England: Thomas Tuchel explains reduced Bukayo Saka role after World Cup hat-trick

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19 July 2026

Arsenal star was expected to play a starring role at the

World Cup

- but struggled for starts

Thomas Tuchel

has explained why

Bukayo Saka

has struggled for minutes at the

after the Arsenal man scored a hat-trick against

France

in the bronze final.

Saka was expected to play a key role during the tournament for

England

, but did not start until

third group game - a dead-rubber against Panama.

The winger was then dropped again against DR Congo before being reinstated against Mexico and grabbed a key assist in a 3-2 win.

Tuchel decided against using Saka at all in the semi-final defeat to Argentina, but did hand him a start against

- and Saka duly scored three in a remarkable 6-4 win in Miami.

"He did everything right," Tuchel told BBC Sport of Saka.

"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."

Bukayo Saka with the match ball

Getty

England's win over

secure third place at the 2026

, their best showing since winning the tournament in 1966.

Tuchel added "I have said it before, this team has created something very special, and they showed it again."

"Eight years ago they [France] were the champions," he continued. "Four years ago they were in the final. There is a slight gap [to the top teams], but no problem. We want to close it.

"I said yesterday that today is the first step to closing it. We did it. We beat them. The next one will be Spain in the Nations League."

Asked if he is an energized as ever for the job, amid question marks over his future, Tuchel was adamant.

He said: "To see a team fight like this gives you energy. The tiredness will come after.

"We will still feel the pain when tomorrow is the final. This will take a while, but overall it gives me more energy than it takes from me."

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