Paul Simpson’s side have outperformed expectation in South Korea and victory over Italy in Jeonju on Thursday would seal a first World Cup final appearance for their age group

When Paul Simpson took England to South Korea for the Under-20 World Cup finals one of the biggest battles he had to fight was that of perception. Few observers, at home or abroad, have had much cause to consider that England take the competition seriously and unfavourable impressions can be virulently contagious. The statistics were grim: 17 games on this stage without a win stretching back to 1997, and that accounted only for the occasions on which they had qualified.

Simpson’s squad have turned it all round and stand on the verge of making history. Victory over Italy in Jeonju on Thursday would bring a first appearance in the final. England have overcome a broad range of challenges, and the occasional wobble, in getting this far and have played with an intensity that treats this competition in the way it is so often regarded abroad: as a big deal. “The players know the importance of what they’ve achieved,” he says. “There’s a steely determination about them and they want to go out there and achieve something. So far, so good, but we really want to make that next step and go to the final.”

England will have been together for 35 days by the end of the tournament on Sunday and Simpson speaks glowingly of a group that “has not given me one moment of a problem”. They have made a positive impression with their courtesy towards hosts and Fifa officials; there has been a keenness within the England set up to show that they are serious this time and, in reaching the last four for the first time since 1993, their approach has paid off on all fronts.

“We want to be recognised as good people but we want to be recognised as good football players as well,” Simpson says, and a squad bolstered through rare levels of co-operation from Premier League clubs has stepped up. In previous years an England campaign might have been remembered for the moment a fortnight ago when, with the team a goal up in the group stage against Guinea, the Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori drilled a 45-yard backpass past his own goalkeeper with no danger in sight. That now seems the smallest kink in a run that has brought wins against Argentina, South Korea, Costa Rica and, in Monday’s quarter-final, Mexico.

“We couldn’t have chosen a tougher first game than Argentina; they had so much of the ball but we were just clinical in both 18-yard boxes and killed the game,” Simpson says of a tone-setting 3-0 victory. “South Korea was another tough game where our only supporters were probably a handful of our players’ families. Costa Rica and Mexico were also difficult and I know that Italy will be a hell of a tough task – they look to be a typical well-drilled, well-organised Italian side.”

It is a fair impression, although Italy have not found goals hard to come by. They won a wild quarter-final against Zambia 3-2 despite spending almost 80 of the 120 minutes with 10 men; the Juventus forward Riccardo Orsolini has scored four times in the tournament and the impression before Thursday’s fixture is of two finely -balanced sides who may go the distance again.

Simpson was pleased to see his striker Dominic Solanke score the winner against Mexico days after the player’s move to Liverpool was confirmed. Solanke did not play a senior game last season, a situation said partly to have been rooted in a contract stand-off with his former club Chelsea, and his international manager regards him as an “incredible guy” for dealing with the frustration.

“He’d been a little slow to find his feet but I thought his performance against Mexico was outstanding,” Simpson says. “He really brought his game to the party, and I’m sure that it’s because his situation has now been resolved and it’s out in the open. That must have been a real burden to have hanging over him. Hopefully he can perform in the semis and show everyone what a top footballer he is capable of being.”

Plenty of others have come through with their stock raised, although Simpson will have to do without one important player against Italy after Josh Onomah, of Tottenham, was shown what the manager – along with most others – perceived was an “absolutely ridiculous” red card late in the Mexico game. That was the first real negative of England’s past three weeks but it has made no mark on their appetite to harness the new-found optimism.

“These lads have got an opportunity to play in a World Cup semi-final and not many players can say that – certainly not many English players anyway,” Simpson says. “We just hope they enjoy the challenge, grasp it and give it everything they’ve got.”

Italy v England; noon, British Eurosport 2

England’s team of 1993: where are they now?

The last time England reached the semi-finals of the Under-20 World Cup, the side coached by David Burnside were beaten 2-1 by Ghana. But what happened to the boys of ‘93?

David Watson: Went on to make nearly 200 appearances for Barnsley and is now goalkeeping coach at Southampton having also worked under Roy Hodgson for England.

Steve Watson: Versatile defender and midfielder was part of Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle revolution before moving to Aston Villa, Everton, West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday. Has since managed Macclesfield.

David Unsworth: The Everton stalwart made more than 300 appearances at Goodison Park over two spells and returned as a coach in 2013. He is now head coach of the club’s Under-21 side.

Marvin Harriot: Began career at Luton and made 36 appearances for Bristol City before moving into non-league football.

Ian Pearce: Went on to win the Premier League title with Blackburn under Kenny Dalglish before joining West Ham and Fulham. Also had a spell as Chris Sutton’s assistant at Lincoln City.

Anthony Hughes: The talented defender played only 23 matches for Crewe in the Football League before quitting the game at 29 after a spell at Morecambe.

Darren Caskey: The team captain only made 42 appearances for boyhood side Tottenham before moving on to Reading and Notts County. Now the football consultant at York City.

Jamie Pollock: Middlesbrough youth team product went on to have spells with Bolton, Manchester City and Crystal Palace before retiring in 2001. Now co-owner of a glass and glazing company based in Middlesbrough.

Julian Joachim: Starred for Leicester as a young player and went on to have spells at Aston Villa, Coventry and Leeds. Now a scout and agent having previously owned a Chinese restaurant.

Chris Bart-Williams: Made his debut for Leyton Orient at 16 before moving to Sheffield Wednesday and then Nottingham Forest. Won one cap for England B before ending his career in Malta.

Alan Thompson: A product of Newcastle’s youth system, Thompson moved to Bolton in 1993 and then had a successful spell with Celtic, winning a solitary England cap in 2004. Now assistant coach at Bury.