June 18th 2024.
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According to Rio Ferdinand, Bukayo Saka may potentially take on the role of left-back in England's game against Denmark. Ferdinand believes that Saka should be given the opportunity to start in this position if both Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw are unable to play.
In their first match of the Euro 2024 tournament, Saka was positioned on the right side of Gareth Southgate's attack and helped England secure a win against Serbia. Jude Bellingham's header in the 13th minute proved to be the deciding goal in Gelsenkirchen. While the result ensured England's top spot in Group C, the team struggled for much of the match and it was only a crucial save from Jordan Pickford that secured all three points for the Three Lions.
Going into the game with a fully fit squad, Southgate opted to rest Shaw and instead chose Trippier as a replacement for the Manchester United full-back, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. With limited options at left-back, the sight of Trippier struggling with an injury towards the end of the match was cause for concern for Southgate.
However, in his post-match press conference, Southgate reassured fans that Trippier's injury was simply a case of cramp and not a more serious issue. But former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is hoping that Southgate has a contingency plan in place in case Trippier and Shaw are unable to feature in the upcoming game against Denmark. Ferdinand believes that Saka should be the one to step up and play at left-back in this scenario.
Ferdinand also praised Saka's performance in England's opening game, stating that the young player stood out as he took on the Serbian full-back multiple times and emerged victorious. However, Ferdinand also noted that England struggled when put under pressure in the second half, highlighting an unconvincing performance.
Saka does have some experience playing at left-back, having filled in for Arsenal in the absence of Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac during the 2020/21 season. Saka himself has acknowledged that left-back is not his natural position, but has credited his teammates for providing him with the necessary guidance and advice. He also mentioned that he has been able to learn a lot about the role and how it differs in Arsenal's system compared to his usual position as a winger.
Overall, Saka has been adapting well to this new role and has shown promise in his performances. With both Trippier and Shaw possibly out of the game against Denmark, it seems that Saka may be called upon once again to fill in at left-back. Only time will tell if he will rise to the challenge and help England secure another victory in the tournament.
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