David Beckham shows true colours with eight-word message to Arsenal star Bukayo Saka

David Beckham knows exactly what it is like to both score and miss a penalty in a major international tournament for England. Beckham had his fair share of ups and downs during his Three Lions career.

Beckham captained England for six years and made 117 appearances for the national team. He was vilified in his early Three Lions career after being sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup for kicking out at Diego Simeone.

He would get revenge by scoring a penalty in a group game against the same country in the 2002 World Cup, but two years later would miss in a shootout against Portugal in the Euro 2004 quarter-final.

He is well placed, therefore, to offer words of encouragement to Bukayo Saka, who has had his own redemption arc in an England shirt.

Saka was the unfortunate one, at just 19 years of age, to miss in the Euro 2020 final shootout defeat to Italy at Wembley. Now, though, Saka has had his moment of retribution.

The Arsenal star fired home from the edge of the box in the 80th minute to level England’s quarter-final with Switzerland on Saturday night, just five minutes after the Swiss had taken the lead.

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And Saka would go on to have another superb moment, netting a spot-kick in the shootout to send England through to the semi-finals of the competition. You could see what both moments meant to the 22-year-old, his huge smile telling the whole story.

There is nothing better as a footballer than making up for a mistake and Saka did just that in spades for England on Saturday. And Beckham was quick to send praise to the Arsenal man.

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Posting on his official Instagram account, Beckham said: “That’s the smile we all needed to see… Courage & happiness @bukayosaka87, well done to the lads @england.”