Tuchel Hopeful Saka Can Start Against Panama as England Manage Injury Concerns
Thomas Tuchel has said he is hopeful Bukayo Saka will be fit to start England’s final World Cup group game against Panama on Saturday, though the England head coach was quick to stress that the Arsenal forward is not a one-man solution to the team’s attacking woes.
Saka made his second substitute appearance of the tournament in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Ghana in Boston, injecting some urgency late on but unable to break the deadlock. The 24-year-old has been carefully eased back from an achilles problem, and had himself acknowledged last week that he was gambling on his fitness by taking part in the tournament at all.
According to The Guardian, Tuchel told reporters: “He’s getting there, and there’s more and more training sessions” — adding that he needs two further sessions before the Panama game and that he hopes “there is no reaction and he is good to go.”
When pressed on whether Saka is the kind of big-game player England have been missing after managing just four shots on target against Ghana, Tuchel pushed back firmly. He made clear he does not want to place the weight of England’s attacking problems on one player’s shoulders, saying everyone needs to contribute and that “it’s not the moment to shout for individual names.”
England also have fitness concerns elsewhere. Declan Rice was seen leaving Boston Stadium with heavy strapping around his left calf, though the West Ham midfielder had previously said he was managing a neural hamstring issue that has been present since December but insisted he was fit. Reece James’s workload is similarly being monitored given his history of injury.
On team selection, Tuchel indicated he will not make sweeping changes, though Nico O’Reilly could come in at left-back in place of Djed Spence. He praised the centre-back partnership from the Ghana game and highlighted Elliot Anderson as a player who improved on his earlier showing against Croatia.
England go into the Panama fixture top of their group on goal difference from Ghana, with the 4-2 win over Croatia their standout result so far. Panama have lost both of their matches 1-0 — though England fans will recall the two sides’ last meeting ended in a 6-1 England victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Tuchel struck a measured tone about the team’s overall position, acknowledging England’s performances have not been easy to watch but urging against negativity. “There is a long way to go,” he said, “and no one has won a World Cup with four goals per match.”
For the latest group standings and what a win could mean for England’s knockout route, visit our World Cup 2026 hub and check the live standings.