I Sport – ‘Seal of approval’
The i leads on England but unlike most newspapers, the news of Conte’s Tottenham exit did manage to make it onto the back page. Most back pages missed the Conte news as they had already gone to print by the time of the announcement.
Manager Antonio Conte has left Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent after 16 months in charge. Conte called the Spurs players “selfish” and criticised the club’s culture in a remarkable news conference after their recent draw at Southampton.
Read the back pages here
Bukayo Saka’s godly gifts make the impossible look possible – and his numbers could make him an England great
I SPORTS SAYS It was the spontaneity and fluidity of Bukayo Saka’s movement that sent Mykola Matviyenko tumbling down a rabbit hole he may yet not have surfaced from.
Back to goal, right corner of Ukraine’s penalty box, Saka cushioned the received pass with his right foot but was immediately on the turn, the quick shift in gear confounding Matviyenko, then all it took was a steadier with his left boot before bending it succulently into the far top left corner of goal.
All it took being somewhat of an understatement there — Saka is now frequently making the complicated look effortless, the near-impossible seem possible.
The two-goal lead England took into half-time was certainly unreflective of the first 45 minutes, in which Ukraine had made it hard for their opponents.
They had broken up play with what appeared to be tactical lengthy stoppages — they started to frustrate England with Harry Kane and James Maddison both venting anger at opponents on separate occasions — and a defensive solidity that has sapped the energy and will to live from previous England performances.
Yet three minutes and two moments of the highest quality from Saka entirely changed the complexion of this Euro 2024 qualifier and afforded the team a far more comfortable and relaxed remainder of the game that didn’t appear forthcoming.
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/bukayo-saka-gifts-possible-numbers-england-great-2234635
