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England Under-15 squad from 2017 boasted future superstars Bellingham, Palmer & Musiala – and TWO former Celtic players

thescottishsun.co.uk 3 days ago

JAMAL MUSIALA and Jude Bellingham could be on a collision course towards the Euro 2024 Final should both of their nations get there.

But seven years ago, the two superstars were playing for the SAME country - alongside TWO former Celtic players.

Musiala and Bellingham were England youth teammates
Musiala and Bellingham were England youth teammates
Now they're on opposing sides internationally
Now they're on opposing sides internationally
Bellingham and Cole Palmer have come through the England youth ranks together
Bellingham and Cole Palmer have come through the England youth ranks together

Germany star Musiala has lit up the Euros with a string of impressive performances.

After striking in his country's opening 5-1 win thrashing of Scotland, he went on to net in the 2-0 win over Switzerland and the opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 last 16 win over Denmark.

Bellingham's stunning 95th minute overhead kick dragged England back from the brink of Euros elimination, levelling things up at 1-1 against Slovakia on Sunday.

Harry Kane went on to score an extra time winner as England made it into the quarter-finals.

Germany and England are on opposite sides of the draw meaning that they cannot face-off unless both nations make it to the final in Berlin on July 14.

While they are on a potential collision course towards that final, Bellingham and Musiala were in fact England TEAMMATES.

A teamsheet has emerged from an under-15s clash between England and Belgium held on February 16, 2017.

And it was a star-studded affair that included some HUGE names - as well as a couple of former Celtic kids.

Bellingham and Musiala were both among the subs in the game held at St George's Park, England's state of the art training base.

Born in Stuttgart, Musiala was eligible to play for England through his father.

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He played for England at under-15 level before switching to Germany's under-16 side and then once again featuring for England from under-16 through to under-21.

Musiala then made the decision to play for Germany and has been a regular in the international setup since 2021.

Bellingham and Musiala aren't the only huge names on the teamsheet.

Cole Palmer, who finished the season in red-hot form for Chelsea, started the game as England's number 10.

The 22-year old enjoyed a stunning first season at Stamford Bridge after moving from Manchester City and, like Bellingham, is away with England at the Euros.

Another current Chelsea star, Noni Madueke, also started the game.

Also in the starting XI was AC Milan star Yunus Musah.

The New York-born 21-year old represented England from under-15s through to under-18s before becoming a senior United States international in 2020.

Some other notable names in the squad are Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and Manchester City starlet Lewis Fiorini.

This was Fiorini's only international appearance representing England and he now, of course, represents Scotland internationally.

And then, to the two former Celtic players.

Armstrong Oko-Flex started the game as one of England's strikers.

The Dublin-born 22-year old was on the books at Celtic between 2018 and 2021, making two Scottish Premiership appearances.

Oko-Flex, who now plays for FC Zurich in Switzerland, now plays for the Republic of Ireland at international level.

It was a star-studded team
It was a star-studded team
Armstrong Oko-Flex played in the game
Armstrong Oko-Flex played in the game
Karamoko Dembele was a wonderkid who England and Scotland desperately wanted
Karamoko Dembele was a wonderkid who England and Scotland desperately wanted
Dembele represented both nations as a youth international
Dembele represented both nations as a youth international

He's won five caps for the country of his birth at under-21 level.

The other former Celtic ace in the squad was Karamoko Dembele, who was still a week out from his 14th birthday at the time.

He was a huge prospect at the time with England and Scotland famously battling to secure him internationally.

Born in London, Dembele and has family had moved to Scotland before he'd even turned one.

Almost simultaneously around this time, he represented both Scotland and England at under-15 and under-16 level.

He continued to feature for both nations through under-17 level and played for England's under-18s as well.

Dembele's career has never quite - so far at least - hit the heights that were expected of him at the time.

After eight league appearances, he was released by Celtic in 2022.

Dembele moved to France with Brest but spent last season on loan at Blackpool.

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