England boss Gareth Southgate is taking full responsibility for his side's disappointing collapse in penalties against Italy on Sunday at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final.

The manager has been heavily criticized since for selecting three of England's youngest players in Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka to take the last three spot-kicks. But, this was apparently his reasoning behind the decision, via BBC Sport:

“It is down to me,” said the England coach of the penalty misses.

“I decided on the penalty-takers based on what they have done in training.

“Nobody is on their own. We have won together as a team and it is on all of us together to not be able to win this game.

“In terms of penalties, it is my call and it totally rests with me.”

Saka came on in the 71st minute of the match and played the entirety of extra-time as well. At just 19-years of age, the Arsenal youngster was competing in his first major tournament with England. For Southgate to select Saka to take the decisive spot-kick was foolish and he has now faced racial abuse online after Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved his attempt.

As for Sancho and Rashford, their selection to take penalties was even more confusing. Both players literally came on in the 120th minute for England and were thrown into the fire in a massive pressure situation after barely playing the entire competition.

Meanwhile, England had the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, and Kalvin Phillips who could've taken spot-kicks instead. Sterling, in particular, has boatloads of experience on this stage and is more than capable of handling the pressure. A real head-scratcher from Gareth Southgate, but now England will look ahead to the World Cup in 2022.