Bukayo Saka is battling through an Achilles injury, according to England’s manager Thomas Tuchel, who emphasized the need for careful management as the World Cup approaches.
The Arsenal winger joined the England squad in West Palm Beach on Saturday after receiving an additional week off following his participation in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Tuchel also extended similar breaks to his Arsenal teammates Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke.
However, Tuchel noted a concerning situation for Saka, who was substituted in the 83rd minute during the penalty shootout loss to PSG. It would typically be unthinkable for Saka not to be a key player in such a prestigious match.
Earlier this year, Tuchel mentioned that both Saka and Rice had to withdraw from a friendly against Japan due to discomfort, with the pair operating at about 70% fitness. While Rice has since improved, Saka continues to face challenges.
“Declan is at full fitness, while Bukayo is still working through discomfort as the season wraps up,” Tuchel explained. “We’re managing him carefully, ensuring he can compete at a high level, but he’s not yet at 100%.”
“We are focusing on Bukayo and monitoring his progress in training. He still struggles to participate in every session throughout the week, which requires ongoing management,” Tuchel continued. “Arsenal brought him back into action at the end of April, where he made an immediate impact, but it was a collective decision for him to continue playing through his pain, even if it meant limited training prior to matches. It’s highly unlikely that Bukayo will start and complete every match from here on out.”
Tuchel mentioned that both Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford could take up positions on the right wing, but Madueke remains his sole pure alternative in that spot. “Clarity is crucial; the players must understand their competitive roles,” he added. “We aim to minimize experimentation during the tournament.”
England will face Costa Rica in their second and final warm-up match in Orlando on Wednesday before kicking off their World Cup against Croatia in Dallas the following week. Tuchel has several critical decisions to make regarding his starting lineup, particularly concerning the choice between Rogers and Jude Bellingham for the No. 10 position. However, Tuchel is eager for the public to shift their focus away from whether Bellingham will start.
“We have proven we can win matches without Jude, and that should be the headline,” Tuchel asserted. “Jude is with us and in fantastic form, but we need to stop fixating on individual players. One player won’t carry this team to victory in the World Cup. It’s simply not feasible. Victory will come from our collective effort.”
“I won’t engage in that debate. You in the media can pursue that line of questioning. We have stars like Harry Kane, Declan, Jude, Morgan, and Bukayo Saka. All are significant players, and some may find themselves on the bench.”
“It’s a lengthy tournament, and the players selected for tomorrow’s match against Costa Rica may not be the same for every game. They need to comprehend that not everyone will start simultaneously. They can still play pivotal roles when coming off the bench, and while they might feel upset or disagree with my choices, it’s essential for them to accept their roles and support their teammates,” Tuchel explained.
England secured a narrow 1-0 victory over New Zealand in Tampa during their initial warm-up friendly on Saturday, with Tuchel rotating player lineups in each half. He plans to give certain players around 60-70 minutes on the pitch against Costa Rica, which may provide insights into his starting lineup for the Croatia match.
However, the Costa Rica match may not present the challenges Tuchel had anticipated. The Central American side dismissed their coach, Miguel Herrera, last November after failing to qualify for the World Cup and appointed Fernando Batista in March, who is currently overseeing a transitional team. He is expected to field several developmental players against England.
“Initially, the plan was to play against a back four in the New Zealand match and a back five against Costa Rica,” Tuchel noted. “However, the new coach has shifted tactics and no longer utilizes a back five. So, we must adapt to this new reality. We need to progress from our performance against New Zealand, which was what it was, and I expect noticeable improvements in all areas of our game moving forward.”
