Bukayo Saka has voiced his dissatisfaction with the amount of playing time he received from Thomas Tuchel during the World Cup. The Arsenal winger, who arrived in England's camp carrying an Achilles injury, was passed fit but struggled to secure a starting spot, with Noni Madueke and Morgan Rogers often preferred. He was an unused substitute in the semi-final defeat against Argentina, failing to come off the bench as England chased the game late on.
Saka's Hat-Trick in Third-Place Play-Off
Saka was selected for the third-place play-off against France and delivered a standout performance, scoring a decisive hat-trick in a chaotic 6-4 victory. When asked if he could have played a more prominent role for England, Saka said: "Of course, I would have loved to have played more, but it is too late to talk about that. I have to do my talking on the pitch. It's done now and move on."
Injury Update and Performance
Saka was adamant that his nagging Achilles injury was no longer an issue, stating: "I'm fit, I'm fit." He powered England to victory with two goals before halftime and completed his hat-trick with a late penalty.
Tuchel's Explanation for Saka's Omission
Tuchel explained his decision to leave Saka out of the semi-final, saying: "I had a feeling in the semi-final that [Morgan] Rogers would be involved in something special. That was it. The games in itself demands so much, so much focus on changes because of cramps and flow of the games." He added: "Bukayo showed that he is a key player. There is never a doubt. I wasn't aware he had a hat-trick. I lost the overview of the goalscorers, but brilliant."
