July 1st 2024.
Bukayo Saka, the young and talented Arsenal winger, had to step into the role of left-back for England's match against Slovakia in Euro 2024. This was a result of Luke Shaw's injury and Kieran Trippier, who had been playing in that position, not being a natural left-footer. However, despite Saka's initial reluctance to play in this unfamiliar position, his coach Gareth Southgate hinted that he may continue to use him as a left-back in future games.
In their last-16 tie against Slovakia, England narrowly avoided a major upset as they were trailing 1-0 until Jude Bellingham's 94th minute goal forced extra time. Captain Harry Kane then scored the winning goal in the first minute of extra time, securing a 2-1 victory for England. This sets them up for a quarter-final clash against Switzerland on July 6th.
Saka's versatility and attacking abilities were a valuable asset for England in their match against Slovakia. And despite his initial reservations about playing at left-back, he proved to be a good option for Southgate's team. The coach acknowledged this, saying that Saka's presence on the left side provided an extra attacking outlet for the team. He also praised the courage shown by the players in securing their victory.
As England progresses through the tournament, their next opponents could be Romania, Netherlands, Austria, or Turkey in the semi-finals, and Germany, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, France, or Belgium in the final. However, Southgate is not looking too far ahead and is instead focusing on the upcoming quarter-final match against Switzerland.
After the victory over Slovakia, Southgate faced criticism for his substitutions. But he defended his decisions, stating that the two players who scored the goals, Bellingham and Kane, were capable of producing game-changing moments, as they did in this match. He also highlighted the impact of his substitutions throughout the tournament so far, emphasizing the importance of having a strong and versatile squad.
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