Rio Ferdinand hailed as arguably’s most important player after his side’s dramatic penalty shootout win over .
The Three Lions progressed to the semi finals, where they will play either Netherlands or Turkey, largely thanks to Saka’s man of the match display.
Operating in a largely unfamiliar wing-back role, throughout an even contest.
England looked to be heading for a premature exit when Breel Embolo put the Swiss ahead with 15 minutes remaining, only for Saka to produce a near instant response with a trademark curling shot.
Extra-time came and went with little goalmouth action as the came headed towards an inevitable shootout.
After his miss in the final three years ago against Italy, Saka could have been forgiven for thinking twice about putting himself through such a tortuous experience, but the 22-year-old kept his composure and helped his side through to the next stage.
‘Everything about him just comes off about being so positive and you can’t help but love him,’ Ferdinand told the BBC afterwards.
Not just for his football but his personality and his character to come back and who (what he’s made of).
‘When that penalty shootout came up there was no doubt he was going to go and step up given what he’s been through.
‘He’s arguably the most important England player because he’s so different to anyone else. He’s the one who will run at people beat you one vs one and go behind even today he played at wing-back and he’s a winger.’
Reflecting on his own performance, meanwhile, Saka said: ‘I am going to put it up there, special. How we fought back and to go to penalties.
‘Last time we took at penalty shootout at the Euros we know what happened. I believed. I felt like we dominated the whole game and the chance would come and I took it – I am proud of myself for that.
‘I have faith in God. To comeback from something like that is really difficult, today I took the chance.’
