Bukayo Saka is currently enduring the discomfort of an achilles injury while preparing for the upcoming World Cup, as indicated by England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel. The situation necessitates careful management as the tournament draws near.
The talented winger joined the England squad in West Palm Beach on Saturday, following a well-deserved week off after participating in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Tuchel extended similar breaks to his other Arsenal players, including Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke.
While Tuchel reported that Rice, Eze, and Madueke are all at peak fitness, Saka’s condition is less promising. He was substituted during the 83rd minute of the final match, which ended in a penalty shootout loss for Arsenal. Typically, it would be unthinkable for Saka to miss the entirety of such a high-profile match.
Back in March, Tuchel had noted that both Saka and Rice were pushing through their injuries, with each operating at around 70% and experiencing discomfort for a significant period. Although Rice has made considerable progress, Saka continues to face challenges.
“Declan is at full fitness while Bukayo is still working towards that, playing through discomfort as the season concludes,” Tuchel explained. “We are managing him carefully and ensuring he can perform at a high level, but he isn’t fully recovered just yet.”
Tuchel further elaborated, stating, “He is the one we are nurturing and closely monitoring during training. Declan, Ebs, and Noni are all at 100%. Bukayo hasn’t reached that level yet, and some aspects are lacking, such as consecutive training sessions. Arsenal has taken excellent care of him, and we will continue to do the same.”
“He returned to play at the end of April and was immediately impactful. They mutually agreed—Bukayo and Arsenal—to allow him to play through his pain, even though consistent training was not feasible leading up to matches. I find it highly unlikely that Bukayo will start and finish every match moving forward.”
Tuchel mentioned that alternatives like Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford could step up on the right wing, but acknowledged that Madueke remains his primary choice for that position. “Clarity is vital; players need to know where they stand in terms of competition,” he added. “We hope to minimize experimentation during the tournament.”
England is set to face Costa Rica in their second and final warm-up match in Orlando on Wednesday, before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas the following Wednesday. Tuchel has several key decisions to make regarding his starting lineup, with the battle between Rogers and Jude Bellingham for the No. 10 role being particularly significant. However, Tuchel hopes to shift the focus away from Bellingham’s individual performance.
“We have plenty of evidence that we can secure victories without Jude, and that’s the essential takeaway,” Tuchel stated. “Jude is with us and in incredible form, but we need to stop fixating on individuals. Jude cannot win this World Cup alone; it’s simply not feasible. Success will come from our team’s collective efforts.”
He continued, “I refuse to engage in that narrative. You in the media can pursue that line of questioning. We have Harry Kane, Declan, Jude, Morgan, and Bukayo Saka. Our roster is filled with significant talent, and some of these players may find themselves on the bench.”
“This tournament is lengthy, and the players chosen for tomorrow’s match against Costa Rica, as well as those for Croatia, may not necessarily be the same throughout the tournament. They must understand that not everyone can start simultaneously. They can still play pivotal roles even if they are not in the starting lineup. They might feel upset or disagree with my choices, but they must accept the situation and support their teammates.”
In their first warm-up match on Saturday, England achieved a narrow 1-0 victory against New Zealand in Tampa, a match that resembled a training session more than a competitive fixture, with Tuchel changing his lineup at halftime. He plans to give certain players 60-70 minutes of play against Costa Rica, which may help clarify his starting lineup for the match against Croatia.
However, the encounter with Costa Rica may not present the challenge Tuchel originally anticipated. The Central American team dismissed their manager, Miguel Herrera, last November after failing to qualify for the World Cup and appointed Fernando Batista in March to oversee a transitional phase. Batista is expected to field several developing players against England.
“Initially, we planned to face a back four in the New Zealand match and a back five against Costa Rica,” Tuchel said. “However, the coaching change in November means the new coach doesn’t employ a back five anymore. So, we must adapt to reality! We need to elevate our performance from the New Zealand match, which was what it was, and I certainly expect improvements in all areas of our play going forward.”
