They have quickly been subjected to ridicule, as the beauty of hindsight allows people to pretend they never thought Gavin Hoyte and Jack Rodwell would be stars of the future.
Football changes at such a rapid pace that these predicted squads can render the most knowledgeable observers looking clueless. You could be forgiven for pondering why anyone would attempt such a prediction, but it is undeniably fun to cast an eye towards the future.
In the present day, England are in a period of transition. For the first time in eight years, Gareth Southgate is not responsible for picking squads and laying out tactical plans.
In the current squad, new talent has been blooded as Lee Carsley leans on his experience of working with prospects from the youth sides. However, regular watchers of the Three Lions will know promise can quickly fade. It remains to be seen whether the most recent additions to the England ranks will forge long international careers, or be remembered as flashes in the pan.
The Yorkshire Post have scoured England’s vast network of talented young players to predict how the Three Lions team will look at the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. To prevent readers having to browse through an entire international tournament squad, the bench has been limited to nine players.

5. CB: Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
Colwill already has senior caps and plenty of experience at club level, making it easy to forget he is only 21. He could be among the senior heads at the 2034 tournament. Photo: Jeff Dean/Getty Images

6. LB: Ishe Samuels-Smith (Chelsea)
Left-back has proven problematic for England of late but there is an exciting crop moving through the age groups. Samuels-Smith is arguably the most exciting. Photo: James Fearn/Getty Images

7. CM: Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur)
Anyone who watched Leeds United last season knows Gray is something special. If he chooses to remain on the England path and snub any advances from Scotland, he could be the future heartbeat of the Three Lions midfield. Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images

8. CM: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
A relatively easy choice. At 19, he is already a regular for Manchester United and a prominent presence in the England squad. Photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images