"He's so strong, it's a joke" - Rio Ferdinand impressed by 22-year-old Arsenal star at EURO 2024
Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has been impressed by Arsenal star Bukayo Saka's performances for England at EURO 2024. The 22-year-old has been a key contributor in the Three Lions' run to the semi-final.
Saka has been a starter in all five of England's games so far. He played the full 120 minutes in the Round of 16 (against Slovakia) and the quarter-final (against Switzerland).
He has been deployed in a variety of positions by manager Gareth Southgate, including both wings and as a left-sided full-back. He scored the all-important equalizer (1-1) against the Swiss in the 80th minute, and scored his penalty in the shootout to help his side win 5-3.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE YouTube channel, the 45-year-old observed that Saka has taken on full-backs on the inside as well as the outside, making him 'unpredictable'. He said:
"The way that we played the other day (vs Switzerland), Saka is so important because he gives us that ability to get at people, he’s getting the guy one-v-one. And I said this before – what I like about him, and one of my criticisms about Saka was that he was so dominant on coming inside on his left foot whereas this game especially he was facing, and he has done it in this tournament a lot, he’s facing the full-back one-v-one and gone outside as much as he has come inside. So, it makes it unpredictable."
Ferdinand then compared the Arsenal attacker to iconic Premier League forwards like ex-Manchester City man Riyad Mahrez and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, adding:
"When a winger is unpredictable like that, like (Riyad) Mahrez has been for many years, you go that is a hard, hard day’s work, that is. And if you go right up tight when the ball is rolling into him, he’s strong enough to roll you like (Mohamed) Salah does. He’s so strong, it’s a joke."
"He is a fighter" - Gary Neville commends Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka's mentality
Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville applauded Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka for his mental strength and determination after England's win over Switzerland at EURO 2024.
Not only did the Gunners forward keep Gareth Southgate's side in the game by scoring an 80th-minute equalizer, but he also scored his penalty in the ensuing shootout. He redeemed himself after his miss, alongside Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho's condemned England to defeat in the EURO 2020 final against Italy.
Speaking on ITV Sport, Neville praised the Arsenal man's incredible courage and mentality, saying (via HITC):
"You look at him and just think he is a joy, he has got that happiness and that spirit in his game. He is a fighter. He keeps going right to the end, he always wants the ball, he is everything you want in a football player as it's meant to be as a kid."
Up next, Saka will be seen in action when England take on the Netherlands in an exciting EURO 2024 semi-final clash at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion on July 10.