After his performance against the Czech Republic on Tuesday night, Bukayo Saka showed that he needs to keep his place in the England team for the knockout stages.
Prior to Euro 2020, I wrote for The Arsenal Review about how Saka was becoming underrated by fans, and there was evidence of that again on Tuesday. Excluding the Arsenal supporters, who were largely very excited to see the 19-year-old starting, the general response to Saka’s selection was to ask why it wasn’t Jadon Sancho instead.
After all, Sancho has many more goals and assists over in the Bundesliga, and he adds a spark in the final third many felt England were lacking. He’s made more appearances for his country at senior level and he’s a couple of years older, so he even has experience over his Arsenal counterpart.
But the point they were all missing is that Saka is more than just goals or assists. Any Arsenal fan could tell you that he was often our best player even during periods when he wasn’t directly contributing to the goals.
The key attribute the teenager brings is an ability to receive the ball in deeper midfield areas under pressure, control it comfortably and turn away from pressing opponents. Whilst it may sound simple, it’s something England lacked completely against Scotland.
There’s little point in having players with the attacking quality of Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, or even Sancho if you can’t even get the ball to them in the final third.
Throughout the game against the Czech Republic, particularly in the first half, Saka’s dribbling turned possession under pressure into counter-attacks. According to Opta, Saka’s five completed take-ons were the most by an English teenager in a game at a major tournament since their records began.
This wasn’t exactly a surprise, as it was a trait England boss Gareth Southgate himself had highlighted following Saka’s Player of the Match performance in the pre-tournament friendly against Austria.
“Right from the start, he linked the game really well. He received well on the line, he received well inside,” Southgate said then. “He’s got lovely ability to receive in that traffic in the middle of the field. He’s like a slippery eel getting away from those challenges.”
After Tuesday’s game, Southgate was similarly complimentary, telling the media: “We’ve been super impressed with Bukayo throughout the whole month.
“He was excellent up in Middlesbrough and we’ve really liked him with and without the ball. Tonight, his receiving under pressure was fantastic.”
It wasn’t just Saka. Jack Grealish came into the team as well, and he provided a similar outlet. It was Grealish who ended up assisting Sterling’s goal, even if it was the Arsenal man who got England on the attack in the first place.
But Saka just fits this England team so nicely, and he didn’t look nervous for a minute. Even his footedness gives him an advantage over some of the alternatives, as his dominant left allows him to link up nicely with any overlapping right-footed players. Whether that’s Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips, or Harry Kane, they’re all right-footed.
It was no surprise to see UEFA handing the teenager their Star of the Match award for his performance.
“The way Saka played today, he can’t be dropped,” Micah Richards told the BBC after the game. “He was absolutely outstanding. He’s so versatile, he can play in so many different positions.
“I think there are times where people are scared to impose themselves on the game and just play the easy pass, but he was fearless. 19 years of age…and he played like he had all the experience in the world.”
We don’t yet know England’s Round-of-16 opponents, nor how Southgate will choose to approach the game. But it seems clear to me that Saka can play a positive role regardless.
He’s going to help you out with progressing the play, he’s going to provide quality in the final third, he’s going to get back and do his defensive duties. He’s played every position you might want to use him in and proved himself capable time and time again. I just don’t see who is a better fit for Southgate’s team.