Bukayo Saka watched from the bench as England's World Cup dream slipped away, then scored a hat-trick in the third-place play-off that reignited questions about whether Thomas Tuchel left him out when it mattered most.
The debate centres on one of the most talented players of his generation being an unused substitute in a semi-final defeat, then producing a performance for the ages days later. Saka's hat-trick against France made him only the fourth England player to score a World Cup hat-trick — after Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane — and only the second to do so in the knockout stages after Hurst in the 1966 final. It helped England win 6-4 and secure their best World Cup finish on foreign soil.
“Why Bukayo Saka's World Cup hat-trick reignited the Tuchel selection debate.”
Tuchel opted to start Morgan Rogers against Argentina, and the Aston Villa forward set up Anthony Gordon's opening goal. But after Tuchel switched to a more defensive shape midway through the second half, Argentina seized control, equalising in the 85th minute and scoring a stoppage-time winner through Lautaro Martinez. Saka warmed up but never entered the contest. Tuchel insisted it should not be interpreted as a loss of faith, saying: "Bukayo is a key player for me. I felt still the responsibility as a coach, and with the history given where he came from to take it slow with Bukayo."
Saka's injury history is part of the context. He had been managing an Achilles problem, and Tuchel had described it as a "tough decision" to leave him out of the semi-final. After the France match, Saka issued a verdict on his role, with reports suggesting he was unhappy with how he was used.
For England fans, the question is personal: how did a player who delivered a historic hat-trick not get on the pitch when the team needed a goal? Harry Kane acknowledged the fans' frustration, saying they have a right to be "sad and angry." Tuchel's name was booed before the France game. Yet Kane also backed the manager: "The enthusiasm he has, the emotion he brings, the tactical experience he has. It doesn't mean you're going to get it right every time."
Q: Why was Bukayo Saka left out of England's World Cup semi-final? Thomas Tuchel chose to start Morgan Rogers on the right wing instead of Saka, citing Saka's recent return from an Achilles injury. Tuchel said he felt the responsibility to "take it slow" with the Arsenal winger, despite Saka being fit enough to be an unused substitute.
Q: How many World Cup hat-tricks have England players scored? Saka became the fourth England player to score a World Cup hat-trick, after Geoff Hurst (1966 final), Gary Lineker (1986 group stage) and Harry Kane (2018 group stage). He is only the second to do so in the knockout stages, after Hurst.
Q: What did Harry Kane say about Thomas Tuchel after the World Cup? Kane insisted England's players are fully behind Tuchel, praising his "enthusiasm and tactical experience." However, he admitted the squad is in the "grieving stage" and that fans have a right to be emotional. Kane said Tuchel gave the country belief that "it was our year," which made the semi-final defeat hurt even more.
The immediate future is uncertain. Tuchel remains England manager, but the boos and the debate over Saka's role will follow him into the next international camp. Kane said the team will have conversations about how to improve, and the focus will soon shift to the Nations League. Whether Saka's role changes — and whether the trust between player and manager can be fully restored — will be one of the key storylines of the next cycle.