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David Beckham praised Bukayo Saka for his courage and happiness, expressing how much his smile meant to everyone, while also commending the England team's performance against Switzerland.
Bukayo Saka has been praised by Manchester United legend David Beckham for his 'courage and happiness' after the Arsenal star's heroics helped fire England into the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
The 22-year-old was the toast of the nation once again as his stunning long-range equaliser forced extra time against Switzerland before he coolly dispatched his penalty in the shootout to seal a dramatic 5-3 victory.
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07:25 - 07.07.2024
Southgate on Bukayo Saka: A dream to work with, a fabulous boy, and a true professional
Gareth Southgate has lavished praise on Bukayo Saka, calling him a dream to work with and an exemplary professional for his incredible work rate.
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Saka gets Beckham's praise
After the victory against the Swiss, Three Lions icon Beckham was quick to salute Saka's incredible mentality, insisting his beaming smile was the one 'we all needed to see' following the nerve-shredding affair.
That's the smile we all needed to see... Courage & happiness @bukayosaka87, well done to the lads,' Beckham wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Saka celebrating.
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Saka's incredible goal, which saw him surge in from the right flank before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner, made him the youngest player to ever score for England in a European Championship quarter-final, surpassing Michael Owen's previous record.
It was a moment that will live long in the memory of England supporters, who have watched the Arsenal prodigy blossom into a world-class talent over the past 12 months.
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Just two years on from his heartbreaking penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final, Saka showed incredible resilience to step up and fire home one of the decisive spot-kicks that booked Gareth Southgate's side a semi-final showdown with the Netherlands.
And Beckham, who also had his fair share of highs and lows in an England shirt, was quick to hail the youngster's incredible mental strength.
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Saka's match-winning contribution came after Switzerland had broken the deadlock through Breel Embolo in the 75th minute, leaving the Three Lions staring down the barrel of a shock quarter-final exit.
But the Arsenal forward's moment of magic hauled Southgate's men back into the contest, and Beckham was full of praise for the entire England squad's grit and determination to prevail.
Saka will now set his sights on leading England to European glory when they take on the Netherlands in the semi-finals next week.
And with Beckham's seal of approval, the talented youngster will no doubt be brimming with confidence as he looks to fire the Three Lions into the final.
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