Bukayo Saka scores hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 for World Cup bronze

Micah Richards questions ‘bizarre’ Thomas Tuchel decision after England beat France at World Cup

Thomas Tuchel’s treatment of England star Bukayo Saka was ‘bizarre’, says Micah Richards (Picture: Getty) Micah Richards says he ‘can’t get his head around’ Thomas Tuchel’s ‘bizarre’ decision to leave Bukayo Saka as an unused substitute in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. Saka was the star of the show as England overcame France in a ten-goal thriller to win Saturday’s pulsating bronze-medal match, with the Arsenal forward scoring three goals to steer his side to a 6-4 victory in Miami. The 24-year-old winger became only the fourth England player to complete a hat-trick in a World Cup, following in the footsteps of Sir Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and captain Harry Kane. But just three days earlier, Saka was forced to watch on from the sidelines as Argentina, the holders, came from behind to eliminate the Three Lions in dramatic fashion. Exclusive World Cup final buildup Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter. Sign up now. Ezri Konsa , Nico O’Reilly, Dan Burn, Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford were all sent on instead in the closing stages, substitutions which Tuchel defended in the face of widespread criticism. Saka’s hat-trick heroics meant he finished the the tournament with an impressive record of either a goal or an assist to his name every 59 minutes he played of England’s campaign. ‘Of course, I would love to have played more but it’s too late to talk about that,’ Saka told the BBC following England’s defeat of France. Saka scored a stunning hat-trick in the Three Lions’ victory (Picture: Getty) The Arsenal winger only made two starts across England’s campaign (Picture: Getty) ‘I try to do my talking on the pitch and it’s done now. So let’s move on. I’m fit.’ There were concerns for Saka’s fitness entering into this summers World Cup and Tuchel admitted the attacker was still some way from ‘100 per cent’ prior to England’s group-stage clash with Croatia due to an Achilles problem. But in the wake of Saka’s outstanding performance against France, The Rest Is Football team were left scratching their heads over Tuchel’s treatment of the Arsenal star. Ex-England and Manchester City defender Richards said: ‘I understood why Tuchel played Morgan Rogers in that [Argentina] game for the transitions, but for him [Saka] not to come on… To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page ‘We’ve been talking about Saka and his fitness. Him and Rice, their fitness all tournament has been a question, but for him not to feature is just bizarre. ‘I can’t get my head around why you wouldn’t have Saka.’ Richards, who was capped 13 times by England, added: ‘The thing is with Saka as well, he gets you fouls and he gets you up the pitch. ‘How many times have you seen him going down the wing and he puts his arm out and then just buys a foul.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Former England striker Alan Shearer was left similarly puzzled by Tuchel’s decision to leave Saka on the bench in the semi-final. He said: ‘We were always told he wasn’t quite right, he wasn’t 100 per cent fit, and if he wasn’t fit then he wasn’t going to start him. ‘So yeah, it was strange that he didn’t at least come on in that semi-final and then to start against France. ‘But it was brilliant for him scoring a hat-trick.’ Mainoo didn’t play a single minute for England this summer (Picture: PA) Another hot topic of conversation throughout England’s campaign surrounded Tuchel’s treatment of Kobbie Mainoo, who finished the tournament without playing a single minute for his country. However, an official statement from England confirmed that the Manchester United midfielder had been ruled out of the bronze-medal contest due to injury. ‘When he performed for Manchester United last season he was absolutely terrific and England at the Euros two years ago,’ Gary Lineker said of Mainoo. POLL Poll Should Saka have started against Argentina? YesCheck NoCheck ‘Unless there’s some mystery issue then it’s quite baffling to me.’ Richards speculated that Mainoo’s absence may simply have been a case of the midfielder’s playing style clashing with that of Tuchel. ‘Maybe he doesn’t fit into the way Tuchel wants to play because if you look at Kobbie Mainoo, he’s someone who wants to get on the ball,’ Richards added. ‘We’ve talked about the players who were left out, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, they liked to get on the ball as well. ‘Maybe he just wasn’t suited to what Tuchel wants to do.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

6 hours ago

Saka Enters England's World Cup History Books After Record-Equalling Hat-Trick Feat

Miami, July 19: Bukayo Saka reflected on becoming the third England player to score three goals or more in two editions of the World Cup, after Gary Lineker and Harry Kane, and stated that he feels proud to be part of the elite list.Saka came away with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick, getting on the scoresheet first in the 37th minute, doubling his tally on the stroke of half-time and completing his treble from the spot late in the second period.Bukayo Saka Reacts to Hat Trick and Player of the Match as England Beat FranceBukayo Saka Says he's proud to score a World Cup hat trick, praises England's dominant first half, admits France made it tough after the break, and says the team must now focus on the Nations League pic.twitter.com/lHDbwYXdJG— Oxclipper (@Banter_FM) July 19, 2026 In doing so, he became the second England player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup knockout stage match after Sir Geoff Hurst in the 1966 final. The Arsenal dynamo became just the fourth Englishman to score a hat-trick at the global finals, after Geoff Hurst in 1966, Lineker 20 years later and then Kane at Russia 2018.Also Watch:Saka celebrates historic feat“That was fantastic. It was enjoyable and an amazing achievement of course. I’ve just been told there's only four players for England that scored World Cup hat-tricks, and you know who those players are as well. That is an elite list to be part of. It makes me very proud," Saka said.Head coach Thomas Tuchel also highlighted Saka's performance of Bukayo Saka, who notched a hat-trick. "He did everything right,” said Tuchel. “I just had a feeling in the semi-final for Morgan Rogers that he would be involved in something special. That was it. The games demand so much and we are forced into changes because of cramps and flow of the game. Bukayo showed he is a key player – that was never in doubt. I wasn’t even aware he had a hat-trick – I lost the overview of the goalscorers, but it is well deserved."France Vs England: Saka Hat-Trick Seals Third-Place At FIFA World Cup In 10-Goal Thriller As England Win 6-4 In MiamiEngland reflects on campaignThe result in Miami brought an end to England’s journey at this summer’s tournament, reaching the last four before going on to secure third place, and there is plenty to be proud of, as Saka highlighted.“We built across the tournament, we had some amazing results,” said Saka. “We fell short against Argentina and it hurts a lot for all of us and I’m sure it’s the same for the fans back home. We have to hold our heads high and move on to the next one. It’s how you react and use it as fuel. Today we finished strongly. That’s all we could really do and we did it.”(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

12 hours ago

Thomas Tuchel explains why Bukayo Saka was left on the bench for England defeat to Argentina

Bukayo Saka took home the match ball with his hat-trick against France (Getty) Thomas Tuchel admits Bukayo Saka was fit to play in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina but says he preferred to play Morgan Rogers instead. England ended their World Cup campaign with a bronze medal following a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in Miami on Saturday. Saka was the star of the show as he scored a hat-trick but after going four ahead by half-time, England had to survive a huge scare in the second half as France threatened a comeback by scoring three without reply. Tuchel has faced scrutiny in the wake of England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina, particularly over his defensive substitutions in the second half after Anthony Gordon had put the Three Lions a goal ahead. Exclusive World Cup final buildup Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter. Sign up now. Saka, who has been nursing an Achilles problem throughout the World Cup, was surprisingly left on the bench for the entire game against Argentina, despite England needing a refresh in attack in the second half. The Arsenal winger started just three of England’s eight games at the World Cup and after the victory over France, Tuchel was asked why he had not given the 24-year-old a more prominent role during the tournament. ‘He did everything right,’ Tuchel said of Saka. Bukayo Saka gave the perfect response after being left on the bench by Thomas Tuchel for England’s defeat to Argentina (AFP via Getty) ‘I just had the feeling in the semi-final for Morgan Rogers that he would be involved in something special, and that was it. ‘And then the game in itself demands so much, you’re forced into changes because of cramps and the flow of the game so Bukayo showed he was a key player, it was never a doubt. ‘I was not even aware he had a hat-trick, I lost the overview of all the goal-scorers, but well-deserved credit.’ Bukayo Saka was given the Player of the Match award (FIFA via Getty) Saka, meanwhile, was asked whether he would have liked to have been given a bigger role for England at the World Cup. ‘Of course I would love to have played more but it’s too late to talk about that. I try to do my talking on the pitch and it’s done now, move on,’ Saka said. When asked about concerned over his injury, Saka replied: ‘I’m fit.’ Tuchel also admitted he was concerned with the ‘physical demands’ of the third-place game against France as Didier Deschamps’ side had an extra day to recover. ‘We had a brilliant first half and then a turbulent second half,’ Tuchel said. ‘You could see the difference of what one day makes and the difference in the schedule. We are so, so tired and drained from the last weeks. England have ended the World Cup with a bronze medal (Reuters) ‘So a massive compliment and full respect, the mentality that we showed. Going through all the adversity is absolutely brilliant. ‘I was afraid of the physical demands of the match. We know the quality and speed of France, and they have much less schedule for them. It was less demanding. ‘They had one more day in-between the semi-final to digest, and they had way less travel distances than us. ‘We played in the heat, at altitude. I was worried physically. You could see it in the second half, the cramps and all the tiredness, but I was never worried about the mentality. ‘I have said it before, this team has created something very special, and they showed it again.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

19 hours ago

Bukayo Saka reveals what Jude Bellingham said to him before crucial England penalty in World Cup win vs France

Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick against France (Picture: Reuters) Bukayo Saka revealed Jude Bellingham’s words of encouragement to him before he scored his third goal in England’s 6-4 win over France. Saka was an unused substitute during England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina, but returned to the starting lineup for Saturday’s bronze final against France. And the Arsenal forward delivered a timely reminder of his qualities with a first-half brace as Thomas Tuchel’s side scored four in a rampant first-half display. However, the Three Lions then threatened an almighty collapse as a brace from Kylian Mbappe, either side of Bradley Barcola’s goal, saw France cut the deficit to just one goal with 30 minutes remaining. Les Bleus missed a flurry of gilt-edged opportunities to level the tie and were made to pay when England won a penalty after Djed Spence was brought down by Malo Gusto. Bellingham, brought on as a second-half substitute, quickly grabbed the ball and looked like he was about to take the penalty, but eventually handed the ball over to Saka, who stepped up to complete his hat-trick. The Real Madrid star eventually got in on the act in added time with a supreme solo goal as England secured a remarkable 6-4 victory. Jude Bellingham and Saka celebrate against France (Picture: Getty) Saka completed his hat-trick from the spot (Picture: Reuters) And speaking at full-time, Saka revealed that Bellingham was fully behind him and had no intention of taking the penalty himself. ‘No, Jude was never taking it,’ he told BBC Sport. ‘He was the first one to say go and get your hat-trick, so none of them came to distract me. I was always going to take it.’ On the remarkable encounter more generally, Saka added: ‘It was a crazy, crazy game. We’re both still quite disappointed to not be in the final but it was about finishing strong and for us giving the country the best finish in the World Cup in 60 years, so we’re happy with the final result. ‘I think the first half went for us. We won the first half, they won the second half and in the end we got the two goals to win the game, so I’d say that’s how the game went.’ Saka won player of the match (Picture: Getty) Saka started just two games prior to the third-place play-off, having arrived at the tournament with an ongoing Achilles injury from the end of the club season. However, the 24-year-old suggested he was fit and would have liked to have played more minutes this tournament. ‘Of course I would love to have played more but it’s too late to talk about that,’ he said. ‘I try to do my talking on the pitch and it’s done now, move on.’ Saka, though, did show his support for Tuchel after a bruising few days for the German following his controversial tactics in England’s defeat to Argentina. ‘I think that’s just part of the game,’ he said of the noise surrounding Tuchel following England’s semi-final exit. ‘When you win there’s going to be noise, it’s how you react to it, how you use it as fuel and today we finished strong and that’s all we could really do and we did that. ‘We built and built across the tournament. We had some amazing results and in the end we fell short against Argentina. It hurts a lot to all of us and I’m sure it’s the same to the fans back home but we have to hold our head high and focus on the next one.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

19 hours ago