Bukayo Saka hits hat-trick after Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup semi-final snub
After being benched for England's World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, Bukayo Saka responded with a hat-trick in the third-place play-off win over France.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
England secured their best World Cup finish since 1966 with a chaotic 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off, with Bukayo Saka dominating the headlines. The Arsenal star netted a clinical hat-trick, including two superb first-half strikes, to remind everyone of his importance to the national side.
Speaking to the BBC after the final whistle, the winger did not hide his desire to have been more involved during the knockout stages. When asked about his limited role in the semi-final, a defiant Saka said:
Of course, I would love to have played more. But of course, it's not the time to talk about that now. I try to do my talking on the pitch. Move on.
The decision to start Morgan Rogers over Saka in the semi-final loss to Argentina remained a point of contention. Thomas Tuchel defended his selection, suggesting it was a gut feeling rather than a slight against the Arsenal man’s quality.
He did everything right. I had just a feeling in the semi-final for Morgan Rogers that he would be involved in something special. That was it.
Tuchel also highlighted the physical demands of the high-pressure clash, which forced squad changes. Meanwhile, Saka dismissed concerns that a lingering injury from a grueling club campaign had hampered his performance. Despite the controversy, the stats show that Saka remained England’s most productive creative outlet throughout the tournament.
Looking ahead, Tuchel remains optimistic about England's trajectory. He viewed the victory over France as a symbolic step toward closing the gap on international football's elite, with the team now turning their attention to the upcoming Nations League match against Spain.