England manager Gareth Southgate took the blame for placing Saka in the position of taking the final penalty in the Euro 2020 final.
Follow Us
When Bukayo Saka missed England’s final penalty in the shootout to decide the Euro 2020 final on Sunday, most wondered why the 19-year-old was placed in that position. The final kick of the shootout is usually saved for the player who is a shoo-in to score. Few doubt Saka’s talent, but many felt the burden should not be placed on him. As it turns out, those fears were justified. Saka’s tame shot was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Italy were crowned champions. Afterwards, England manager Gareth Southgate took the blame for placing Saka in that position.
“It’s down to me,” Southgate said. “I decided on the penalty takers based on what we’ve done in training. Nobody is on their own. That’s my call and it totally rests on me.”
He also offered up words of praise for Saka, and said the team would have to be there to support him. “He is not on his own,” Southgate said.
“We’ve got to be there to support him. We’re got to be there to help him. But I’m sure he’ll get a lot of love from the outside.”
Southgate defended the players who missed their spot kicks, saying there was no blame to be put on individuals. “They were the best takers we had left on the pitch. We win and lose together.”
However, he also admitted that England should have done better to build on their position of dominance. They took the lead in the 2nd minute thanks to Luke Shaw but failed to build on that lead.
“At times we didn’t keep the ball well enough. That invited more pressure. It’s something we have to be better at.”
Southgate said the defeat was tough for the English players but they should nevertheless be proud of what they achieved. This was England’s first major cup final since the 1966 World Cup.
“Tonight is going to be extremely difficult for all of us, of course. You have to feel that disappointment because the opportunities to win trophies like this are so rare in your life.
“But when they reflect on what they have done, they should be incredibly proud of themselves. The players have been an absolute credit. They have given everything they possibly could.
“They have been an absolute joy to work with and they have gone further than we’ve gone for so long. But it is incredibly painful in that dressing room.”
The England manager, credited for turning around a flagging national team, summed it up best when he compared what they had done to other England sides.
“They have done more than more than any other England team in over 50 years.”
