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Football London
Football London
Sport
Bobby Vincent

What Kalvin Phillips did to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy

It's a deflating day for the majority of football fans across the country, but for Bukayo Saka, the pain will be even more prominent.

England took part in their first major final in 55 years, but were beaten in the Euro 2020 showpiece on penalities against Italy after the game ended 1-1 after extra time.

Saka stepped up for the fifth and decisive penalty kick in the shootout, but could not find a way past Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who also saved from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.

The 19-year-old Arsenal star has little to no penalty experience but was still brave enough to take the responsibility on his young shoulders.

Now, footage has emerged from a video taken in the crowd that shows what Kalvin Phillips did when Saka missed the decisive spot-kick.

Phillips, who was brilliant for England all tournament, covered more ground than anyone, except Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, at Euro 2020 with 83km run by the Leeds United star.

Despite the mileage he put in, the England midfielder still had the energy to make sure he consoled Saka following his heartbreaking miss from 12 yards.

Phillips was the first to embrace the Gunners ace, with the majority of the Three Lions team on the halfway line in agony after what they had just seen.

England manager Gareth Southgate admitted after the game that it was him who decided to let Saka take the fifth penalty and took the blame for the defeat.

He told the media after the game: "That’s my decision to give him that penalty, that’s totally my responsibility.

"It’s not him or Marcus or Jadon, we work together, we work through them in training, that’s the order we came to. That’s my call as a coach."

Southgate added: “We prepared as well as we could for the (penalty shootout), that’s my responsibility, I chose the guys to take the kicks.

“In the end, we weren’t quite able to see the game through in the normal regulation time.

“It was very tight, Italy showed they’re the outstanding side that they are and why they’re 30 games unbeaten.

“Our players have done themselves proud, every one of them has been exceptional. It’s the first time we’ve got to a final, and we’re unbelievably disappointed not to go that one step further."

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