Thomas Tuchel has explained his decision to leave Bukayo Saka on the bench for England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, admitting the winger was fit but preferring Morgan Rogers for the match. England ultimately secured a bronze medal after a 6-4 victory over France in Miami, where Saka scored a hat-trick, but questions remain over his limited role in the tournament.
Tuchel's selection choice
Speaking after the third-place play-off, Tuchel said: 'He did everything right. I just had the feeling in the semi-final for Morgan Rogers that he would be involved in something special, and that was it.' Saka, who had been managing an Achilles problem throughout the World Cup, started only three of England's eight games. Despite being fit, he was not used in the semi-final, even as England sought a attacking spark in the second half.
Saka's response
Saka addressed his limited game time, stating: 'Of course I would love to have played more but it's too late to talk about that. I try to do my talking on the pitch and it's done now, move on.' When asked about his injury, he confirmed: 'I'm fit.'
Tuchel's defensive substitutions under fire
Tuchel faced scrutiny for his defensive substitutions in the semi-final after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead. The manager acknowledged the physical demands of the tournament, particularly the third-place game against France. 'We had a brilliant first half and then a turbulent second half. You could see the difference of what one day makes and the difference in the schedule. We are so, so tired and drained from the last weeks,' Tuchel said.
Concerns over fixture scheduling
Tuchel also expressed concern about the physical toll on his squad. 'I was afraid of the physical demands of the match. We know the quality and speed of France, and they have much less schedule for them. It was less demanding. They had one more day in-between the semi-final to digest, and they had way less travel distances than us. We played in the heat, at altitude. I was worried physically. You could see it in the second half, the cramps and all the tiredness, but I was never worried about the mentality,' he added.
