Euro 2024: Rio Ferdinand dubs Bukayo Saka 'most important England player' after penalty shoot-out redemption

Rio Ferdinand described Bukayo Saka as England's most important player after seeing the Arsenal star rescue Gareth Southgate's hopes of Euro 2024 glory. The 22-year-old saved England with a superb 80th-minute equaliser against Switzerland and tucked away his penalty in the resulting shoot-out. Saka had suffered racist abuse following his penalty miss in England's Euro 2020 final defeat.

Rio Ferdinand dubbed Bukayo Saka "arguably the most important England player” after the Arsenal star picked up the Player of the Match award as Gareth Southgate’s men saw off Switzerland at Euro 2024.

The 22-year-old netted the crucial equaliser in the 80th minute and scored his penalty as the Swiss were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

Ferdinand joined a long line of admirers in hailing Saka after the 1-1 draw, with manager Southgate praising his work out of possession as well as his invaluable on-the-ball qualities.

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Speaking in the BBC's post-match analysis, the former Manchester United centre-half said “you can’t help but love him” as Saka’s penalty redemption arc came full circle.

“He’s arguably the most important England player because he’s so different to anyone else,” Ferdinand said.

Ferdinand continued: “He’s the one who will run at people beat you one vs one and go behind; even today he played at wing-back and he’s a winger.

“Everything about him just comes off about being so positive and you can’t help but love him.

“Not just for his football but his personality and his character to come back.”

Saka missed the last penalty in the Euro 2020 final against Italy along with substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.

All three were subjected to racist abuse following the defeat at Wembley, but Ferdinand believed Saka would not hesitate to put himself forward in Dusseldorf on Saturday.

• Jude Bellingham says ‘character, mentality’ were key to England’s win - 'Our best performance’
• Gareth Southgate lauds Bukayo Saka’s ‘courage’ in shoot-out win – ‘His performance was immense’

Ferdinand said: “When that penalty shoot-out came up there was no doubt he was going to go and step up given what he’s been through.”

And on Saka’s vital bending leveller, Ferdinand compared the Arsenal forward to Dutch legend Arjen Robben, who was famed for his trademark curling finish after cutting inside from the right-hand side.

"A bit like Robben, isn't it? You know he's going to come inside, but you can't stop him because he's so sharp and he is so decisive in that moment,” said Ferdinand.

Saka acknowledged his own bravery to step up in the shoot-out, which saw Jordan Pickford save Manuel Akanji’s penalty and Trent Alexander-Arnold net the winner.

‘Pretty confident’ - Saka says England were bullish heading into shoot-out win

Video credit: SNTV

And Saka was delighted to prove decisive in what he described as a dominant performance from England.

Saka told the BBC: “Last time we took a penalty shoot-out at the Euros we know what happened. I believed.

“I felt like we dominated the whole game and the chance would come and I took it - I am proud of myself for that.

“I have faith in God . To come back from something like that is really difficult. Today I took the chance.”

England take on Netherlands, who came from behind to beat Turkey, in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

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