Bukayo Saka lived with just 19 years one of the greatest moments of responsibility that can happen in a career as a footballer. The Arsenal man was chosen to shoot the fifth penalty in the shootout decided by the European champion. At Wembley, against Italy and against the best player of the tournament, Gigi Donnarumma.
The Gunner midfielder, who fell in love with the country during the tournament and has been one of Southgate's big bets to the detriment of players with more poster (Jadon Sancho) or more experienced (Rashford), failed. Saka hit her hard, down and with her left hand she sent her to the right, but too centered. The former Milan goalkeeper hit the side and sentenced the tournament with his stop.
Due to this failure, it is already receiving attacks on networks and also public support from both the FA and Southgate or different ex-players, old stars of the English League, now in different television gatherings.
The Irish Roy Keane, former Manchester United, defended Bukayo Saka and criticized Raheem Sterling or Jack Grealish for not taking on this responsibility that could correspond to them by age and gallons. “If you're Sterling or Grealish you can't just stand there and let a young boy like Saka go pitch in front of you. You can not. You can't let a shy 19 year old go ahead of you. They have much more experience. Sterling has won titles. He has to get up and shoot before the kid does, “Keane said.
In that fifth penalty, England's hopes of lifting their first European Championship and also breaking a streak of more than 50 years without a win remainedr. The stage, Wembley, was unmatched and prepared, but Italy sneaked into the party and is the new European champion.