Former England internationals Gary Neville and Ian Wright have voiced serious concerns about Bukayo Saka’s fitness ahead of the knockout stages, as the Arsenal star continues to battle an Achilles tendon injury that has hampered his usual performances.
Neville described the winger as a mere shadow of his typical self. Despite these worries, Saka featured in all three group stage matches, although his playing time was carefully managed by coach Thomas Tuchel, who consistently brought him on as a substitute.
Speaking on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football program, Neville admitted his unease over the 24-year-old’s effectiveness on the pitch.
“Bukayo Saka looks really off it. He’s normally a guy full of energy and smiles, with a competitive edge, but right now he’s out of shape, and that’s concerning,” Neville said.
Wright echoed these sentiments, questioning whether including Saka in the tournament squad was the right call. While the player himself has acknowledged his willingness to risk his physical condition, Wright believes Saka appears physically drained after a grueling season. Towards the end of the Premier League campaign, Saka struggled to complete full 90-minute matches for several months.
“We’re heading to the World Cup, yet he’s still not starting the first few games, only coming on after three matches, and he still doesn’t look like the Saka we know — this guy needs a break,” Wright explained.
As England prepare to face DR Congo in the round of 16 in Atlanta, experts are already looking ahead to potential opponents in the later rounds. Should England advance, they could face the winner of Mexico versus Ecuador, with a possible quarterfinal showdown against Brazil and a semifinal clash with reigning world champions Argentina.
“I think if we get to Brazil, we probably can beat them. But then, I think we’ll have problems. I’ve said from the start that England will reach the semifinals,” Wright added.
The England versus DR Congo match is scheduled for Wednesday, 1 July, with kickoff at 16:00 UTC.
