Football rarely produces anything other than wildly contrasting emotions, on and off the field. So it came to pass that on the same day that Rio Ferdinand admitted being "gutted" after being left out of England's squad for Euro 2012, an ebullient Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was talking giddily about "a dream come true" following his inclusion in Roy Hodgson's panel for Poland and Ukraine.

While an admirably restrained Ferdinand is currently trying to come to terms with a controversial omission which effectively ends his England career, Oxlade-Chamberlain is entertaining heady thoughts of representing his country in what is now thought to be the toughest tournament in international football.

The Arsenal winger, of course, is still uncapped, meaning it will be a brave call to hand him his debut at Euro 2012, but then, Hodgson clearly would not have selected him if he did not think that the Portsmouth-born youngster belongs at this level.

And just in case England's new boss needs any convincing of the old adage that if you are good enough, you are old enough, Goal.com has profiled four teenagers who made their mark in previous European Championships.