Lee Dixon says Bukayo Saka was not happy with what Gareth Southgate did in the 66th minute vs Slovakia

06/30/2024 02:37 PM

Former England and Arsenal defender Lee Dixon spotted something that frustrated Bukayo Saka during the 2-1 win against Slovakia on Sunday evening.

England made a lacklustre start to the encounter and were made to pay in the 25th minute when Ivan Schranz put Slovakia 1-0 to the good.

Gareth Southgate’s men huffed and puffed and it looked as though they were heading out of the competition until Jude Bellingham acrobatically volleyed in the leveller in stoppage time, sending the tie to extra time.

Harry Kane quickly put them ahead during the early stages of extra-time and it turned out to be the winner.

England will now prepare to face Switzerland in the last eight and Southgate will have a big decision to make involving Saka.

Lee Dixon says Bukayo Saka was not happy going to left-back

Dixon spotted that Saka was not happy about being moved back to left-back when Cole Palmer was substituted for Kieran Trippier in the 66th minute.

“Needs must and I don’t think Bukayo Saka will be very happy about it,” Dixon said on ITV.

“On that right-hand side we have Cole Palmer who loves to run at defenders.”

It had been suggested leading up to the game that Saka should be utilised as a left-back to provide more of a threat down the left-hand side and when posed with that notion, the Arsenal winger seemed to pour cold water on it.

"No, obviously I love Ian Wright and he says so many great things about me but I don’t think putting me out of position is the solution,” the 22-year-old said earlier in the week, via The Independent.

“But at the end of the day, I think we can we can talk about this but it’s in Gareth’s hands so we will just have to trust whoever Gareth selects on the day."

Ultimately, that was where he ended up playing in the second half and despite his frustrations, there was certainly more balance.

If Luke Shaw remains unfit, will he start there from the off against Switzerland?