Tuchel Explains Saka's Injury Absence, Celebrates England's World Cup Bronze

England's national football coach, Thomas Tuchel, clarified that Bukayo Saka's omission from the crucial World Cup semi-final against Argentina was a difficult decision driven by an Achilles tendon injury. The Arsenal player had been managing the issue for several months, and despite warming up multiple times during the match, the team opted for a different substitution strategy as the game unfolded dramatically.

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Saka warmed up several times during the match against Argentina. We were ready for a substitution, but the game developed so crazily that we finally chose another solution.

Tuchel emphasized Saka's continued importance to the squad, describing him as a fantastic teammate, player, and key figure. This was underscored by Saka's remarkable performance in the third-place playoff against France, where he netted a hat-trick in a thrilling 6-4 victory, securing the bronze medal for England.

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Nothing has changed for me during this World Cup. Bukayo is a fantastic teammate, a fantastic football player, and a key player for us, and that will not change. He showed it again today, and I am happy for him.

Reflecting on the tournament, Tuchel acknowledged the team's disappointment at falling short of their ultimate goal: winning the World Cup. He noted that England's third-place finish marks their best performance at a World Cup since their historic victory on home soil in 1966. However, he recognized the competitive nature of the team, stating that they are so driven that achieving third place feels painful when the final was the aim.

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It is our first medal in 60 years and the best World Cup on foreign soil. So I hope the players can be proud of it in some time.

Tuchel also addressed the criticism he faced after the semi-final loss to Argentina. He likened the feeling after the match to being eliminated in the group stage without a win. He stressed the importance of responding on the field, stating that victory, not just talk, secures results. Tuchel expressed satisfaction that the team was able to rally and secure the bronze medal, fulfilling their desire to bounce back.

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We are such fierce competitors that we will hardly allow ourselves to be proud of third place because 18 months ago we set the highest possible goal: to reach the final and win the World Cup.