BUKAYO SAKA couldn’t stop smiling after helping fire England into a Euro 2024 semi-final clash with Holland.
The Three Lions looked to be heading out of the tournament after Breel Embolo fired Switzerland into the lead with only quarter of an hour left in Dusseldorf.
But, less than five minutes later, Saka stepped up to be England’s lionhearted hero.
The Arsenal star cut inside from his new position at right wing-back to level the scores with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box.
ADVERTISEMENTBoth sides had chances to win it in extra-time before the game, inevitably, drifted towards penalties.
And, with England 2-1 up in spot-kicks after Jordan Pickford’s save from Manuel Akanji, up stepped Saka with the chance to put England in command.
Saka, 22, coolly fired past Yann Sommer, banishing the memory of his heartbreaking miss in the final loss to Italy at Euro 2020.
All five of England’s takers converted to make it a perfect set of pens, with England winning 5-3 – only their fourth-ever shootout win.
Asked about exorcising his demons, Saka admitted: “It’s something I embrace. It was special, very special, how we fought back. The last time we went to penalties we all know what happened.
“You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not. I’m a guy who is going to put myself in that position. I believed in myself.
“To come back from something like that was really difficult but I used it to make me stronger.
“We know there are two more games until we can change our lives and make some history that’s never been made before. We’re really focused on that.
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“Hopefully in the next game we can win in 90 minutes. But if this is what it takes we will do anything.”
England boss Gareth Southgate – who was seen giving Saka a massive hug amid the celebrations – couldn’t have been more proud of his starlet.
Southgate said: “Bukayo was so brave. He is one of our best so we were never in any doubt that he was going to take one.
“We all know what he went through so to deliver the way he did… I gave him a massive cuddle on the pitch. He’s a special boy, he’s a dream to work with.
“It takes courage but we had belief in him. We had belief in him previously. He’s now got a lot more experience of those pressure moments. His all-round performance was exceptional.”
“So yeah, I’m proud of myself as well for that.”
After seeing Saka beam his way through a post-match interview on the BBC, host Gary Lineker was full of praise for the “wonderful” England star.
BUKAYO SAKA LEVELS FOR ENGLAND! 🏴#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/tqNFoTEJ7Y
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2024
I know we needed penalties… but England showed vs Switzerland why they can WIN Euro 2024, says Jack Wilshere
IT TOOK penalties to put us through but, before the drama, England showed us why they have the ingredients to do something special, writes Jack Wilshere.It was a win by the narrowest of margins but this was overall our best performance of Euro 2024.If we can build on the progress we made, especially in the first half, we could WIN the tournament.It was not a complete display. There were nervy moments and waiting so long to make changes could have cost us.But we saw what a good team England can be if they do the right things and put players in the right positions.The first half was England’s best since the first 45 against Serbia. Maybe even better.One of the keys to that was our press and the effect it had on Granit Xhaka.For the first time in four games we were pressing high, winning the ball back in better areas and putting Switzerland on the back foot.In previous matches, our forwards were pressing but the gaps between our lines were too big.That was leaving huge gaps for Declan Rice and whoever was partnering him to cover.This time there was better structure and organisation.There seemed to be more of a plan for when to drop into a block and when to jump out to press.Now England have the opportunity to build momentum and show why they can win this tournament.Read all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euro 2024 articles.
He said: “What a wonderful young man. He is so likeable and so brilliant.”
While Beeb pundit Rio Ferdinand added: “Everything about him just comes off as so positive. You can’t help but love him not only for his football but his personality and his character.
“I’d go as far to say that he’s England’s most important player because he’s so different to everybody else. He’s the one that will run at people and beat them one on one and go in behind.
“Even today, he played a wing back position today but he is a winger. He’s such a talented player.
Saka was one of a number of England stars that received disgraceful racist abuse for missing a penalty in England’s last shoot-out at the Euros.
He had his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma as Italy beat England in the Euro 2020 final after coming on as a substitute.
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