KEY POINTS

  • Rashford, Sancho, and Saka failed to score from spot-kick
  • The three received racial abuse after penalty miss
  • Rashford's mural was defaced in his hometown

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford Tuesday took to social media to apologize for the penalty shootout miss, adding "I will never apologize for who I am and where I came from."

Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka failed to score from the spot as England lost to Italy 3-2 on penalties in the final of Euros 2020 on Sunday, following which, the young trio faced racial abuse on social media after the game.

"I felt as if I'd let everyone down," Rashford wrote in a statement.

"I can take critique of my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough, it should have gone in but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from. I've felt no prouder moment than wearing those three lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of tens of thousands," Rashford added further in the statement that he shared on his various social media accounts.

Earlier, a mural in Withington, Rashford’s hometown, was defaced after the penalty miss in Euros 2020. The mural was covered in messages of support later.

England boss Gareth Southgate and Prime Minister Boris Johnson Monday condemned the racist abuse with the former terming it as “unforgivable.”

As the investigation into the incident is ongoing, the Metropolitan Police said "it will not be tolerated" while the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) also launched a probe, BBC Sport reported.

Marcus Rashford faced a wave of racist abuse after missing a penalty during England's Euro 2020 final defeat
Marcus Rashford faced a wave of racist abuse after missing a penalty during England's Euro 2020 final defeat POOL / FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

In a post-match interview Sunday, England captain Harry Kane defended Rashford, Sancho and Saka, saying the three young players will bounce back ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"You've got to hold your heads high. It's been a fantastic tournament. Anyone can miss a penalty. We win together, we lose together. We'll learn and grow from it. Those boys will grow from it and it will give us more motivation for the World Cup next year. We were playing against a very good side. We got off to the perfect start. Maybe dropped a little too deep sometimes. They had a lot of the ball. We looked fairly in control, they didn't create too many chances," Kane said.

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