Saka hat-trick puts Tuchel’s semi-final call back under scrutiny

Bukayo Saka answered England’s selection debate on the pitch, scoring a hat-trick in a 6-4 win over France that secured third place at the World Cup. After the match, he said he had been fit and would have liked to feature more during the tournament.

The performance inevitably drew attention back to Thomas Tuchel’s decision to start Morgan Rogers instead of Saka in the semi-final defeat to Argentina. Tuchel described that choice as tactical, saying he believed Rogers could offer something decisive, while also reaffirming Saka’s importance to the team.

England’s bronze medal is still a notable tournament finish, but the way it arrived leaves questions for the next phase under Tuchel. Saka finished with three goals and three assists, and his impact against France will fuel debate over whether England made the most of one of their leading attacking players when the stakes were highest.

For editors and supporters, the issue is less about one player alone than about tournament decision-making: how should a coach balance fitness concerns, tactical instincts and established quality in knockout matches?