Bukayo Saka sat helpless on the bench as England's World Cup dream slipped away in the semi-final against Argentina. Three days later, he scored a hat-trick to secure third place—and reignited a debate over whether one of England's best players should have been left out when it mattered most.
Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off, earning the Three Lions their best World Cup finish since 1966. The Arsenal winger became only the fourth English player to score a World Cup hat-trick, after Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane. Yet just days earlier, manager Thomas Tuchel had left Saka an unused substitute in the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina, opting to start Morgan Rogers instead.
“Bukayo Saka's World Cup hat-trick reignites debate over Thomas Tuchel's decision to bench him in the semi-final.”
Tuchel's decision quickly became one of the tournament's defining talking points. Rogers justified his selection by setting up Anthony Gordon's opening goal, but England surrendered a 1-0 lead late on as Argentina scored twice in the final minutes. Saka warmed up but never entered the contest. After the third-place win, Tuchel insisted it was not a loss of faith: "Bukayo is a key player for me. I felt the responsibility as a coach, and with the history given where he came from to take it slow with Bukayo." Saka had been managing an Achilles problem, according to reports, though he was deemed fit enough to play.
Saka himself admitted the pain of the semi-final defeat still lingers. "On a personal level, I've worked so hard to get myself ready for this tournament," he said. "This was about being professional and finishing strong." He vowed the team would use the experience as "fuel" for the next major tournament, Euro 2028.
For UK readers, the Saka saga matters because it highlights the fine margins in tournament football and raises questions about squad management under Tuchel. England's finishing third is their best result since 1966, but the manner of the semi-final exit—and the decision to bench a player of Saka's calibre—will be scrutinised as the team builds toward Euro 2028. Saka's hat-trick proved his quality, but his frustration at limited minutes could influence selection debates for years to come.
Q: Why was Bukayo Saka left out of the semi-final? Thomas Tuchel chose to start Morgan Rogers instead, saying he felt a "responsibility" to take it slow with Saka after his injury history. Saka had been managing an Achilles problem and had started several matches earlier in the tournament.
Q: Did Saka's hat-trick change anything for England's future? It reaffirmed his status as a key player. Saka said the third-place finish would be "fuel" for Euro 2028, and Tuchel called him a "key player." But the selection debate over his role in big games is unlikely to disappear.
Q: How many England players have scored a World Cup hat-trick? Only four: Geoff Hurst (1966 final), Gary Lineker (1986), Harry Kane (2018), and now Bukayo Saka (2026 third-place playoff). Saka is only the second to do so in the knockout stages after Hurst.
What happens next: Saka will return to Arsenal for pre-season, while Tuchel's England prepare for Euro 2028 qualifying. The manager's handling of Saka will remain under scrutiny, especially if the winger maintains his form. The World Cup final itself—Spain vs Argentina—takes place later on the same day as the third-place match.