England's players were shocked by Gareth Southgate's decision to give Bukayo Saka the responsibility of taking the decisive fifth penalty in their European Championship final shootout loss by Italy.

Saka, 19, was only considered a borderline candidate to make Southgate's squad on the eve the tournament, yet was chosen to take a penalty ahead of more experienced players such as Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish because of his outstanding conversion rate in training sessions.

Team-mates threw their collective arms around Saka on Monday, with numerous public messages of support posted on social media after they consoled him at a team dinner in London later that night.

Arsenal owner Josh Kroenke, manager Mikel Arteta and academy boss Per Mertesacker sent messages of support to Saka, who graduated to the first-team and played a vital role this season, having been at the club's Hale End academy from the age of seven.