can even pinpoint a positive aspect of the foreign invasion.

Taylor said: "In my day, in the 70s, our idea of a warm-down was a couple of pints in the bar. If someone was a bit overweight, the manager would say: 'You could do with losing a few pounds, son.' Now, you've got fitness scientists, dieticians, masseurs, the lot. With the Under 21s we had a fitness coach who would stand alongside me at training and tell me exactly how much physical work we should be doing and how tired the players should be.

"He would decide when they should spend a day in the pool rather than on the training pitch. He would even devise routines for individual players to strengthen particular parts of their bodies.

"They have specialists telling them what they should be eating, how much of it and when and that is down to the foreign influence.

"There are problems and it's not just the influx from abroad. When I was a kid, football was all that mattered. Nowadays there are so many counter-attractions. But I firmly believe football will continue to hold its own. I am constantly surprised by the way we keep producing young players.

"We've got lads like Nigel Reo-Coker, a real leader of men, Steven Taylor, who is a colossus at the back, and genuine flair in the likes of Ashley Young. I believe all the squad heading for Holland have got a lot to offer and I am convinced they will do the country proud. You always need a bit of luck but I can see them coming back with the trophy."