For 1,901 days, from July 11, 2021, to July 6, 2024, Bukayo Saka carried the weight of the missed penalty against Italy in the last Euro final.

It was the decisive penalty for England, the one that sealed the fate of Gareth Southgate's team. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho also missed their shots and were heavily criticized by a segment of the fanbase, who hurled racist insults at the three young players from the anonymity of social media, turning potential heroes into villains.

During this period of over three years, Saka, who was just 19 at the time, endured a personal hell, particularly in the months following his mistake, which is now thankfully a thing of the past. Football often offers second chances, and the Arsenal player got his in the Quarter-finals against Switzerland in the Euro held in Germany.

Once again, after a 1-1 draw and 120 minutes of play, England faced a do-or-die penalty shootout. And Saka, just like nearly 2,000 days ago, did not shy away from the responsibility of taking one of the penalties.

He took the third shot after Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham, both of whom had scored. Swiss player Manuel Akanji had already missed his attempt. If Saka failed against Yann Sommer, it would be back to square one, and the ghosts of Gianluigi Donnarumma's save would haunt him again.

When referee Daniele Orsato blew his whistle, Saka took a few eternal seconds before taking his shot. He contemplated it several times before his left foot struck the ball after a brief run-up. Sommer dove to his right, and the ball went to the opposite side. The sound of the ball hitting the net brought a huge smile to Saka's face. He had succeeded.

But he didn't just score a goal. For him, it was "the goal," the most special one among the many he has celebrated in his career. Exactly 70, counting those scored for Arsenal and England. None like the penalty against Switzerland, which forever closed the wound of Wembley, the stage where his ordeal began and where racists unleashed their vile messages to the world.

Surely, the same people who once insulted Saka are now applauding his achievements from their couches. It’s the hypocrisy of the bully and the racist because after this match, unlike three years ago, there were no racist insults directed at Saka.

And what did the protagonist say? When asked if he had exorcised his demons, he was clear: "I think I can accept that statement. You can fail once, but you have the option to put yourself in that situation again. And I’m the type who can face that situation. I believed in myself, and when the ball hit the net, I was a very happy man," he said.

Saka, who had been invisible and affected by England’s erratic play, responded against Switzerland by stepping up and making a statement. He appeared when Southgate's team needed him most. He saved his teammates from early elimination and was named Man of the Match by UEFA. But, much more importantly, he banished the ghosts of a mistake that led to one of the most disgraceful episodes involving some of the most intolerant fans in British football. Saka’s penalty silenced the bullies and served as redemption for a player who is now truly happy.