Bukayo Saka issues verdict on England World Cup role as Arsenal star reveals injury update

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19 July 2026

Arsenal star unhappy with role after shaking off Achilles problem

Bukayo Saka

has been left unimpressed by the amount of playing time afforded to him by

Thomas Tuchel

at the

World Cup

The

Arsenal

winger arrived in

England

’s camp carrying an injury, but even after being passed fit, struggled to get into the side, with Noni Madueke and Morgan Rogers often preferred.

He was left out entirely for the semi-final defeat by Argentina

, failing even to come off the bench as

chased the game late on.

Saka got the nod, however, for the third-place play-off

with France and

scored a decisive hat-trick in a chaotic 6-4 win

Asked at full-time whether he could have played a more prominent role for

, Saka said: “Of course, I would have loved to have played more, but it is too late to talk about that.

Bukayo Saka’s hat-trick powered

to a famous win over France

PA Wire

“I have to do my talking on the pitch. It’s done now and move on.”

He was adamant, too, that his nagging Achilles injury was a thing of the past: “I’m fit, I’m fit.”

Saka fired home twice before the break as

battered a listless France, before completing his hat-trick with a late spot-kick.

Explaining why he opted against using Saka in the semi-final, Tuchel said: "I had a feeling in the semi-final that [Morgan] Rogers would be involved in something special. That was it.

"The games in itself demands so much, so much focus on changes because of cramps and flow of the games.

"Bukayo showed that he is a key player. There is never a doubt. I wasn't aware he had a hat-trick. I lost the overview of the goalscorers, but brilliant."

Saka becomes fourth Englishman to score a World Cup hat-trick

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