Steve Cooper's side will now be bidding to make history in Varazdin when they face Spain or Germany on Friday, by becoming the first nation to win the competition for a third time having triumphed in 2010 and 2014.

Freddie Woodman and Adam Armstrong were in the victorious England squad back in 2014 and now Gibson is hoping to follow in their footsteps by returning to Tyneside with a medal.

Cooper named the same starting XI for the fifth successive match, with Gibson part of a well-drilled defence which had not conceded in 312 minutes heading into the semi-final.

And although they were breached by Kerem Kesgin on this occasion, England were already 2-0 up through Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jadon Sancho.

County Durham-born Gibson and his team-mates dug deep in the second half to ensure their place in Friday's final.