The future's bright, the future's claret and amber - if the successes of the Bantams young guns are anything to go by.

Last night the youth team won a dramatic penalty shoot-out to clinch the 26th International Youth Tournament in Germany, while teenager Simon Francis starred as England under-18s clinched the Lisbon tournament with victory over Spain.

Francis joined Premiership stars proudly donning the Three Lions and was delighted to start two of the three games as England took on Sweden, Spain, Portugal in the tournament.

"It has been a dream come true," said Francis, who is now hoping to be selected for an under-19 tournament in Russia in September.

"I got my first call-up for England the day I was on the bench for the first time for City at Brighton and I can't believe that things have happened like this for me since.

"I thought I would just be in the squad for this tournament, I never thought I was going to play two-and-a-half of the three games.

"Playing against players who have played first-team football for teams like Real Madrid has been a great experience - I have come back a much better player."

Although big-name clubs provided some of the players for the squad, so did sides outside the top flight and Francis believes he is better off where he is.

"I would rather be playing first-team football in Division One than be left stuck in an under-17 side, even if it was for a club like Arsenal," he added.

Meanwhile in Bradford's twin town of Hamm, Germany, trialist goalkeeper Aaron O'Malley was the hero of the hour as the youth team won a dramatic penalty shoot-out to clinch a trophy in front of 2,000 fans.

Twice during the game he brought off point- blank saves to deny Frem Copenhagen, who the City youngsters had already beaten 1-0 in a preliminary round.

The final itself was the best game of the tournament but City, despite the vocal backing of Bingley Juniors who had been competing at another age level, couldn't break the deadlock.

It went down to a nail-biting penalty final with O'Malley saving Frem Copenhagen's seventh spot-kick to clinch the trophy for the Bantams.