Jack Grealish slams Roy Keane for Euro 2020 comment

Jack Grealish has hit back at former footballer Roy Keane who slammed Grealish and Raheem Sterling for not stepping up in England’s penalty shootout.

England lost to Italy in the penalty shoot out of the Euro 2020 final.

Italy won 3-2 on penalties after the contest had finished 1-1.

England initially took the penalty lead as Harry Kane and Harry Maguire both scored. But three penalty misses would come – from Man United ace Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and teenager Bukayo Saka.

Saka stepped up to take the last penalty which was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Roy Keane said more experienced players such as Grealish and Sterling shouldn’t have allowed Saka to step forward and instead taken on the responsibility themselves.

He said on ITV: “If you’re (Raheem) Sterling or (Jack) Grealish, you cannot sit there and have a young kid [Saka] go up for a penalty ahead of you, you can’t.

“You cannot let a shy 19-year-old go up in front of you. They have a lot more experience, Sterling has won trophies, they had to get in front of the young kid and stand up.”

Grealish has responded on social media insisting he put his hand up, but allowed Gareth Southgate to make the final call.

He said: “I said I wanted to take one!!!! The gaffer has made so many right decisions through this tournament and he did tonight!

“But I won’t have people say that I didn’t want to take a peno when I said I will…”

Bukayo Saka is a teenager who had never taken a penalty - so why was he asked to do it now? — Bukayo Saka comforted by manager Gareth Southgate after his penalty was saved

England manager Gareth Southgate has taken full responsibility following the defeat with the order of the penalty takes coming in for criticism.

But the boss has shouldered the blame insisting he was the one making the decisions.

“I chose the penalty takers based on what we’ve done in training and nobody is on their own,” he said.

“We’ve won together as a team and it’s absolutely on all of us in terms of not being able to win the game tonight.

“But in terms of the penalties, that’s my call and totally rests with me.”

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