France 4-6 England: Bukayo Saka reveals he is fully fit and wants to play more at the World Cup after hat-trick in third-place play-off | football news

Bukayo Saka revealed he “wanted to play more” at the World Cup after scoring a hat-trick to lead England to a bronze medal win over France – after Thomas Tuchel cunningly left him out of the semi-final defeat to Argentina.

Saka hit a treble in a 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off – including two superb first-half goals in a superb England performance that was a stark contrast to their semi-final loss to Argentina.

When England were defensive and last out, the Three Lions showed quality in possession, threat on the counter and ruthlessness in attack. And many asked the same question: Why didn’t Saka play against Argentina?

“Of course, I want to play more,” Saka told the BBC after the game. “But of course, now is not the time to talk about it. I try to have my say on the pitch. It’s done now. Move on.”

Asked if it was good news for Arsenal fans to see him playing and scoring like this, Saka replied: “Yes. I’m fit. I’m fit.”

However, despite being “fit”, Tuchel said he “had a feeling” that Rodgers would offer more in the semi-final win against Argentina.

“He did everything right,” Tuchel said of Soccer. “I just had a feeling in the semi-final for Morgan Rogers that he was going to be involved in something special. That was it.

“The (Argentine) game was so demanding that we were forced to make changes because of the ebb and flow of the game.

“Bukayo has shown that he is an important player, that was never in doubt. I didn’t even know he scored a hat-trick (against France). I lost the overview of goalscorers.”

Analysis: Is Tuchel’s biggest mistake against Argentina?

Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:

Tuchel may have earned himself and his team a bronze medal and his country’s best World Cup performance since 1966. But questions remain after a thrilling 6-4 win over France.

Saka came into the tournament as England’s standout player on the right wing. Start if you are fit.

Now after a bruising season with Arsenal – which ended with an anonymous performance in the Champions League final – Saka arrives at the World Cup with injury problems. He did not start the first two games of the tournament as his last two months of the season with the Gunners were disrupted.

But despite his injury problems, Saka has still shown quality in brief moments. Coming into the quarterfinals, Saka had three assists in just 192 minutes of action.

Behind Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, everyone knows Saka is England’s best, most experienced and most successful forward. But at a crucial moment for England this summer – the key man in Tuchel probably didn’t.

Soccer should have started against Argentina. Yes, Rodgers provided the assist on Anthony Gordon’s goal in that semifinal. But Saka, as Tuchel even admitted after the France game, is a “key player”. What irony.

A change might not have made a difference given the other issues in the World Cup semi-finals. But Saka could help. He has been part of an Arsenal team that has shown defensive resilience all term – his ability to carry the ball and counter-attack could prove useful in that complex context in England.

England’s number 7 finished the tournament with three goals and three assists. Tuchel ended the tournament with regret.

That’s not the only question hanging over Tuchel after winning the bronze medal.

For the second World Cup game in a row, England are hanging on for dear life with 15 minutes left to go. For the second game in a row, England were ahead and everyone was questioning how they were going to take it – especially how they fell from 4-0 to 4-3 – and almost 4-4.

Yes, the game didn’t mean much – especially given England and France’s lack of defensive quality. But Tuchel is already looking forward to the next phase of his England career, with his decision late in the tournament meaning he is not out of the woods.

Has England closed the gap with France?

England head coach Thomas Tuchel on BBC Sport:

“We have the power to close it. They have the power to reopen it.

“Eight years ago they (France) were (World Cup) champions, four years ago they were in the final and they were in the final of the Nations League. There is a little gap, but we want to close it.

“I said (on Saturday, this game) is the first step to close it. We did it. We beat them. Next up is Spain in the Nations League.

Is he still excited for the England job? “Watching the match and a team fight like that gives you strength. Sadness will come later.

“We will still feel the pain when we know that (Sunday) is the final. It will take some time. Overall, it gives you more energy than you need.”