While they came close with a semi-final appearance in 2017, the second-placed finished in 2009 is still the best performance from an England U21 side in recent history.
They will undoubtedly be looking to change that with a host of very talented players in the squad, but for now let's take a look back at the team from 13 years ago - and what happened next for each player following their heartbreaking 4-0 loss to Germany in the final.
GK - Scott Loach
Despite a young Joe Hart also being part of the squad - who would go on to win the Premier League with Manchester City and play regularly for the senior England side - Scott Loach played the final of the U21s tournament while on the books of Watford.
Loach made over 100 appearances for the Hornets but never really pushed on from there and would find himself bouncing around clubs in the lower tiers of the football league before finding his feet again at Hartlepool.
Moves to Barnet and Chesterfield in non-league followed before he arrived as a back-up 'keeper in League One with Derby County aged 35, although he hasn't made a single appearance so far.
RB - Martin Cranie
Another player in the side who failed to go on to make an impact at the top level in England (a surprisingly common theme for some members of the squad), Martin Cranie played for Portsmouth at the time of the tournament but moved on to Coventry City later that year where he would make 120 appearances across three years before moving on following the clubs' relegation to League One.
Cranie remained around the second tier with the likes of Huddersfield (eventually helping them to the Premier League), Sheffield United and Luton Town, before retiring in 2021 after a respectable career.
CB - Micah Richards
One of the most successful members of the starting squad, Micah Richards enjoyed a solid career at the top of the Premier League with Manchester City and even played 13 times for England's senior side, scoring one goal.
Richards won the Premier League twice, an FA Cup and the EFL Cup during his time at City before eventually moving on to Aston Villa where he enjoyed significantly less success.
After being relegated following his first season at the club he moved on loan to Fiorentina in Italy.
Aged just 31, Richards retired from football and is now a well-liked pundit on TV.
CB - Nedum Onuoah
Nedum Onuoah was another City youth player who did well at the U21 Euros, partnering Richards in defence and equally doing well for himself throughout the rest of his career.
He made 116 appearances for City and won the Premier League before moving on the QPR where he would play the majority of his football across both the first and second divisions of England.
Unliked Richards, the defender failed to make it into the senior England set-up and would eventually retire after playing for MLS side Real Salt Lake City aged 34.
LB - Kieran Gibbs
Rounding off the defence was Arsenal youngster Kieran Gibbs - who also enjoyed a successful time at the top-level of English football.
Gibbs played over 200 times for the Gunners and won three FA Cups, as well as featuring in the Champions League before moving on to West Brom where he would turn out in both the Premier League and the Championship later in his career.
As was the case with Onuoah, Gibbs finished his career in the US with Inter Miami after retiring in February 2023 - had he waited it out another season he might have been linking up with Lionel Messi.
CM - Fabrice Muamba
One of the most famous stories to come from the youth side, Fabrice Muamba was on the books of Arsenal and Birmingham before finding a home with Bolton Wanderers and making 130 Premier League appearances.
Tragedy would strike when the midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of an FA Cup game against Tottenham Hotspur and was essentially dead for 78 minutes, but Muamba would go on to make a miraculous recovery after being rushed to hospital and administered 15 defibrillator shocks across that time period.
Muamba was forced to retire shortly afterwards for his own health but has since taken up a career in coaching and was recently involved in Bolton's academy set-up.
CM - Lee Cattermole
Lee Cattermole came through the ranks at Middlesbrough before moving to Wigan and then becoming a mainstay in the Premier League with Sunderland - featuring 170 times for the Black Cats.
He developed a reputation for himself as an ill-disciplined, tough tackling midfielder but did offer a lot on the ball and perhaps became quite underrated at times after spending the best part of a decade playing consistently in the top flight, although he never really knocked on the door of any senior England side.
Cattermole would also play in the Championship and League One after Sunderland's consecutive relegations, before making the strange move to VVV-Venlo in the Netherlands and retiring aged 32.
CM - Mark Noble (c)
Mark Noble captained the England U21 side during 2009 which showed his leadership skills were always there from an early age, further proved by the fact he went on to captain West Ham for the majority of his career.
The midfielder saw both ups and downs with the Hammers but spent his entire career in east London barring a few early loans and retired as a club legend - even staying on as a Sporting Director once he hung up his boots.
Noble was part of relegations, promotions, European cup runs and more during his time with West Ham, but despite his consistently good performances for over a decade, a senior England call-up sadly never came.
RW - James Milner
Undoubtedly the most decorated player to come out of the 2009 U21 squad, James Milner was won every major trophy available to him during an illustrious career in England.
He has so far amassed 619 Premier League games across five different clubs including Man City and Liverpool and recently sealed another season in the top flight by signing for Europa League side Brighton.
The ever-reliable midfielder also played 61 times for England, and once he retires will go down as a modern footballing legend.
His trophy cabinet is mightily impressive: boasting three Premier League's, two FA Cups, two EFL Cups and a Champions League alongside a Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup - he has even won the Community Shield twice.
ST - Theo Walcott
Another successful member of the U21 squad, Theo Walcott went on to have a good time at the top level of football.
The striker-turned-winger featured in just under 400 games for Arsenal across all competitions, scoring 108 goals and providing 80 assists while also winning three FA Cups.
Walcott also enjoyed consistent time in the England squad, making 47 appearances and still plays now for Championship side Southampton despite taking on more of a coaching role.
LW - Adam Johnson
Once a very promising player, Adam Johnson featured for the likes of Middlesbrough, Man City (where he would win the Premier League) and Sunderland - as well as England's first team.
Despite developing into a good footballer, shocking behaviour in the winger's private life became public in 2016.
Johnson was found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to six years in prison, which he has now served.
He hasn't played a game of professional football since his conviction seven years ago.
Other members of the squad
Joe Hart (Birnmingham, Manchester City, Torino, West Ham, Burnley, Spurs, Celtic)
Joe Lewis (Stockport, Peterborough, Cardiff, Blackpool, Fulham, Aberdeen)
Danny Rose (Leeds, Spurs, Watford, Peterborough, Bristol City, Sunderland, Newcastle)
Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough, Bradford, Watford, Cardiff, Wigan, Bolton)
Richard Stearman (Leicester, Wolves, Ipswich, Fulham, Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Derby)
James Tomkins (West Ham, Derby, Crystal Palace)
Michael Mancienne (Chelsea, QPR, Wolves, Hamburg, Nottingham Forest, New England Revoultion, Burton)
Craig Gardner (Aston Villa, Birmingham, Sunderland, West Brom)
Jack Rodwell (Everton, Manchester City, Sunderland, Blackburn, Sheffield United, Sydney FC)
Andrew Driver (Hearts, Houston Dynamo, Aberdeen, Graafschap)
Frazier Campbell (Manchester United, Antwerp, Hull, Spurs, Sunderland, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield)
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa, Watford, Sheffield Wednesday)
