Bukayo Saka delivered the most emphatic response imaginable in Miami on Saturday evening. A superb hat-trick inspired England to a 6-4 victory over France in the World Cup third-place play-off, securing the Three Lions their best finish since 1966 and reigniting questions over why the Arsenal winger was left out of the semi-final just three days earlier.
Saka watched from the substitutes' bench as Thomas Tuchel's side surrendered a 1-0 lead in the closing stages against Argentina, losing 2-1. Despite being fit enough to play, he remained an unused substitute. Tuchel opted to start Morgan Rogers on the right, and the Aston Villa forward justified his selection by setting up Anthony Gordon's opening goal early in the second half. But after Tuchel switched to a more defensive shape, Argentina seized control: Enzo Fernandez levelled in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed Lionel Messi's cross home in stoppage time.
“Saka hat-trick after semi-final benching reignites Tuchel selection debate as England finish third”
Saka warmed up during the closing stages but never entered the contest. The decision quickly became one of the tournament's defining talking points.
By Saturday, Saka had delivered his reply. He struck twice as England stormed into a 4-0 half-time lead against France, first reacting quickest after Marcus Rashford's saved effort before collecting Eberechi Eze's through ball and calmly firing into the bottom corner. With France threatening an unlikely comeback, Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, becoming 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's treble in the 1966 final.
Tuchel insisted the semi-final omission should not be interpreted as a loss of faith. "He was excellent. Bukayo is a key player for me," the England manager said after the win over France. "He was ready to go in the World Cup. I felt still the responsibility as a coach, and with the history given where he came from to take it slow with Bukayo."
Yet the Standard reported that Saka was unhappy with his role after shaking off an Achilles problem. Harry Kane acknowledged the tension, insisting the squad is fully behind Tuchel despite the heartbreak. "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," the captain said. "We want to get it right on the biggest occasions and he expects that from himself as well."
Tuchel's name was booed by England fans before kick-off against France. Kane said fans have a right to be "sad and angry". "When something like this happens it's very emotional – and rightly so," he added. "When you take the job of England manager, he knows that if it doesn't go the way we want it then he's going to take some stick."
The bronze medal offers scant consolation for a squad that had dreamed of going all the way. As Kane put it: "He not only gave the players belief but he gave the country belief that it was our year. That is why it hurts even more." With the next camp, conversations will begin on how to be better — but the Saka debate will not fade quietly.