The choices of the three players - who missed the penalty shootout for the English team against its Italian counterpart in Euro 2020 - were widely criticized by coaches and analysts, especially because of the young player Bukayo Saka, who missed the decisive fifth penalty kick at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.
England needed to score from this kick to extend the penalty shootout;
But Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved 19-year-old Saka's kick after he saved a previous kick from Jadon Sancho, while Marcus Rashford hit the post as Italy won 3-2 and won the title for the second time.
For the courage you showed.
For the way you played.
For the next generation you've inspired.
We're so proud of you, lads.
Keep your heads held high.
pic.twitter.com/2ERlVShSCp
— England (@England) July 12, 2021
Penalty kicks were resorted to to decide the result after the end of the original and extra time in a tie with one goal for each team.
And former Irish star Roy Keane, the former Manchester United captain, said the kick was supposed to be taken by a more experienced and older player.
🇮🇹 Italy's winning moment 🥇 Roberto Mancini 😄🎉@azzurri |
#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/jmrRlUAUfr
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 12, 2021
And the former Ireland national team player added - in televised statements - "With the presence of Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish, it was not supposed to agree to a young player taking the penalty kick before these two players. Because they have much more experience, and Sterling won titles. They were supposed to have them." Priority before this young man."
escaping from responsibility
Veteran Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho agrees with Kane.
"I think that burdening Saka with the fate of the country is a very heavy burden for him as a young man, and it is not right for him to bear everything at this moment," said Mourinho, the Italian coach of Rome.
"But I don't know if I should ask this question to England coach Gareth Southgate or not. Because some players - who are supposed to be there and take responsibility - often run away from responsibility," Mourinho added.
🇮🇹🏆🇮🇹 Crazy joy for Italy and a big disappointment for the England national team 🔥🔥#Euro2020 |
#Italy_England pic.twitter.com/rAGCqKN84Y
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 11, 2021
Playmaker Grealish responded to Kane's comments that he wanted to take one of the penalties.
Grealish said - on Twitter - "I said I wanted to take one of the kicks. The coach made a lot of right decisions during this tournament and so did tonight... But I don't want people to say I didn't want to take a penalty kick when the reality is the opposite."
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said no one could blame the players who missed penalties, while former England captain Alan Shearer said players should be praised for accepting the kicks and taking that responsibility.