PROUD PARTNER
Bukayo Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson poses with his MOTM trophy and calls it ‘my baby’s baby’ after England heroics
Saka expressed his delight at being able to exorcise a Euro 2020 demon
BUKAYO SAKA'S proud girlfriend Tolami Benson posed with his Player of the Match trophy after England's win over Switzerland.
The Three Lions progressed to the Euro 2024 semi-final after winning 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
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Saka scored from the spot to remedy his miss in the Euro 2020 final, and curled in England's equaliser in the 80th minute.
He was a thorn in Switzerland's side throughout despite playing in a less familiar right wing-back role and his performance was rewarded with the Player of the Match award.
Saka celebrated the huge victory in the stands with his partner Tolami, giving her a hug.
The Arsenal star also presented her with his award, and Tolami took to Instagram to pose with the gong.
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In one snap she aimed a kiss at the trophy as she captioned the post: "My baby’s baby 🏆"
All five of England's takers converted to make it a perfect set of pens and Saka was asked about exorcising his Wembley demons.
He said: “It’s something I embrace. It was special, very special, how we fought back. The last time we went to penalties we all know what happened.
“You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not. I’m a guy who is going to put myself in that position. I believed in myself.
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I know we needed penalties... but England showed vs Switzerland why they can WIN Euro 2024, says Jack Wilshere
IT TOOK penalties to put us through but, before the drama, England showed us why they have the ingredients to do something special, writes Jack Wilshere.
It was a win by the narrowest of margins but this was overall our best performance of Euro 2024.
If we can build on the progress we made, especially in the first half, we could WIN the tournament.
It was not a complete display. There were nervy moments and waiting so long to make changes could have cost us.
But we saw what a good team England can be if they do the right things and put players in the right positions.
The first half was England’s best since the first 45 against Serbia. Maybe even better.
One of the keys to that was our press and the effect it had on Granit Xhaka.
For the first time in four games we were pressing high, winning the ball back in better areas and putting Switzerland on the back foot.
In previous matches, our forwards were pressing but the gaps between our lines were too big.
That was leaving huge gaps for Declan Rice and whoever was partnering him to cover.
This time there was better structure and organisation.
There seemed to be more of a plan for when to drop into a block and when to jump out to press.
Now England have the opportunity to build momentum and show why they can win this tournament.
Read all of SunSport columnist Jack's Euro 2024 articles.
“To come back from something like that was really difficult but I used it to make me stronger.
“We know there are two more games until we can change our lives and make some history that’s never been made before. We’re really focused on that.
“Hopefully in the next game we can win in 90 minutes. But if this is what it takes we will do anything.”
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The Sun's Charlie Wyett England review as 'lucky' Three Lions squeak by Switzerland in dramatic penalty shootout