Gary Lineker reveals why he got 'a little bit emotional' after seeing Bukaya Saka score penalty for England at Euro 2024

Saka stepped up to score England's third penalty and banish the memory of his devastating miss against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, having dragged the Three Lions level against the Swiss with a brilliant long-range strike. Lineker, who was watching on in the BBC studio, has now revealed that he was left emotional when the ball went in, as he likened the goal to Stuart Pearce's penalty against Spain in 1996.

Pearce, of course, missed in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany as England were eliminated, but in 1996, he scored, and unleashed a remarkable, primal scream in celebration. Lineker was Pearce's team-mate in 1990, and the parallels left his lip quivering.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Lineker said: "I did actually, watching it, get a little bit emotional. It reminded me so much of the Stuart Pearce moment. Pearce missed in 1990 when I played. I know Stuart, you know Stuart. He's such a diamond of a bloke and a wonderful football player.

"Then we played against Spain, penalty shootout, in 96 in the Euros. And he stepped forward again. I was in the crowd thinking please, please score, don't miss, and everyone in the crowd was thinking the same thing, there was a silence that was palpable.

"When he knocked that in, I cried. I was sitting there in the crowd, crying tears of joy. I don't cry when I'm sad, I cry when I'm happy, and it [Saka's penalty] reminded me of that. He took the penalty that basically lost us the Euros, and then to come back, a young lad having scored a brilliant goal to drag us level almost immediately… he's amazing!"

England are two wins from sporting immortality but they will have to navigate a tough semi-final if they are to lift the trophy. On Wednesday, they will play the Netherlands, who defeated Turkey in Saturday's second semi-final.