Bukayo Saka is enduring the challenges of an achilles injury as he prepares for the upcoming World Cup, according to England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel. The situation demands careful management as the tournament draws near.
The Arsenal forward joined the England squad in West Palm Beach on Saturday, having received an additional week of rest following his participation in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Tuchel also granted similar time off to other Arsenal players, including Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke.
However, Tuchel’s assessment of Saka’s condition is less optimistic. The winger was taken off in the 83rd minute during the PSG match, which Arsenal lost in a penalty shootout. It’s unusual for Saka not to feature in such a prestigious event.
Back in March, after both Saka and Rice were forced to withdraw from a friendly against Japan, Tuchel mentioned that they were competing at about 70% capacity, having dealt with discomfort for an extended period. While Rice has since improved, Saka remains in a tough spot.
“Declan has returned to full fitness, but Bukayo is still not where he needs to be, playing through discomfort as the season wraps up. We are managing him to maintain high performance levels, yet he isn’t at 100%,” Tuchel explained. “We’re focusing on his training regimen. Declan, Ebs, and Noni are all at 100%.”
“Bukayo isn’t quite there yet. He hasn’t been able to attend every training session this week, and we will continue to oversee his condition. Arsenal handled his situation carefully when he returned at the end of April, and they made a joint decision with him to let him play despite the pain and discomfort. It seems unlikely that Bukayo will start and finish every match from here on out.”
In light of Saka’s challenges, Tuchel noted that Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford could fill in on the right flank, but Madueke is his primary alternative for that position. “Clarity is essential for us; players need to know where they can contribute,” he added. “We hope to minimize experimentation during the tournament.”
England will face Costa Rica in their second and final warm-up match in Orlando on Wednesday, ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas the following week. Tuchel faces significant decisions regarding his starting lineup, particularly regarding the competition between Rogers and Jude Bellingham for the No. 10 position. However, he urges the public to move past the fixation on whether Bellingham should start.
“We have ample evidence that we can secure victories without Jude, and that’s the key takeaway,” Tuchel stated. “Jude is in exceptional form, but we must shift our focus from individuals. No single player can win this World Cup alone; it’s impossible. Success requires teamwork.”
“I won’t engage in that discussion. You in the media can continue that narrative. We have Harry [Kane], Declan, Jude, Morgan, and Bukayo Saka among our squad. They are all outstanding players, and some may find themselves on the bench.”
“This is a lengthy tournament, and the players selected for the match against Costa Rica, as well as those against Croatia, may not be the same for all games.”
“They must grasp that not everyone can start every match simultaneously. They can still play crucial roles even if they enter the game later. While they might feel upset or disagree with my decisions, they must accept it and continue to support their teammates.”
In their first warm-up match on Saturday, England secured a 1-0 victory over New Zealand in Tampa, which Tuchel described as a useful training exercise, employing different lineups in each half. He plans to give select players 60-70 minutes against Costa Rica, which may provide insights into his starting formation for the Croatia match.
However, the upcoming game against Costa Rica may not present the challenge Tuchel initially anticipated. The Central American team parted ways with their manager, Miguel Herrera, last November after failing to qualify for the World Cup and appointed Fernando Batista in March, who is currently overseeing a transitional phase. He is expected to field a number of developing players against England.
“Originally, we intended to face a back four [against New Zealand] and a back five [against Costa Rica],” Tuchel remarked. “But due to the coaching change in November, the new coach has shifted away from the back five formation. We must adapt. Our goal is to build on what we learned from the New Zealand match, and I expect to see improvements in every aspect of our performance.”
