LEWIS Cook will be the first player since Darren Caskey in 1993 to captain England under-20s in a World Cup semi-final after the young Lions beat Mexico 1-0 in South Korea.

Furthermore, Cook was instrumental to his country's last-eight success, supplying a glorious threaded pass for Liverpool new-boy Dominic Solanke to score the decisive goal.

England survived a tense final 18 minutes following the slightly bizarre dismissal of Josh Onomah, to set up a last-four clash with Italy in Jeonju on Thursday (12pm).

Victory over the Italians would see Paul Simpson's team become the first England side to reach the final of the competition.

Mexico overcame a sluggish start to have the better of the first half in Cheonan. But Cherries midfielder Cook changed the narrative when he spied Solanke's run two minutes after the break and picked out the forward with a pass that eliminated five Mexican players from the action.

Former Chelsea man Solanke did the rest, coolly stroking the ball beyond Mexico goalkeeper Abraham Romero.

Onomah was then close to doubling England's lead with a shot that was touched onto the post by Romero.

The Mexicans were given fresh hope when Tottenham player Onomah received a second booking despite seeming to have simply lost control of the ball as he dribbled forward.

Nevertheless, England held out and Cook and his colleagues will try to go one better than Caskey's team, who lost out to Ghana in the semi-final 24 years ago.

Venezuela and Uruguay will contest the other semi-final, with the final being staged in Suwon on Sunday.