England’s forward Harry Kane (C) celebrates after scoring a penalty and his side’s second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C qualification match between Italy and England on 23 March 2023 at the Diego‑Maradona stadium in Naples. (Photo by Alberto Pizzoli/AFP)
Gareth Southgate hailed “ruthless” Bukayo Saka after the England forward’s breathtaking goal inspired a 2‑0 win against Ukraine, maintaining his side’s perfect start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on Sunday. Southgate’s team followed an impressive victory against Italy in their Group C opener with another composed display, highlighted by Saka’s brilliance and Harry Kane’s predatory instincts. Saka has been one of the standout performers in Arsenal’s climb to the top of the Premier League this season, and he was at his very best again at Wembley. His pinpoint cross allowed Kane to give England the lead in the first half, extending the Three Lions captain’s record tally for his country.
Kane wrote himself into the record books against Italy, scoring his 54th international goal to surpass Wayne Rooney as England’s all‑time leading goalscorer. Surrounded by his wife and children, the Tottenham striker was presented with a golden boot before kick‑off, but quickly got back down to business with goal number 55. Kane has been more instrumental than most in England’s progress to major tournaments, scoring 34 times in just 29 qualifying group matches. At 29, Kane is at his peak, while the 21‑year‑old Saka is only just beginning to explore the vast depths of his potential, as he showed with his superb long‑range strike.
“Once he receives inside and turns, you know there’s a chance that might happen. It’s a top‑level finish,” Southgate said. “That’s really the ruthless part he’s added to his game in the last 18 months. There were times when you weren’t certain he was going to finish, and now you’ve got real confidence when he’s through on goal. Everyone can see the technical quality; it is the mentality that is the outstanding part.”
England’s 2‑1 victory over European champions Italy on Thursday – their first success on Italian soil since 1961 – was a significant statement of intent in their bid to finally win a first major trophy since 1966. Dismissing Ukraine in a business‑like fashion ensured the positive mood will continue while England wait to resume their qualifying campaign against Malta and North Macedonia in June.
“I’m really pleased. We made a difficult game look straightforward,” Southgate said. “To back up the Italy result was important but there is still room to grow.”
It was an emotional occasion for more than 1,000 Ukrainians and their host families, who were invited as special guests of England’s Football Association after being displaced by the war with Russia. Showing solidarity with Ukraine, England’s players joined their opponents before kick‑off behind a Ukrainian flag with “Peace” written across it.
“It was amazing to see so many Ukrainian fans here. We knew it was going to be emotional and we all have tremendous sympathy with what’s going on. Everyone’s supporting Ukraine,” Southgate added.
Beaten in the 2018 World Cup semi‑finals and the European Championship final two years ago, England are still chasing their trophy holy grail. In their first home game since last year’s World Cup campaign ended in a painful quarter‑final defeat against France, Southgate’s men showed their hunger has not been dulled by so many agonising near‑misses. England were patient against Ukraine’s massed defence; while their build‑up sometimes looked ponderous, it was a steady approach that paid off in the 37th minute. Saka whipped a perfectly weighted cross toward the far post, and when Oleksandr Karavaev failed to generate enough power on his clearance, Kane stuck out a boot to deflect it in from close range.
Having provided the assist for Kane, Saka got on the scoresheet himself three minutes later. Taking possession 20 yards from goal, the Arsenal forward easily evaded Mykola Matviyenko and curled a sublime strike over Anatoliy Trubin into the far corner, a jaw‑dropping goal that brought the previously subdued Wembley crowd to its feet. (AFP)
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