Read The Complete Story By Clicking Here Euro 2024: Lineker admits to shedding tears after Saka missed penalty against Switzerland
Former England striker Gary Lineker has revealed he was moved emotionally when Bukayo Saka took a penalty during England’s shootout victory over Switzerland at Euro 2024.
Saka had previously scored to equalize during normal time, and the match was eventually decided by penalties.
Lineker recalled how the moment brought back memories of Stuart Pearce’s redemption after missing a penalty in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany. Pearce later converted a penalty in England’s shootout victory against Spain in the Euro 96 quarter-finals.
Reflecting on Saka’s penalty, Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast, “I did actually, watching it, get a little bit emotional. It reminded me so much of the Stuart Pearce moment. Pearce missed in 1990 when I played. I know Stuart; you know Stuart. He’s such a diamond of a bloke and a wonderful football player.”
Lineker continued, “Then we played against Spain, penalty shootout, in ’96 in the Euros. And he stepped forward again. I was in the crowd thinking, please, please score, don’t miss, and everyone in the crowd was thinking the same thing. There was a silence that was palpable.”
“When he knocked that in, I cried. I was sitting there in the crowd, crying tears of joy. I don’t cry when I’m sad; I cry when I’m happy, and it [Saka’s penalty] reminded me of that. He took the penalty that basically lost us the Euros, and then to come back, a young lad having scored a brilliant goal to drag us level almost immediately. He’s amazing!”
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