Euro 2020: Brave Bukayo Saka stood up when England needed character and courage, says Keown

England conceded their first goal of this competition and needed to show character to get back into the game. 

That courage came from their youngest player in 19-year-old Bukayo Saka, and it justified Gareth Southgate’s selection of him over his competition for that right-sided position. Saka loves to run at his opponents. 

He will not be denied when he doesn’t want to be. Shortly before England’s equaliser, he burst down the right wing and played a pass into Harry Kane, who fed Raheem Sterling. 

The Arsenal forward didn’t hide and more than justified his selection in the starting XI

That shot was saved by Kasper Schmeichel. But then, moments later, Kane found Saka with a lovely ball in behind. 

The Arsenal youngster had made a very smart and well-timed run and he then played the pass which led to an own goal by Simon Kjaer. 

England were back in it. They’d found themselves in a losing position for the first time at Euro 2020. Jordan Pickford will feel he should have saved the free-kick. 

Saka put in the cross for England’s equalising goal which was turned into his own net by Simon Kjaer

The shot was a good one, but goalkeepers never want to be beaten centrally and from that distance. The pressure was on Southgate’s players. But Saka didn’t hide. He stood up, and he got his team back into the game with his energy down that right-hand side. 

Denmark were clever in this game. They defended with a block of seven — the back five and their midfield two of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Thomas Delaney. 

The wide forwards Martin Braithwaite and Mikkel Damsgaard were clever in blocking any passes from England’s full backs, using their angles of approach to stop the ball being played down the flanks. 

It forced England inside where it was too crowded for them to create much. It was a good tactical battle between two worthy semi-finalists.

Jordan Henderson will feel he should have saved the free-kick from Mikkel Damsgaard