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Sending 19-year-old Bukayo Saka to take England’s fifth penalty against Italy was a strange decision.
That’s me being an old pro who was only involved in one shootout and when the manager asked me to take the first penalty I said, ‘No, I’ll take the last one.’
I wanted that responsibility because I had confidence in my ability that when it got to the business end of the shootout, that’s when you needed your most experienced and best penalty-takers.
Bukayo Saka took England's highly pressurised fifth penalty in the Euro 2020 final
But he saw his spot-kick saved resulting in England losing their first final in 55 years
I don’t like seeing your best going first because it exposes the back-end to lads who maybe haven’t taken many. Unfortunately, that was the case against Italy.
I don’t know if there is a common theme with the penalties England have missed down the years but I’ve never been a fan of the stuttering run-up or delaying kicking the ball.
It looks great when it comes off. When it doesn’t, it looks rubbish. You put yourself under a lot more pressure trying that. Keep it as simple as you possibly
