When Bukayo Saka stepped up to take England’s third penalty in the shootout against Switzerland at the 2024 UEFA Euros, one thought must have dominated his mind: “Do not repeat what happened at the last Euros.” To the delight of England fans, the 22-year-old successfully converted his penalty. This capped off an excellent performance from Saka, who had earlier scored England’s equaliser with a fantastic shot from outside the box.
Three years ago, Saka was starting for England in the Euros as a 19-year-old. Despite his tender age, he impressed everyone with his performances. Coming on as a substitute in the final against Italy, Saka was chosen to take the decisive fifth penalty.
The courage shown by the winger was admirable. Here was a teenager who had never taken a penalty in a senior-level match, stepping up to take the high-pressure final kick in what was England’s biggest game in over half a century. Unfortunately, his penalty was saved, and Italy were crowned champions. The then-teenager was understandably distraught.
Following the tournament, Saka faced disgusting racial abuse, along with teammates Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, who also missed their penalties. The footballing world united in support of the players. Arsenal’s arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur showered Saka with a wonderful gesture when he was substituted in a friendly, loudly greeting him and unfurling a banner reading “North London stands with Bukayo Saka and all players against racism and discrimination.”
Three years later, Saka showed immense courage once again by stepping up for a penalty. Jadon Sancho lauded him, sharing an Instagram story that read: “I’m so proud of this guy! You did it for me and Marcus brother!”. It was a heartfelt touch from the Manchester United winger, showing solidarity with his fellow teammate.
Sancho was recently linked with a move to Arsenal, with reports suggesting that Manchester United had offered him to the Gunners. However, Mikel Arteta reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign the former Borussia Dortmund star.
