Bukayo Saka overcame a past penalty nightmare to become England’s hero with a superb individual goal and spot-kick success against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Saturday.
Bukayo Saka who missed a penalty in his country’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy and was subsequently the victim of racist abuse, was England’s hero with a superb individual goal and spot-kick success against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Saturday.
Saka, who stood out for England and scored their all-important equaliser on Saturday, said he was proud of how he has overcome that moment.
« To come back from something like that was really difficult. I used it to make me stronger. Today I took the chance and I’m happy », the Arsenal winger said.
« It was special, special, how we fought back . Last time we took a penalty shootout at the Euros, you all know what happened. I’m so proud of everyone how we got over the line.
« I believed. I felt that we dominated the whole game, that the chance [for a goal] will come. And it did come and I was the one that took it, so I’m proud of myself for that. »
Only 19 during that infamous shootout loss to Italy at Wembley, Saka’s confidence could have been shattered by the invective he and other Black players received online.
