Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka stepped up in the big moment and delivered for England as they beat Switzerland in the quarter-final of Euro 2024.
England’s performances have been a bit iffy this tournament and it has seen the players, including the manager Gareth Southgate, come under fire.
Regardless of the noise from the outside, Bukayo Saka has kept his place on the right-hand side, with others calling for Chelsea’s Cole Palmer to start.
But like Saka has done in an Arsenal shirt for many years now, he stepped up in the big moment and ensured England booked a semi-final ticket at Euro 2024 by beating Switzerland on penalties.
There was a moment when many thought that the Three Lions were going to depart the stage because Breel Embolo opened the scoring after 75 minutes.
It’s at that moment you need your big-name players. Those tough characters to step up and show what they are all about.
Saka did that by firing an incredible left-footed shot from outside of the box into the bottom corner to equalise.
That goal then took the tie to extra time and those dreaded penalty shootouts. Saka has been here before when the Arsenal man missed his spot kick in the final of Euro 2020.
But this is where he showcased his steely nature by stepping up to take another spot kick and scoring – All five of the England players who took their penalties scored, with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold scoring the crucial one.
Nonetheless, Saka expressed his delight on Instagram by posting ‘God’s child’, as he held up the Man of the Match award.
And Arsenal fans will love the responses in the comments section from the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Jude Bellingham and Emile Smith Rowe to name a few.
Bukayo Saka helps England beat Switzerland at Euro 2024
Aston Villa’s number one Martinez is a penalty specialist and he posted clapping emojis to Saka, with Smith Rowe posting the Goat emoji and Bellingham added Bukayoooo with fire emojis.
From chef Gordon Ramsey to former left-back Patrice Evra, they too congratulated Saka for his efforts and performance.
Bukayo Saka in the semi-finals of Euro 2024
The Arsenal man has been here before with England, so this feeling will be no different, perhaps more to prove because of what happened last time out.
England fans now know that, if they are in a spot of bother again, then they have Saka to call upon for those big, big moments.
Usually, England falter in these moments. They don’t win penalty shootouts. But this crop of players are built differently.
Saka’s ultimate goal is to win the Premier League title with Arsenal, but he can gather some momentum by helping England win Euro 2024 this summer.
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