THOMAS TUCHEL EXPLAINS WHY BUKAYO SAKA WAS LEFT ON THE BENCH FOR ENGLAND DEFEAT TO ARGENTINA
Thomas Tuchel admits Bukayo Saka was fit to play in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina but says he preferred to play Morgan Rogers instead.
England ended their World Cup campaign with a bronze medal following a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in Miami on Saturday.
Saka was the star of the show as he scored a hat-trick but after going four ahead by half-time, England had to survive a huge scare in the second half as France threatened a comeback by scoring three without reply.
Tuchel has faced scrutiny in the wake of England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina, particularly over his defensive substitutions in the second half after Anthony Gordon had put the Three Lions a goal ahead.
Saka, who has been nursing an Achilles problem throughout the World Cup, was surprisingly left on the bench for the entire game against Argentina, despite England needing a refresh in attack in the second half.
The Arsenal winger started just three of England’s eight games at the World Cup and after the victory over France, Tuchel was asked why he had not given the 24-year-old a more prominent role during the tournament.
‘He did everything right,’ Tuchel said of Saka.
‘I just had the feeling in the semi-final for Morgan Rogers that he would be involved in something special, and that was it.
‘And then the game in itself demands so much, you’re forced into changes because of cramps and the flow of the game so Bukayo showed he was a key player, it was never a doubt.
‘I was not even aware he had a hat-trick, I lost the overview of all the goal-scorers, but well-deserved credit.’
Saka, meanwhile, was asked whether he would have liked to have been given a bigger role for England at the World Cup.
‘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,’ Saka said.
When asked about concerned over his injury, Saka replied: ‘I’m fit.’
In his post-match press conference, Tuchel insisted that Saka remains a key part of his England plans going forward.
‘He was excellent, Bukayo is a key player for me,’ Tuchel said.
‘He was ready to go in the World Cup, I felt still the responsibility as a coach, and with the history given where he came from to take it slow with Bukayo.
‘He started quite some matches, it was a tough decision for me to leave him out of the semi-final. I had a feeling after the Norway match that Morgan Rogers had something special to give to us with his physicality and his body in the match against Argentina.
‘We had him warm up several times against Argentina, we were ready to change but the game became so crazy that in the end we opted for a different option.
‘But nothing has changed during this World Cup for me, Bukayo is a fantastic teammate, a fantastic football player, a key player for us, that will not change, he showed it again today, I’m happy for him and happy for us, he’s excellent.’
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2026-07-19T00:41:30Z
