Arsenal ace Saka proved pivotal against Switzerland as the Three Lions advanced to the semi-finals on Saturday, cancelling out Breel Embolo's opener before tucking away his penalty during a tense shootout. The composure displayed by Gareth Southgate's men was a marked move away from their infamous shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
The heartbreaking memory of that day - where Saka, Sancho and Marcus Rashford each failed to convert their penalties - isn't one to be quickly forgotten. They suffered extensive racial abuse in the aftermath, culminating in jail sentences for some individuals over their online slurs.
But amid the celebrations in Dusseldorf, Sancho found solace in Saka's spotlight and highlighted his compatriot's success to help banish his own demons. And it was evident he was beaming with pride for his friend's achievement following the agony of what came three years prior.
The Mirror reported Sancho took to social media and shared a photo of Saka collecting Saturday's Player of the Match award, where the caption read: "I'm so proud of this guy @bukayosaka87! You did it for me and Marcus brother!"
And Saka, 22, swiftly responded to Sancho's Instagram story to reciprocate the love. He screenshot the post and replied with a heart-warming message as he wrote: "My boys."
Sancho's message of support hinted at the turmoil he endured alongside Saka and Rashford (Image: sanchooo10/Instagram)
Despite the backlash they faced from some fans for their penalty misses in the Euro 2020 crescendo, Saka's round of 16 performance was a coming-full-circle moment. From the despair of that moment and what followed soon after, the Gunners talisman shone as England's inspiration, as they once again made it into the final four.
Sancho found himself sidelined for this year's tournament despite a strong showing while on loan at Borussia Dortmund in the latter half of last season. His future under Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag also remains up in the air after a fallout last year.
Rashford was also left out of Southgate's squad as he struggled to hit his stride at United last term. The 26-year-old announced a hiatus from social media at the end of the season amid speculation of a potential exit from the club where he's spent his entire career.
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"It's time to come off Socials for a few weeks. I plan to rest and reset mentally after a challenging season individually and collectively," he wrote on X in late May. "Thanks to the fans that stood by me through a difficult period. To the ones that didn’t just remember at United, we always stick together."
England now gear up for a pivotal semi-final showdown against the Netherlands on Wednesday night. And Sancho will be part of the legions of fans cheering Saka on ahead of what could be another career-highlight occasion.
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