Rob Dorsett has shared how Gareth Southgate was the ‘first’ person to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka after he missed his penalty at Wembley on Sunday night, as he told Sky Sports News (12/07/21 at 6:20 am).
The Sky journalist then shared that, before Italy were about to collect their Euro 2020 winners medals, Southgate was once again ‘in the ear’ of the Arsenal teenager.
Sunday started with the England players preparing for the biggest nights of their careers, but it ended with the most gut-wrenching nights of them all.
At the age of just 19, Saka showed the courage to step up for his country, and whilst it ended in the worst possible way, it’s a feeling that his manager knows too well.
Southgate was the one who missed the decisive spot-kick during England’s Euro 1996 semi-final defeat to Germany 25 years ago.
And Dorsett shared how Southgate’s actions last night towards Saka would have provided the youngster with ‘hope’.
“To see Gareth Southgate with his arm around, Bukayo Saka,” said Dorsett. “The moment he missed that penalty, it was Southgate who got to him first before his teammates did.
“He had a long chat in his ear and hid his face. He was trying to protect, Bukayo Saka. Hid the tears. Hid the emotion.
“I saw him speak to him later on again as the Italian teams were going up to collect their medals.
“And again, he was talking in his ear. So, that is the hope for those young players that they have Southgate there, who has very much been like a father figure and has been for a very long time now to help them through this.”
This moment will only make Saka because he has the footballing world at his feet and his talent, both during this tournament and last season, is there for all to see.
There was a lot of debate as to why Gareth Southgate allowed Saka to take the fifth penalty because many felt it was too much pressure on young shoulders.
Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, who didn’t take a spot-kick, had to publicly come out and explain that he did put forward his name, but wasn’t selected as one of the first five.
Either way, this defeat is going to take a long time to heal for those England players, who have the World Cup in Qatar next on their horizon.
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