Bukayo Saka fires warning to England's Euro 2024 rivals after penalty masterclass: 'We can do whatever it takes'

Evening Standard

·8 July 2024

Bukayo Saka fires warning to England's Euro 2024 rivals after penalty masterclass: 'We can do whatever it takes'

The Three Lions keep finding different ways to win as they face Netherlands semi-final showdown

Bukayo Saka says England have shown they can win in “any way” necessary in their bid for Euro 2024 glory, and “will give everything” for manager Gareth Southgate.

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The England squad were on Monday morning back on the grass at their Blankenhain base following Sunday’s recovery session, as preparations ramp up for Wednesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands in Dortmund.

Saka’s brilliant strike rescued Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland, cancelling out Breel Embolo’s opening goal, before a nerveless penalty shootout from Southgate’s side, which they won 5-3. Saka also scored from the spot to exorcise his personal demons from missing the decisive spot-kick in the final of Euro 2020.

England have now come from behind to win both knockout games in Germany, after Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute bicycle kick salvaged the last-16 tie against Slovakia, and Saka says they will do “whatever it takes” to get through games.

Penalty masterclass: Bukayo Saka was one of five England players to confidently score in Switzerland shootout

AP

“In back-to-back games, we’ve gone to 120 minutes and won them both, it shows that we can do whatever it takes to win,” he said. “Whether it’s in the 90th minute or the 120th minute, whether it’s in a penalty shoot-out, we can do it in any way, so that gives us a lot of confidence.

“I sort of had the feeling it could be penalties, so I was ready when the game had finished.

“I tried to focus more on success than failure. If I think about failing or missing, it gets me down and then I get tense. But I was pretty relaxed when I was walking to the penalty.

“I’ve taken many penalties this season and I’ve scored all of them so, I was confident. I’ve been good in training as well, so I was confident and put it away. It was a nice feeling.”

Southgate marked his 100th game as England manager by celebrating passionately in front of the supporters in the stadium, and admitted after the game that he has found the fierce personal criticism at the Euros “difficult”.

Asked about being involved in the manager’s milestone, Saka said: “It’s special. It’s already special coming to play for England. But when you have a manager that’s as good as Gareth, it’s really nice for all of us boys. We will all give everything for him.”

Meanwhile, Luke Shaw, who is pushing for a start against the Dutch, says he wants to repay the faith Southgate showed him by including him in the squad.

Shaw made his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury for the final 10 minutes plus extra time on Saturday, having not played since February.

“It felt amazing, it’s been a really long road. I’ve had a lot of setbacks,” said Shaw. “The hard work I’ve put in, especially over the last few weeks, make it worthwhile. It was a very nice moment for me and to cap it off with to win was a really nice feeling.

“We all thought that I would have been back a bit sooner but unfortunately there was a couple of setbacks along the way, which made me want it even more.

“Of course I owe Gareth a lot for the faith he’s shown me and the trust he’s given me to be able to come and be part of the squad, even if it is in the later games. I owe him a lot.”