Zinchenko promises revenge on Saka after England win with "no friends" claim

27 March 2023 , 06:26

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Zinchenko promises revenge on Saka after England win with "no friends" claim

Oleksandr Zinchenko has pledged to take revenge on Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka the next time the pair meet as international opponents.

Zinchenko and Saka were on opposite sides at Wembley on Sunday, with the Ukraine international captaining his country while the England star started in a front three with Harry Kane and full debutant James Maddison. It was Saka who came out on top, scoring the Three Lions' second goal in what ended up as a comfortable 2-0 win.

Between now and the end of the season, the pair will be aiming for the same thing as Premier League leaders Arsenal look to secure the title. However, Zinchenko has reminded his colleague of the situation they will face in September.

‘He’s an amazing player, we know that," Zinchenko said after Saka's goal. "Obviously he’s on fire at the moment, I wish him that until the end of the season.

‘There is no friends on the pitch," he added. "Unfortunately he beat me today, but I will take revenge."

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England and Ukraine are next due to face off on September 9, with the venue for the fixture yet to be confirmed amid the ongoing war in the eastern European country. Ukraine have only played one of their eight qualifiers so far, but have a chance to get points on the board before then as they take on North Macedonia and Malta.

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Bukayo Saka scored England's second goal against Ukraine (PA)

Some Arsenal fans were left frustrated by Saka playing the full 90 minutes ahead of a busy run-in. However, when England manager Gareth Southgate assessed the 21-year-old's performance after the game, it is easy to understand the motivation for leaving him on.

“His hunger and his humility have got him on a good path so he has all the attributes to continue to improve and learn because that is how he is wired, and I don’t see that changing with him and his family," Southgate said. "I am not going to get drawn on where he is in world football.

“He is progressing brilliantly, a joy to work with. When he is in front of goal now he plays with real belief and that is evident with his club and with his games with us.

“You are expecting him to score now when he goes through and that is a mentality shift as much as anything technical. He knows to be a really top wide player you need the number of goals and assists.”

England, like Ukraine, face a double-header when Euro 2024 qualifying resumes in June. After beating Italy in Naples and adding three points on Sunday, they will travel to Malta on June 16 and welcome North Macedonia to Old Trafford just three days after that fixture.

Tom Victor