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Gareth Southgate admits the disgusting social media abuse received by black England players after the Euro 2020 final has complicated his selection for future penalty shootouts.

Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were targeted with racial abuse after they missed penalties in the shootout loss against Italy last summer.

The UK Football Policing Unit received 600 reports of racist comments sent to England's black players after the defeat and ruled 207 to be criminal — of which 123 were posted by people overseas, while 34 came from the UK. In August, police confirmed they had arrested 11 people in connection with the abuse.

When asked whether the abuse could be a factor when he chooses his penalty takers for the next shootout, Southgate said: 'I have to say it never crossed my mind before... it will.

'When I set out for the game that day I couldn't help but feel, "Have I created this situation here for the boys?"

'But it wouldn't be right to not pick the players you think are best to take them because of what the possible consequences of them missing would be. I've got to pick them on the belief they are going to score.