England hero Saka recalls how team-mate planned "perfect" North Macedonia goal

19 June 2023 , 22:00

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England hero Saka recalls how team-mate planned "perfect" North Macedonia goal

England hat-trick hero Bukayo Saka has revealed Trent Alexander-Arnold told him he was going to play the pinpoint pass for his second goal before delivering in style.

Saka scored his first ever senior hat-trick during the win at Old Trafford, ensuring Gareth Southgate's side led 5-0 when he made way before the hour mark. Kalvin Phillips and Harry Kane added further goals to help the Three Lions maintain their 100 per cent record in qualification for Euro 2024.

The pick of the goals was Saka's second and England's fourth, with the 21-year-old bringing down Alexander-Arnold's pass on his chest and hitting a dipping effort into the back of the net from the edge of the box. Speaking after the game, though, he explained there was nothing lucky about the move.

“At half-time he [Alexander-Arnold] said to me he was going to do that pass, and obviously when I did score I was looking for him to thank him because he'd done it," Saka told Channel 4 after the win, describing his colleague as a "top, top player". "And he'd done it perfectly, I didn't really have to break my stride, to credit to him.

“It's been a very long season, some positives and of course some negatives. But it's the end of the season now and I don't think I could have ended it in a better way, so it's time to relax and have a good break.

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“A perfect end to the season. We're really happy with the turnout and the way the fans supported us from minute one to the end.”

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Bukayo Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold combined for England's fourth goal (AFP via Getty Images)

England have now beaten all four of their opponents in their Euro 2024 qualification group. The win at home to North Macedonia follows victories over Italy, Ukraine and Malta, with the top two teams in the group guaranteed a spot in Germany as England look to follow up their run to the final of Euro 2020.

"I think what it was that defensively it wasn't as straightforward as it looked," manager Southgate told The BBC when discussing Alexander-Arnold's performance. The Liverpool man continued in a midfield role after excelling against Malta, and once again took centre-stage.

"The other night he just had to tag the pivot really and he did that well. Tonight he had to make a lot of decisions and he did it almost immaculately. He regained a lot of balls.

"His pressing was good, so for me, he has got everything to play in there. I didn't even think twice about starting him in there. It might give us something completely different. The vision and the passing range and the connection with Bukayo for his second goal."

Tom Victor