Bukayo Saka can’t stop smiling as he buries Italy demons to become England’s penalty hero in dramatic Switzerland win

BUKAYO SAKA couldn’t stop smiling after helping fire England into a Euro 2024 semi-final clash with Holland.

The Three Lions looked to be heading out of the tournament after Breel Embolo fired Switzerland into the lead with only quarter of an hour left in Dusseldorf.

BBC

BBC

Reuters

EPA

But, less than five minutes later, Saka stepped up to be England’s lionhearted hero.

The Arsenal star cut inside from his new position at right wing-back to level the scores with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box.

Both sides had chances to win it in extra-time before the game, inevitably, drifted towards penalties.

And, with England 2-1 up in spot-kicks after Jordan Pickford’s save from Manuel Akanji , up stepped Saka with the chance to put England in command.

Saka, 22, coolly fired past Yann Sommer, banishing the memory of his heartbreaking miss in the final loss to Italy at Euro 2020.

All five of England’s takers converted to make it a perfect set of pens , with England winning 5-3 – only their fourth-ever shootout win.

Asked about exorcising his demons, Saka admitted: “It’s something I embrace. It was special, very special, how we fought back. The last time we went to penalties we all know what happened.

“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.

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England player ratings: Saka the saviour for Three Lions but subbed Kane stuggles in penalties thriller vs Switzerland

BUKAYO SAKA showed huge courage as he dug England out of a hole and through on penalties against Switzerland, writes Tom Barclay.

The Three Lions looked to be going out when Breel Embolo had put Swiss ahead on 75 minutes.

But Arsenal star Saka dragged England back into five minutes later with a stunning effort off the post.

To penalties it went – just like it did between these two sides five years ago in the Nations League.

And just like back then, Jordan Pickford made a save – repelling the Swiss’s first effort from Manuel Akanji.

England were perfect from then on, with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellignam, Saka, Ivan Toney and finally Trent Alexander-Arnold sending the Three Lions into the semi-final.

Here’s how the players rated…

Jordan Pickford: 7

Had his heart in his mouth when Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner deep into extra-time hit the post and bar, but then pulled off a smart stop to take it to penalties.

Saved Manuel Akanji’s first spot-kick by diving low to his left.

Kyle Walker: 6

Spent most of the game on the right side of a three which meant he could not get forward. Embolo got in front of him for Switzerland’s opener. Won the toss so the penalties were taken in front of the England fans.

John Stones: 6

Crisper passing in the first half, much better than his sloppy Slovakia display, but his deflection on Dan Ndoye’s cross diverted it to Embolo.

Ezri Konsa: 6

Was decent in the first half of his maiden start at a major tournament but, like the rest of the team, went into his shell after the break.

Kieran Trippier: 6

Had been expected to play right wing-back but was once again on the left.

Solid defensively but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, offered little going forward on his unnatural side.

Declan Rice: 7

Anticipated, and subsequently, won a number of 50-50s at the base of England’s midfield.

It was his decoy run that opened up the space for Saka to find the corner, before his 25-yard wonderstrike was denied by a flying Yann Sommer save in extra-time.

Kobbie Mainoo: 6

Some decent drives forward from midfield. Looked as if he would fire home an opener just before the break after

Bukayo Saka’s nice cutback, but was denied by Granit Xhaka’s excellent block.

Bukayo Saka: 8 and STAR MAN

Did not play at left wing-back as expected, but was England’s most dangerous attacking player throughout – and none more so when he came to the rescue with his 80th-minute leveller which flew in off the post.

Showed huge courage in the shoot-out as he stroked home his penalty beautifully, three years on from missing in the last Euros final.

Jude Bellingham: 6

Produced a few graceful dribbles which showcased his quality in the first half but pretty quiet.

Looked knackered but showed big cojones with his low penalty.

Phil Foden: 6

Admitted before the game that his central role would suit him better and it seemed to in the first 20 minutes, but faded after that.

Harry Kane: 4

This system just does not suit him. He needs runners, but does not look like he is going to get them.

Just could not get into the game and was subbed out of it in extra-time, seconds after he was sent crashing into his manager on the touchline.

SUBS

Cole Palmer (for Konsa, 78): 7

One of three players to come on in reaction to Switzerland’s opener – why did it take so long, Gareth? Dispatched England’s first spot-kick with aplomb.

Luke Shaw (for Trippier, 78): 6

First minutes of football since February, slotting in on the left side of back three as Southgate went for broke.

Eberechi Eze (for Mainoo, 78): 6

Carved out a nice bit of space for himself in the dying moments but fired wide.

Ivan Toney (For Kane, 109): 7

It was no surprise to see him come with the prospect of penalties on the horizon – what was more of a shock was that it was for spot-kick maestro Kane. Was knocked over in the box right at the end of extra-time, but nothing was given. Confident penalty.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Foden, 115): 7

Thrown on late into extra-time. Belted home his spot-kick to win it.

Gareth Southgate: 4

The adjusted back three system worked to a certain extent, but still the approach looked to be to keep it tight and rely on a moment of magic.

Saka provided that for the leveller, but given the talent at his disposal, it seemed very limited.

Took an age to make a change – prompted only by Switzerland going ahead. But got his subs right when it came to the penalty shoot-out.

“To come back from something like that was really difficult but I used it to make me stronger.

“We know there are two more games until we can change our lives and make some history that’s never been made before. We’re really focused on that.

“Hopefully in the next game we can win in 90 minutes. But if this is what it takes we will do anything.”

England boss Gareth Southgate – who was seen giving Saka a massive hug amid the celebrations – couldn’t have been more proud of his starlet.

Southgate said: “Bukayo was so brave. He is one of our best so we were never in any doubt that he was going to take one.

“We all know what he went through so to deliver the way he did… I gave him a massive cuddle on the pitch. He’s a special boy, he’s a dream to work with.

“It takes courage but we had belief in him. We had belief in him previously. He’s now got a lot more experience of those pressure moments. His all-round performance was exceptional.”

“So yeah, I’m proud of myself as well for that.”

After seeing Saka beam his way through a post-match interview on the BBC, host Gary Lineker was full of praise for the “wonderful” England star.

I know we needed penalties... but England showed vs Switzerland why they can WIN Euro 2024, says Jack Wilshere

IT TOOK penalties to put us through but, before the drama, England showed us why they have the ingredients to do something special, writes Jack Wilshere .

It was a win by the narrowest of margins but this was overall our best performance of Euro 2024.

If we can build on the progress we made, especially in the first half, we could WIN the tournament.

It was not a complete display. There were nervy moments and waiting so long to make changes could have cost us.

But we saw what a good team England can be if they do the right things and put players in the right positions.

The first half was England’s best since the first 45 against Serbia. Maybe even better.

One of the keys to that was our press and the effect it had on Granit Xhaka.

For the first time in four games we were pressing high, winning the ball back in better areas and putting Switzerland on the back foot.

In previous matches, our forwards were pressing but the gaps between our lines were too big.

That was leaving huge gaps for Declan Rice and whoever was partnering him to cover.

This time there was better structure and organisation.

There seemed to be more of a plan for when to drop into a block and when to jump out to press.

Now England have the opportunity to build momentum and show why they can win this tournament.

Read all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euro 2024 articles.

He said: “What a wonderful young man. He is so likeable and so brilliant.”

While Beeb pundit Rio Ferdinand added: “Everything about him just comes off as so positive. You can’t help but love him not only for his football but his personality and his character.

“I’d go as far to say that he’s England’s most important player because he’s so different to everybody else. He’s the one that will run at people and beat them one on one and go in behind.

“Even today, he played a wing back position today but he is a winger. He’s such a talented player.”

Saka was one of a number of England stars that received disgraceful racist abuse for missing a penalty in England’s last shoot-out at the Euros.

He had his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma as Italy beat England in the Euro 2020 final after coming on as a substitute.