Bukayo Saka limps through a warm-up, his Achilles tendinitis a nagging question mark over England's World Cup campaign. The 24-year-old Arsenal winger trained with the squad on Sunday after an individual session the day before, but manager Thomas Tuchel has already said Saka is unlikely to start until the third group game against Panama. It is a familiar knot of injury and hope for a nation that has not won a major men's trophy since 1966.
This is England's World Cup story in miniature: talented individuals, nagging doubts, and the weight of 60 years of failure. Tuchel, the German coach who replaced Gareth Southgate, has selected a squad built on balance and specific roles rather than reputation. He is an excellent manager, known for effecting rapid change and winning player buy-in. But the pre-tournament friendlies in March offered little comfort — England lost to Uruguay and could not beat Japan, their football stodgy and direct, a throwback to the '80s and '90s. Now, with Saka nursing an Achilles issue that has not worsened but still limits him, and other players like Jesse Lingard (a 2018 semi-final loser) now out of the picture, the question looms: can this England side rewrite history?
“Explains England's World Cup trophy drought, key injuries, and the Tuchel factor”
England's trophy drought is a psychological and structural problem. Failure begets failure. The country has produced match-winning individuals — Saka, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane — but no manager has solved the puzzle of tournament football since Sir Alf Ramsey. Southgate came close: a semi-final in 2018, a final in 2021. But he left after the 2024 European Championships, replaced by Tuchel, a foreign coach who can bring distance and clear-sightedness. He is not afraid to make unpopular picks; his life will not be defined by one decision. Yet doubts remain. The friendly against Japan in particular felt like the bad old days: players chasing opponents who were cleverer, more tactically astute. England are third favourites with bookmakers, but betting odds have not predicted a trophy in generations.
For UK readers, this is not just a sports story; it is a cultural reckoning. Every two years, hope is renewed, and every two years, it is crushed. Saka's Achilles is a symbol: even the best players are vulnerable. Tuchel's German passport is a talking point in pubs and workplaces; whether it helps or hinders is a matter of opinion. The practical impact? Fans will watch every match with a knot in their stomach, aware that one injury, one penalty, one moment of brilliance from an opponent can end it all.
Q: Why can't England win the World Cup? It is a mix of psychological pressure, tactical shortcomings in knockout games, and a history that haunts every squad. England have reached semi-finals and finals but lack the composure to finish the job.
Q: Is Bukayo Saka fit for the World Cup? Saka is nursing an Achilles tendinitis issue. He is unlikely to start until the third group game. The issue has not deteriorated, but it limits his minutes early in the tournament.
Q: Does Thomas Tuchel improve England's chances? Tuchel is an elite coach who can implement ideas quickly and is not afraid of bold selection. His German background may give him a clearer perspective. But he has a history of falling out with bosses, and success is not guaranteed.
What happens next? England face Ghana on Tuesday in their second group match. Saka may be used as a substitute. The fitness of key players and Tuchel's tactical decisions will be scrutinised. If England progress, the real tests come in the knockout rounds, where past failures linger.