Bukayo Saka is fit to start for England against Ghana on Tuesday night in Boston – but Thomas Tuchel has made clear that even full fitness does not guarantee a place in his starting XI. The Arsenal winger arrived at the World Cup camp carrying an Achilles injury and was only fit enough for a substitute role in England's 4-2 opening win over Croatia last week. Now, after declaring himself pain-free, Saka finds himself in a direct battle with Noni Madueke for the right-wing berth.
Tuchel's selection dilemma is the latest sign of a profound shift in how England are run. The German's willingness to leave out star names has been the most obvious change since he succeeded Gareth Southgate in October last year. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold – all key figures under Southgate – were omitted from the World Cup squad entirely. Morgan Rogers, more suited to what Tuchel demands from his number 10, was preferred over Foden and Palmer. The message is clear: Tuchel takes a system-first approach, deciding on tactics first and then finding the players who fit, regardless of reputation. Southgate, by contrast, looked at the best individuals and tried to build a system around them, a method that often led to in-tournament changes.
“Saka is fit to start for England but faces intense competition for places under Tuchel's system-first approach.”
“It's another big thing on the right wing between Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka, and the beautiful thing is they do it for Arsenal as well,” Tuchel said. “Bukayo is getting better and better, feels no more pain and he is ready to go – without telling you if he starts or comes from the bench.” The England boss added that everyone has trained and is available, including defenders Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford, confirming that “they all bought into it, the team as starters or coming on from the bench.”
Saka's return is a major boost for England's tournament ambitions, but the competition for places reflects a squad where roles are now clearly defined. Declan Rice, set to win his 75th cap against Ghana, has been hailed by Tuchel as “one of the very best midfielders in the world at the moment.” The Arsenal midfielder, Tuchel said, is a “humble, humble footballer, ready every day to give energy into the group.”
England's victory over Croatia showed the new approach in action. While Jude Bellingham still scored an individually brilliant goal, it came from a well-worked attacking routine developed over Tuchel's reign – a move that, in theory, works just as well with Rogers in Bellingham's role. The match was intense and a departure from Southgate's more measured style, but it also exposed a problem: the loss of momentum during hydration breaks. Tuchel has changed his mind on the issue. “I think it interrupts and changes the identity of the football match much more than I thought,” he said. “It breaks the match almost in four quarters. I like football more when it's played in one go.”
Against Ghana, Tuchel will have to weigh the benefits of Saka's return against the rhythm of a system that has so far delivered a winning start. The answer may come as much from the bench as from the starting XI.