Thomas Tuchel: Bukayo Saka's fitness managed with care

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that the team is carefully managing the fitness of Bukayo Saka ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Arsenal attacker missed part of his club's end-of-season run-in due to a muscle injury but returned in time to help secure the Premier League title.

"We still have to take a little bit of care for Bukayo who had an injury in March and carried it through the club campaign," Tuchel told a news conference. "He made himself available at the end of the season and did so brilliantly, but he was managed in between matches. That continues a bit at the moment - we are building him up."

Tuchel reported that all players, including Saka, participated in recent training sessions. The manager is now assessing his squad ahead of Wednesday's final warm-up match against Costa Rica. Players like John Stones are expected to receive extended game time as the team looks to build match fitness before the tournament opener against Croatia.

Addressing expectations, Tuchel insisted that England are "competitors and challengers" rather than heavy favorites. He emphasized the need for a calm mindset and discipline to navigate the tournament, noting that while the team dreams of success, they must focus on their journey one step at a time.