Bukayo Saka praised by media despite Euro 2024 final defeat | OneFootball

Bukayo Saka has received praise for his performance in the Euro 2024 final despite England’s eventual defeat to Spain.

BERLIN, GERMANY: England player Bukayo Saka is consoled by David Raya of Spain after the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka had to watch on as club teammate David Raya held up the Euro 2024 trophy on Sunday night, with Spain scoring a late winner to secure a deserved victory at the tournament.

Yet it wasn’t for lack of trying on Saka’s part, with multiple outlets in the English media praising the winger’s individual efforts.

Matt Law of The Telegraph wrote that Saka “terrified Cucurella every time he got the ball”, pointing out that “it was from a Saka run and pass that the ball eventually fell to Palmer to score England’s equaliser”.

Law suggested that Saka is “simply unplayable in full flight” having “scared the living daylights out of defenders at this tournament”.

BERLIN, GERMANY: Bukayo Saka of England controls the ball whilst under pressure from Marc Cucurella of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Rob Draper of The Guardian wrote that Saka’s speed “terrified Spain”, again highlighting that “his cross got England back in the game” before adding that the winger was “good early on too”.

Ben Grounds wrote for Sky Sports that Saka was “always capable of making things happen and the one player who has regularly got fans off their seats in Germany”.

Craig Hope argued in the Daily Mail that Saka was “again the best of the attacking starters” praising the Arsenal man for having “the intent others just do not show at times” and picking out the key role Saka played in England’s goal.

England’s Bukayo Saka reacts after the UEFA Euro 2024 final football match between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14, 2024. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

Saka was of course a big reason why England even made it to the final, with his wonderful solo effort and penalty-shootout goal saving the team from quarter-final elimination against Switzerland.

Yet it was all ultimately in vain, and nothing the media say about the Arsenal 22-year-old is likely to provide much consolation.

He’ll now have a few weeks off before joining up with Arsenal next month, with the first members of the squad set to begin their pre-season training today.