Bukayo Saka is a player who is always spoken about. He has famously been used as the benchmark for what a young player should be and a measure of success but this young man has once again proven that he is far ahead of the rest.
Last season, the Arsenal winger was disregarded despite having another fantastic season which saw him net 20 goals and record 14 assists. No one in the whole of Europe has both more than the English international and despite the season ending, he adds to these stats by scoring a wonder goal for England to drag the largely disappointing team to the semi finals.
Many England fans have voiced their frustration with Gareth Southgate, complaining that he isn't getting the best out of this star studded, world class team. Angry calls for change have swayed Southgate into some dramatic changes, one being moving world class winger Bukayo Saka to full back.
The Arsenal man started his career as a wing back and then displaced Arsenal's then most expensive signing Nicolas Pepe as a right winger. Yet Southgate moved him to full back for defensive cover to accommodate Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, who have been unconvincing.
In spite of all this, Bukayo Saka started the next match against Switzerland as a right wing back and was by far England's best player. He and fellow Arsenal team mate Declan Rice dominated stats such as: most passes, progressive passes, goals. England soon found themselves a goal down despite many wasted chances but Bukayo Saka once again shined brightest amongst the stars. He took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored a long range effort with his left foot to bring England level. The game followed through to extra time and then penalties, in which Bukayo Saka took another fateful step, slotting his penalty home along with teammates Cole Palmer, Ivan Toney, Jude Bellingham & Trent Alexander Arnold.
After the unfortunate racist abuse he endured following his missed penalty against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, along with Marcus Rashford & Jadon Sancho, this felt like a turn of a new leaf. He was confident and poised, his growth evident as he sent Yan Sommer the wrong way.
In truth, this game was a testament to his character. Although faced with adversity, he still believed in himself to bring England two games closer to something they have never achieved in their history. In fact the England no.7 voiced this, stating ''You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not. I'm a guy who is going to put myself in that position. I believed in myself. When I saw the ball hit the net, I was a very happy man"
Bukayo Saka once again proved why he is who he is. He turns up for club and country and at the age of 22 is already stamping his name into history. Saka has now scored more goals at major international tournaments than superstar David Beckham, further proving how high his ceiling is. He is the key to England succeeding in this tournament and he deserves all the respect that comes his way.
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