Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka's sweet response to David Beckham's England message after Switzerland win

Euro 2024 news as Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka opens up on reaction by David Beckham to late England equaliser and crucial Switzerland penalty

Bukayo Saka has offered a simple response to David Beckham after the England icon praised Gareth Southgate's latest saviour following the penalty shootout victory against Switzerland on Saturday to secure a passage into the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

Tweeting after the match, Beckham, who both scored and missed a penalty in major tournaments for his country - like Saka has following his dramatic Euro 2020 (played in 2021) final effort was saved against Italy - wrote: "That's the smile we all needed to see... Courage & happiness @bukayosaka87, well done to the lads @england."

Saka scored the equalising goal against Switzerland late on in 90 minutes, cancelling out Breel Embolo's strike and leading England into extra time. The young forward also successfully converted his spot-kick, exorcising the demons of his missed attempt at Wembley three years ago.

This victory came less than a week after England's last-16 triumph over Slovakia, where Jude Bellingham's stoppage-time overhead kick forced the match into extra time as well. "I think we’ve shown in two back-to-back games, we’ve gone to 120 minutes and won them both," Saka told Lions’ Den. It shows that we can do whatever it takes to win.

"Whether it’s in the 90th minute or the 120th minute, whether it’s in a penalty shoot-out, we can do it in any way so that gives us a lot of confidence as well."

Saka received widespread praise for his man-of-the-match performance and his nerveless penalty conversion from 12 yards after suffering horrific racist abuse in 2021. However, it was the admiration from former England captain Beckham that he cherished the most.

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When asked about the post, and after some light-hearted teasing from Luke Shaw about his constant talk of the post, Saka responded: "Listen, the first truth he's said today!

"I showed him [Shaw] this yesterday I was buzzing when I saw because obviously, you know, to have that support from Becks is... [shakes head, raises hand and smiles]. Come on, man. Come on, you can forgive me!

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"In extra-time I sort of had the feeling it could be penalties, so I was ready in the mind battle for when the game had finished. I tried to focus more on success than failure. You know, if I think about failing or missing then it gets me down, gets me worried and then I get tense."

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