Gareth Southgate’s England took a massive step toward qualifying for Euro 2024 after the Three Lions pounced on North Macedonia in ruthless fashion tonight at Old Trafford, putting Risovi to the sword to the tune of a 7-0 thrashing at the Theatre of Dreams.
As expected, Harry Kane continued to cement his place as England’s record goalscorer with a brace, while Marcus Rashford and Kalvin Phillips also added goals to their international CV’s, but it was Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka that stole the show with a sensational hat-trick at a usually unfriendly ground.
Hahaha honestly imagine doubting Bukayo Saka 💫
There’s no ceiling for him!
That Trent X Saka linkup is going to cook for a LONG time for England 🔥
pic.twitter.com/51pbQ8X0yb— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) June 19, 2023
The Hale End Academy product bagged a wonder goal as part of his first senior international hat trick since making his England debut back in 2020, hitting his second brace along the way to a magical night for the 21-year-old.
In doing so, Saka also became the youngest player to score a hat trick for England since former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott managed the same feat (aged just 19) back in 2008 against Croatia.
21 – Aged 21 years & 287 days, Bukayo Saka is the youngest player – and first Arsenal player – to score an England men’s hat-trick since Theo Walcott (19y 178d) v Croatia in September 2008. Firepower. pic.twitter.com/sl80DBtOqK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 19, 2023
Despite his world crumbling around him when his miss from the penalty spot saw Italy become champions of Europe two summers ago, Saka has come on leaps and bounds on the international stage since then, scoring ten of his eleven international goals since then.
His performance tonight comes on the back of a superb showing for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal during the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, with Saka smashing 14 league goals and adding 11 assists as one of the only players anywhere in Europe’s top-five leagues to hit double digits in both categories.
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