England manager Thomas Tuchel has explained the reason behind his decision to leave Bukayo Saka out of the starting lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final, despite the Arsenal winger being fit and available.
As gathered by Softfootball, the German coach admitted the decision was one of the toughest he faced during the tournament, stressing that protecting Saka’s long-term fitness remained his priority following the winger’s recent return from injury.
Tuchel’s explanation comes after England concluded their World Cup campaign in style by defeating France 6-4 in a thrilling third-place playoff in Miami. Saka responded to his semi-final disappointment with a sensational hat-trick, producing one of the standout individual performances of the tournament and helping the Three Lions secure their best World Cup finish since 1966.
Many fans questioned the consistency of his selection decisions, pointing to the inclusion of players such as Reece James while arguing that Saka’s absence in the semi-final may have influenced England’s defeat to Argentina. Despite the criticism, Tuchel has maintained that every decision was made with the player’s welfare and the team’s long-term interests in mind.
