Fabio Capello believes Arsenal have one of ‘the best’ players in Europe right now but he has one concern for England ahead of Euro 2024 that is dealing the Italian ‘doubts’.
The Three Lions head for Germany this summer striving to go one better than they managed at Euro 2020. Wembley saw England fall at the final hurdle in 2021 as Gareth Southgate took his team into the final. But Bukayo Saka missed his penalty to see Italy win the shootout 4-3.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had also saved Jadon Sancho’s penalty and Marcus Rashford missed from 12 yards before Saka stepped up. Donnarumma denying Saka also let Jorginho off after Jordan Pickford’s save, as Italy won in England’s first major final since the World Cup in 1966.
Fabio Capello thinks Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is one of ‘the best’ in Europe
Southgate will hope England can get into back-to-back European Championship finals this summer. The Three Lions will take on Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in Group C with fixtures on June 16, 20 and 25. And Capello admits he ‘likes’ the team England will take to Germany.
The former Three Lions coach feels England could have a good chance at winning Euro 2024 as Southgate has some of Europe’s best players at his disposal. Capello rates Arsenal winger Saka, Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane as ‘the best’.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka from his age, parents and house
But while Capello appreciates the attack that England will take to Euro 2024, the goalkeeper and defence concern the Italian. He does not feel Pickford puts confidence in his teammates and he also struggled to shine on the big occasion during regular time in the Euro 2020 final.
“I like England,” Capello said, via quotes by The Sun. “Their midfielders and forwards are the best, Bellingham, Kane [and] Saka. The problem is defending and the keeper. At centre-back they are weak, not at the same level as the rest of the team.
“So, I have my doubts about the central defenders and Pickford, the goalkeeper. Sometimes he can be good. But for a defence to be good, it needs to have confidence in the keeper.
“I have watched him in games like the Euro 2020 final and after 20 minutes, he just kept on kicking it long. It was as if he didn’t want the ball to be near him and just wanted it as far away as possible.”
Bukayo Saka will go to Euro 2024 a much better player than at Euro 2020
Saka bounced back with Arsenal from his Euro 2020 heartbreak with England by scoring 12 and assisting seven goals in 43 games during the 2021/22 campaign. The Hale End hero also continued to improve in ‘22/23 with 15 goals and 11 assists in 48 games in all competitions.
His form has also hit an even higher level this season to see Capello rate Saka as one of ‘the best’ forwards in Europe. The 22-year-old has offered Arsenal 18 goals and 13 assists in 43 games so far. Saka also now boasts 11 goals and seven assists in 32 caps for England so far.
Saka had only scored once for England before Euro 2020 with an effort in a pre-tournament friendly against Austria. He had also only laid on one assist in a friendly with the Republic of Ireland before creating Denmark star Simon Kjaer’s own goal in the semi-final of Euro 2020.