Football Association technical director Dan Ashworth has said that England can win the 2022 World Cup despite the Under-21s' group-stage exit at the European Championships.
England lost 2-1 to Italy, and the nation's selection policy for the tournament has been criticised.
"Yeah, why not? I honestly believe," he told Sky Sports News. "The day after getting knocked out of the 21s people will probably read this with a smile on their face and think I'm deluded.
"I honestly believe we have players in the system, that we [have] players we have already talked about, who were not here, players playing in the Premier League. The seniors have gone unbeaten for a season for the first time in God knows how many years.
"I honestly believe the signs are there and the players in the development programmes."
England chose not to select any players who had appeared for the senior team in the squad for the European Under-21 Championship.
Jonathan McIntosh
