Luke Shaw was one of many Manchester United players to enjoy a good Euro 2020 this summer. The left-back, despite being left out of England’s first game against Croatia, cemented his place in Gareth Southgate’s side and scored his first international goal in the final loss to Italy.
With three assists and one goal, Shaw was the tournament’s most productive defender in attack – he also helped keep four clean sheets in just six games. Shaw’s finishing technique has been praised by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before, most recently after his strike against Manchester City earlier this year.
But few would have envisioned Shaw scoring in the Euro 2020 final – it was only his fourth goal in professional football and the Norwegian boss has revealed how he reacted to the volleyed finish in the second minute.
“I’m so happy for Luke. I was watching it and ‘what’s just happened?’ He started the attack and we’ve encouraged him to get into the last third,” Solskjaer told ManUtd.com.
“We know how technically gifted and skillful he is and he hit the ball very, very sweetly. He keeps his eye on the ball, straight laces, and its margins again — off the post and in, not off the post and out. That’s football for you.
“Luke deserves all the luck he can get. He’s had a tremendous couple of years with us.”
His second-minute strike against Italy was the culmination of a stellar season at club level, earning him a place in the FWA, PFA, and Premier League team of the year for the 2020/21 season.
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