JADON SANCHO hasn’t always got it right on social media.
But after Bukayo Saka buried a shootout spot-kick, and buried painful memories of his penalty miss in the last Euros final, Sancho posted: “I’m so proud of this guy, you did it for me and Marcus, brother!”
It was a timely reminder that Saka, Sancho and Marcus Rashford are forever bonded by their misses against Italy — and the vile online abuse which followed it.
All five of England’s penalty-takers in the victory over Switzerland were either black or of mixed heritage — a fact rightly highlighted given some of the sickening reaction in 2021.
But while Arsenal star Saka — who was magnificent in Saturday’s quarter-final — prepares for a semi against Holland, Manchester United duo Sancho and Rashford face uncertain futures for club and country.
There has been much talk about the depth of attacking talent in England’s squad — and Gareth Southgate’s inability to make the most of it. Yet it’s the depth of attacking talent left behind which is truly staggering.
Three years ago when Sancho, Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish all featured in England’s march to the final, it would have been unthinkable that all four would be ditched by Southgate for this tournament.
Rashford in full flow would have been a boon in Germany.
The Mancunian possesses the pace and directness Southgate has lacked but, after a prolific 2022-23 season, his form fell off a cliff last term.
His emphatic finish in last year’s Wembley qualifying victory over Italy has been played on big screens before England matches at these Euros — a reminder of his ability.
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Sancho hasn’t played for England in almost three years but there should be no such thing as a 24-year-old former international — especially one good enough to have started a Champions League final last month.
He has been frozen out at United since accusing Ten Hag of scapegoating him in a social-media post last autumn.
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A Ten Hag sacking might have revived his United career but now that ship has sailed, nobody even knows who Sancho will be training with this pre-season.
The youth team or perhaps even the mascots. It is a crying shame because as well as being a fine player, Sancho has been a trailblazer — his original move to Borussia Dortmund paved the way for Jude Bellingham to do the same.
When the Bundesliga restarted after the pandemic, Sancho scored a hat-trick and displayed a “Justice for George Floyd” T-shirt in memory of the black American killed by a policeman — a forerunner to players taking the knee for racial equality.
He’s a ballsy individual and a damned good player.
Rashford’s campaigns for social justice are better remembered — his campaigning against the scrapping of free school meals forced a government U-turn and earned him an MBE.
Sainted back then, Rashford was a sinner last season when he skipped training after a boozy trip to Belfast.
But the truth really ought to be somewhere in between. Rashford, like Sancho, might just be a very good footballer in need of a move.
United are apparently willing to sell, with Rashford having also fallen out with Ten Hag — though less spectacularly than Sancho.
The boyhood United fan would also have favoured a new manager but the part he played in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City helped to scupper that.
Rashford, 26, has long been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Sancho — who became the first United player in 13 years to reach a Champions League final while on loan at Dortmund — is a target for Juventus.
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Both players might benefit from a switch abroad — a temporary lowering of footballing tempo and intensity of attention.
Grealish, the £100million Manchester City man, is another who needs a move to play more regular football after spending much of last season on the bench.
And Sterling, the right side of 30 and a proven international performer, should also hold ambitions of an England recall.
All will watch England face Holland in Dortmund tomorrow, knowing they might have been part of it.
All should still be striving for a place at the next World Cup.
IT’S now customary for great retiring sportsmen to be given stage-managed farewells — even two such wonderfully cussed individuals as Andy Murray and Jimmy Anderson.
Murray’s Wimbledon wave-off was botched when he was stood up by Emma Raducanu in the mixed doubles, after a Hollywood set-piece following his men’s doubles defeat with brother Jamie.
Now Anderson — England’s most prolific wicket-taker — will receive all the pomp and ceremony at Lord’s tomorrow when he starts his final Test against West Indies.
For Anderson to be given a one-off final appearance at the start of a series is all a bit tokenistic.
If he’s still good enough to play for England, he should stay in the mix all summer.
Surely Murray and Anderson would have preferred something more low-key and authentic.
IT feels like tempting fate to write it but, almost without exception, England’s supporters have been a joy this tournament.
A decade or so ago, us lot in the media would do all we could to avoid fans on away trips — as some were violent, while many more were simply boorish and anti-social.
That is no longer the case. The FA and the police, through banning orders, have successfully changed the culture and demographic make-up of England’s away following.
Many people who would have run a mile from travelling to watch the Three Lions now find it a positive environment.
They are enjoying the beer and doing their best to enjoy the football, without feeling the need to terrify the locals.
It is a major leap forward.
LUKE SHAW is the only Englishman to score in a major international final for more than half a century.
He was once the world’s most expensive teenager and also has a tattoo of the Coco Pops monkey.
There are many reasons to love the man nicknamed “Shawberto Carlos”.
Not least — as someone on social media pointed out during his comeback appearance in Saturday’s quarter-final win against Switzerland — he looks more like darts prodigy Luke Littler than an actual footballer.
But the best reason to love him is that he’s an actual left-back — what England have been lacking all tournament.
Shaw must start against Holland in tomorrow’s semi-final. He could make all the difference.
IF Harry Kane doesn’t win his first major trophy with England on Sunday — and the odds are still very much against that happening — then he’ll surely break his duck with Bayern Munich next season.
The signing of Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, the most monstrous tackler in world football, should make all the difference for the fallen Bundesliga champions.
As will the capture of wing wizard Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.
OVER at the Copa America, Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay have knocked out Brazil, having previously lit up the group stage.
And El Loco warned the introduction of VAR and the prevalence of five-minute highlight clips are turning football into a business, sending the sport into decline.
Bielsa is spot on, as usual.
No wonder they miss him in Leeds.
