In the 118th minute, Gareth Southgate has an idea, at least he’s only now implementing it. The English coach takes Kyle Walker and the newly substituted Jordan Henderson off the field, whom he does not trust on penalties.
Instead he brings with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford two actually safe shooters. But also two players who thrive in their clubs but got little trust from Southgate at the European Championship.
Sancho was puzzled not only on the island, but also in Germany, which is why he did not even make it into England’s 23-man squad in the first few games. It was only after his move to Manchester United became known that the 21-year-old suddenly started.
The case is similar with Rashford. The striker never got beyond a reserve role throughout the tournament. In the knockout round he was only substituted against Ukraine when Southgate spared its regular players.
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Ironically, these two are now supposed to get the coals out of the fire in the penalty shootout. First, however, captain Harry Kane and defense chief Harry Maguire transform confidently.
Other players that Southgate stuck to throughout the European Championship did not shoot, especially Raheem Sterling.
As the third shooter, it’s Marcus Rashford’s turn – and shoots. Rashford looks out from Gianluigi Donnarumma, but hits only the left post.
Because Italy’s Bonucci now scored to equalize, there is even more pressure on Jadon Sancho with the next shot. He is not up to it. Sancho opts for the right corner, but the Italian goalkeeper saves.
Christoph Kramer, who had already predicted Kylain Mbappe’s miss against Switzerland on ZDF, was sure even before the penalty shoot-out that Southgate’s plan would not work.
“Rashford and Sancho are at the top of their game in terms of their self-image and reputation, and Southgate has left them a little on the wrong side throughout the tournament,” said Kramer. “And then you tell them in the final in the 118th minute you two only come in for the penalty shoot-out and please put the ball in. That is just not psychologically good.”
Gareth Southgate, who has been celebrated since the last sixteen victory against Germany at the latest, fails in the end due to a lack of knowledge of human nature, a skill for which he has always been praised before.
Buyako Saka then misses the final, decisive penalty kick, whom Southgate put their trust in at the European Championships, but who, at 19, is also the youngest player in the entire squad.
