Teenagers Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham shine against Austria ahead of Euro 2020

 

When Gareth Southgate said ‘our situation is more complicated than any other country’ while announcing the preliminary 33-man squad for the European Championship 2020 last week, it little made sense.

Now, after their narrow 1-0 win over Austria in Middlesbrough, it makes sense. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t positives on show though. Teenagers Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka both grabbed their opportunities with both hands and impressed everyone, including Southgate.

“They were both excellent,” said Southgate. “They were as they’ve been since they walked through the door really with us, both in training and the matches. They’ve played with confidence, they’ve played with freedom, with maturity.

“I thought Bukayo right from the start linked the game well; he received well on the line, inside. He’s got a lovely ability to receive in the traffic in the middle of the field. He’s like a slippery eel getting away from those challenges.

“And Jude, you can’t help but marvel at the performance of a boy that age, really. It is a bit disrespectful to call him a boy because he’s 17 but not a boy, is he? He plays like a man.”

At 17, Bellingham became the youngest player to start a game since Wayne Rooney in September 2003 against Liechtenstein. He looked remarkably calm and composed and operated with assurance. On the other hand, Bukayo Saka who has been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Award capped off a sensational week with his first England goal to seal the win for his country.

An excellent counter-attack was led by Harry Kane and Jack Grealish and when the Aston Villa star was about to shoot, he was tackled down by Marcel Sabitzer. However, Saka was quick to react and slotted the ball home from a tight angle leaving Austria’s goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann stranded.

Grealish finished the night with an ice pack on his right leg which has been part of his ongoing recovery from a persistent shin problem. Gareth Southgate doesn’t want to overburden Grealish as he’s still looking for match-sharpness.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold who was the subject of much speculation about missing the Euro 2020 final squad, but ended up making the cut, ended the night on a horrible note. The right-back ended up suffering a thigh injury while trying clear the ball in the final minute of the match. He had to hobble down the pitch and with the European Championship less than 11 days away, his participation will be a major doubt.