Editing James Milner (section)

===Youth===
[[File:Milnercross.jpg|thumb|upright|Milner (right) playing for the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21 team]]]]

After representing England at the under-15 and under-17 levels, Milner was promoted to the under-20 level and called up for the [[2003 FIFA World Youth Championship|2003 World Youth Championship]], but was recalled by Leeds United four days before the opening game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/matchrsl/MatchRslTmU20.html |title=England U20's matches 1981–2019 |website=englandfootballonline.com |access-date=24 May 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727185549/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU20.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after this, under-21 manager [[Peter Taylor (footballer, born 1953)|Peter Taylor]] called him up to the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21 team]] and Milner made his debut against [[Sweden national under-21 football team|Sweden]] on 30 March 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chopra earns U21s draw |last=Cox |first=Gerry |date=30 March 2004 |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/03/SwedenU21vEnglandU21_MR.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050307095400/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/03/SwedenU21vEnglandU21_MR.htm |archive-date=7 March 2005 |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=20 June 2007}}</ref>

Milner scored for the England under-21 team during the 2004–05 season in a qualification match for the [[2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship]], against [[Wales national under-21 football team|Wales]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3722636.stm |title=England U21 2–0 Wales U21 |date=8 October 2004 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130140440/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3722636.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> During the match, in which he played in the centre of midfield, he set up a scoring chance for [[Darren Bent]] as the Young Lions won 2–0.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hatherall |first=Chris |title=Bent does it again |publisher=The Football Association |date=8 October 2006 |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/09/EngU21_vWales_U21Side.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050210033222/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/09/EngU21_vWales_U21Side.htm |archive-date=10 February 2005 |access-date=2 October 2007}}</ref> Despite domestic club troubles, he continued to make progress at international level, scoring the winning goal for the England under-21 team in a 3–2 win over [[Switzerland national under-21 football team|Switzerland]]. The win secured England a place in the playoff stage of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Richard |first=Bright |title=Milner grabs late winner |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=7 September 2006 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2345163/Milner-grabs-late-winner.html |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=London |archive-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121153543/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2345163/Milner-grabs-late-winner.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

In June, Milner competed for England at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefa.com/Euro2007/EnglandNews/Postings/2007/02/EngU21s_EuroSquad.htm |title=Pearce names squad |publisher=The FA |date=30 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012141607/https://www.thefa.com/Euro2007/EnglandNews/Postings/2007/02/EngU21s_EuroSquad.htm |archive-date=12 October 2008 |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> He played in all four of England's matches and was booked in the semi-final against the [[Netherlands national under-21 football team|Netherlands]], which meant he would have missed the final.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beinsports.com/en/football/news/james-milner-youth-star-to-england-regular/1461523 |title=James Milner – Youth Star to England Regular |website=beinsports.com |date=6 May 2020 |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021103428/https://www.beinsports.com/en/football/news/james-milner-youth-star-to-england-regular/1461523 |url-status=live}}</ref> The match was decided by a penalty shoot-out, in which Milner scored twice and England lost 13–12.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jeremy |newspaper=The Guardian |title=England go out after 32-penalty shoot-out drama |date=21 June 2007 |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2107676,00.html |access-date=23 August 2007 |location=London |archive-date=6 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706221757/http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2107676,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Milner was included in the under-21 squad for a friendly against [[Romania national under-21 football team|Romania]], which ended in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite news |title=England U21 v Romania U21 |website=BBC Sport |date=21 August 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6956354.stm |access-date=21 August 2007 |archive-date=15 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015172823/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6956354.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> A month later, Milner set an England under-21 record by making his 30th appearance for the team in a 3–0 win against [[Montenegro national under-21 football team|Montenegro]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6984539.stm |title=Montenegro U21 0–3 England U21 |website=BBC Sport |date=7 September 2007 |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904110801/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?rnd=1630753681101&ci=bbc&cg=0&sr=1600x1000&ts=v51.js&cd=24&lg=en-US&je=n&ck=y&tz=0&ct=&hp=&tl=BBC%20SPORT%20%7C%20Football%20%7C%20Internationals%20%7C%20Montenegro%20U21%200-3%20England%20U21&si=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fsport2%2Fhi%2Ffootball%2Finternationals%2F6984539.stm&rp= |url-status=live}}</ref> Historically, players with several England Under-21 appearances have not progressed to become regulars in the senior team, which has led some to doubt whether Milner would be able to successfully make the transition.<ref>{{cite web |title=International – Milner battles Under-21 curse |publisher=Eurosport |date=21 August 2007 |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21082007/58/international-milner-battles-under-21-curse.html |access-date=21 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823223105/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21082007/58/international-milner-battles-under-21-curse.html |archive-date=23 August 2007}}</ref> In October, he scored his third goal for the under-21 team in a 3–0 win over [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rep of Ire U21 0–3 England U21 |website=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7047977.stm |access-date=17 October 2007 |archive-date=18 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018025621/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7047977.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> He scored again in the return match four months later that England also won 3–0.<ref>{{cite news |title=England U-21 3–0 Rep of Ire U-21 |website=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7227334.stm |access-date=5 February 2008 |archive-date=7 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207130920/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7227334.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Milner continued to be a regular and was the only player, along with [[Joe Hart]] and captain [[Steven Taylor (footballer)|Steven Taylor]], to have played in all the [[2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification|qualifiers for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/james-milner/u-21-h-em-qualifikation-2007-2008/england-u21-h-team/3/ |title=James Milner U-21 qualifier appearances 2007–2008 |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904110758/https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/james-milner/u-21-h-em-qualifikation-2007-2008/england-u21-h-team/3/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In the summer of 2009, he was in the squad for the [[2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship]] in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/16261/10899837/englands-european-u21-finalists-from-2009-where-are-they-now |title=England's European U21 finalists from 2009: Where are they now? |website=Sky Sports |date=16 June 2017 |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128133651/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/16261/10899837/englands-european-u21-finalists-from-2009-where-are-they-now |url-status=live}}</ref> He helped set up the winning goal for [[Micah Richards]] against [[Finland national under-21 football team|Finland]], and manager [[Stuart Pearce]] said after the match, "The modern-day full-back can get up and down the pitch and I knew [Milner] would be comfortable".<ref>{{cite news |first=Henry |last=Winter |title=England U21 2 Finland U21 1: match report |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=15 June 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/5544584/England-U21-2-Finland-U21-1-match-report.html |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=London |archive-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121154220/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/5544584/England-U21-2-Finland-U21-1-match-report.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> In England's second match against [[Spain national under-21 football team|Spain]], Milner had a penalty saved by [[Sergio Asenjo]], and scored England's second goal in a 2–0 win.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Stevenson |title=England U21 2–0 Spain U21 |website=BBC Sport |date=18 June 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8105151.stm |access-date=6 July 2009 |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130140430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8105151.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> England faced the hosts Sweden in the semi-finals. After the match ended in a 3–3 draw, it went to a penalty shoot-out.<ref name="Winter">{{cite news |first=Henry |last=Winter |title=England U21 3 Sweden U21 3: match report |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=26 June 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/5653894/England-U21-3-Sweden-U21-3-match-report.html |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=London |archive-date=18 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118032707/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/5653894/England-U21-3-Sweden-U21-3-match-report.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> Milner was the only England player to miss in the shoot-out after he slipped just before kicking the ball, causing it to go over the crossbar.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8116495.stm |title=England U21 3–3 Sweden U21 (aet) |first=Phil |last=Dawkes |website=BBC Sport |date=26 June 2009 |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130140443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8116495.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> England won the shoot-out 5–4 to advance to the final for the first time in 25 years.<ref name="Winter"/> England lost the final to [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany]] 4–0 and Milner said after the match that the team was "hurting" and that the way in which the team lost was "not good enough".<ref>{{cite news |title=England Camp Is 'Hurting' After European Under-21 Final Defeat – James Milner |website=Goal |date=30 June 2009 |url=http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/06/30/1355108/england-camp-is-hurting-after-european-under-21-final-defeat |access-date=6 July 2009 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130144107/https://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/06/30/1355108/england-camp-is-hurting-after-european-under-21-final-defeat |url-status=live}}</ref> The final was his last match for the under-21 team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/09/06/the-players-with-the-most-england-u21-caps---ranked/james-milner0/ |title=The players with the most England U21 caps – ranked |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=6 September 2016 |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913175739/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/09/06/the-players-with-the-most-england-u21-caps---ranked/james-milner0/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> His 46 appearances at under-21 level are a national record.<ref>{{cite web |title=James Milner |publisher=The Football Association |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/M/James-Milner | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530151740/http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/M/James-Milner |archive-date=30 May 2012 |access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref>