Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was the hero for England on Saturday evening, helping secure a spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
The Three Lions have been underwhelming throughout Euro 2024 and were just seconds away from elimination against Slovakia last weekend.
An improvement was needed against Switzerland in the quarter-finals but this turned out to be another tricky evening for England.
Breel Embolo’s opener put Switzerland ahead before Bukayo Saka cut inside and fired home a superb leveller.
Neither side could find a winner and it means England – once again – going through the torrid experience of a penalty shootout.
If England players were dreading the shootout, they didn’t show it; all five takers found the net with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all finding the net.
Bukayo Saka blown away by Ivan Toney
Penalty shootouts have been a sore topic for England fans over the years.
The Euro 2020 final still lives in the memory but England players were composed and rifled home their penalties – including Saka, who saw an effort saved against Italy three years ago.
Saka exorcised his demons from the spot against Switzerland before Ivan Toney found the net.
The Brentford striker has an almost impeccable record from the spot, so it was no surprise to see him step up in Saturday’s shootout.
Toney found the net but left many stunned by his approach to the penalty.
Toney walked up and kept his eyes on Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer throughout, not even looking at the ball as he hit the back of the net.
That is a quite remarkable skill and Arsenal winger Saka has now shared his thoughts on Toney’s penalty.
Speaking on the official England YouTube channel, Saka admitted that Toney takes penalties exactly the same way in training, leaving his teammates in awe.
Saka cannot understand how Toney can take such great penalties without looking at the ball, calling his technique ‘crazy’.
“When we see him practising in training, he does the same thing – it’s crazy,” said Saka. “We’re all just in awe – I don’t know how you can not look at the ball, I don’t know how he does it,” he added.
Arsenal back away from Toney
Saka will have certainly loved seeing Toney’s nonchalant penalty find the back of the net and he will have surely seen speculation surrounding Toney joining him at Arsenal in recent times.
The Gunners are expected to be in the market for a new striker this summer as Mikel Arteta chases the Premier League title.
Toney has been heavily linked in recent months but HITC understands that Arsenal have backed away from the Brentford star.
Arsenal have looked closely at Toney as a potential striking solution but he will not be arriving in North London this summer.
Saka won’t be seeing those Toney penalties in training with the Gunners any time soon, but he will love seeing them whilst on international duty together both this summer and moving forward.
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