Bukayo Saka, an absolute game-changer for club and country, sat on the bench for England’s World Cup semi-final clash against Argentina. The universal assumption? His Achilles issue had finally caught up. Turns out, manager Thomas Tuchel delivered a shocking revelation: he simply picked Morgan Rogers over Saka because of a “feeling.” Yes, you read that right. A feeling.
Saka Was Ready, And He Said So
The entire world was scratching its head when Saka did not get a single minute against Argentina, especially since everyone knew what he brings to the pitch. And after England’s 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off, where Saka bagged a hat-trick, he made it crystal clear. When the BBC asked if he was fit, his reply was direct: “Yeah. I’m fit. I’m fit.” He even admitted, “Of course, I would love to have played more. But of course, it’s not the time to talk about that now. I try to do my talking on the pitch. It’s done now. Move on.” This man was ready to go, scoring three goals and adding three assists in his 356 tournament minutes. He obviously wanted to play, and he was physically able.
Tuchel’s “Feeling” vs. Rogers’ Reality
So, what was Tuchel thinking? His answer after the France game was wild. He called Saka “excellent,” a “key player for me,” and confirmed he “was ready to go in the World Cup.” Tuchel said it was a “tough decision” to leave him out of the semi-final, citing a “responsibility as a coach” to “take it slow with Bukayo” given his history. Saka did start four of eight matches, so it is not like he was completely frozen out. But then came the kicker: Tuchel had a “feeling after the Norway match that Morgan Rogers had something special to give to us with his physicality and his body in the match against Argentina.” A feeling. Over one of the best players in the world. Rogers, mind you, was reportedly getting booed by Aston Villa fans just 10 months prior because he “could not pass the ball.” In the semi-final, Rogers managed one assist, was rated a 6.8, had an xG of 0.05, an xGA of 0.37, and only attempted 12 passes. His hyped “physicality” translated to winning only three of eight ground duels and zero aerial duels. Rogers played 337 minutes in the tournament, finishing with two assists. Tuchel insisted nothing had changed for him, that Saka “is a fantastic team-mate, a fantastic football player, a key player for us.” But his actions spoke way louder than those words.
This whole saga is just bizarre. To sideline a fully fit, world-class talent because of a “feeling” about a player who was struggling to even pass the ball for his club? It is a baffling decision that will be debated for a long, long time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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