Bukayo Saka In July 2020, he was suspended against Italy along with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho as England missed out on a first trophy in 55 years.
The Arsenal and England midfielder was one of three penalty takers for the Three Lions, along with Rashford and Sancho.
“I knew right away what kind of hate I was going to get,” Saka wrote on Instagram after the punishment disaster, “that’s a sad reality.”
However, the 20-year-old Arsenal academy graduate has gone from strength to strength since then
And while Nigeria may be missing from the ongoing World Cup in Qatar, soccer fans in the country had something to cheer about at the World Cup on Monday thanks to Saka, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Despite choosing to represent England, his native Saka, whose parents hail from Nigeria’s Ogun state, put on a show in the Middle East with two goals as the Three Lions beat Iran 6-2 in their opening game. The 2022 World Cup, to the delight of his compatriots in England and Nigeria.
The Hale End graduate scored a stunning volley to help Gareth Southgate’s side take a 3-0 lead into the break.
There was no sign of England slowing down after the break, and Saka got his key by cutting inside to drill a low finish beyond Iran substitute goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini.
Ahead of Monday’s game, Saka’s international career was defined by England’s costly missed penalty in their Euro 2020 clash with Italy. But his performance in the Middle East buried the specters of Euro 2022.
After Bellingham’s header, Saka’s first goal meant England saw two different players aged 21 and under in the same World Cup match for the first time in their history.
In the second half, aged 21 years and 77 days, Saka became the youngest player to score twice for England in a World Cup match and the second youngest player to score twice in 1966 behind Franz Beckenbaur, aged 20 at the time. and 304 days.
In the performance, the forward was delighted to mark his first World Cup game with a brace after missing a penalty in the final shoot-out at Euro 2020.
“I can’t describe the feeling, it’s amazing. I’m very happy, very proud and we got the victory, so it’s a special day.
“I feel like I’m in a good place. I have the support of the fans, I really feel the love of the fans, coaches and teammates.
“That’s all I need and I’m ready to give 100 percent. I gave it and I’ll continue to do it.”
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise since making his Arsenal debut against Vorskla Poltava in November 2018. It’s been four years and Saka is now a key part of a Gunners side that are top of the Premier League.
With the domestic season on hold, Saka will be eager to help England do well in Qatar.
The young man’s parents are Nigerian immigrants who, before he was born, left Nigeria to live in London in search of a better life and opportunities for their unborn children.
Although not much is known about his father, his mother, Adenike, is a Chartered Accountant in the United Kingdom. He completed his secondary education at Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenn and then studied Veterinary Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria before relocating to London.
In 2020, at the age of 18, Saka, then representing England at youth level, was reportedly approached by the Nigeria Football Federation to switch allegiance to Nigeria.
“It’s a tough choice,” Saka told SkySports at the time. “I am delighted to have represented England at youth level, but I am also proud of my parents’ Nigerian background.
“We haven’t been picked by any teams, so it’s about staying humble and we’ll make a decision when the time comes.”
However, Saka would commit his international future to the Three Lions on 1 October 2020, after being called up to the senior England squad for the first time and making his international debut, starting in a 3–0 win over Wales. .
