Arsenal star Bukayo Saka helped fire England into the Euro 2024 semi-finals and has been congratulated by Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho.
England are into the last four of Euro 2024 but only after another nerve-shredding evening in Germany.
Fans have probably only just recovered from the dramatic win over Slovakia last week but were put through the wringer once again on Saturday.
England looked better in patches against a strong Switzerland side but still fell behind as Breel Embolo scored from close range.
The Three Lions had to respond and did so through Bukayo Saka as the Arsenal man cut inside to fire home a superb left-footed strike.
The game was dragged all the way to penalties and only one player failed to find the net as Manuel Akanji’s effort was saved by Jordan Pickford.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka himself, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored for England, booking a semi-final spot against the Netherlands in the process.
Jadon Sancho on Bukayo Saka
If anybody in the England side deserved this moment, it was probably Saka.
The Arsenal star famously had a crucial spot kick against Italy saved in the Euro 2020 final.
We have seen Saka take many penalties for Arsenal since then, stepping up with real confidence despite such a high-profile spot-kick save.
This is the first time that we have seen Saka step up in a shootout for England since then though and everybody will have been desperate to see him exorcise those demons.
Saka converted his spot kick with aplomb and had the biggest smile on his face having found the back of the net.
That moment will have meant so much to Saka and England fans everywhere, including Jadon Sancho.
Sancho also failed to score in that shootout against Italy, just like Marcus Rashford too.
The reaction to Rashford, Sancho and Saka failing to score was truly awful to see and Sancho certainly hasn’t forgotten about it three years on.
Sancho has now taken to Instagram to send a message to Saka, admitting that he is ‘so proud’ of the Arsenal man.
Sancho added that Saka’s penalty was for him and Rashford, who are not in the England squad this summer and weren’t able to rewrite their own stories.
‘I’m so proud of this guy,’ said Sancho. ‘You did it for me and Marcus brother!’
Saka now moves on to face the Netherlands this week and will be desperate to reach another final – and would no doubt be ready to step up from the spot once again if needed.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
