Bukayo Saka loudly proved Thomas Tuchel wrong

Bukayo Saka was not shy against France, as he played every available minute and created three chances. Oh, for what it's worth... He also scored a hat-trick. Pretty neat, if you ask me.

Despite England finishing third in the World Cup, the nation's highest finish since 1966, there was a bittersweet feeling watching the Three Lions run rampant against France. Every single person in the pub had a smile on their face, but the question remained: Where was this against Argentina?

You could ask the same question about England's overall performance, but more importantly, Saka's involvement in the match.

Bukayo Saka left Thomas Tuchel with egg on his face at the World Cup

Through no fault of his own, Bukayo Saka was benched against Argentina. In fact, he didn't even play a second for Thomas Tuchel's team.

Tuchel's messaging throughout the World Cup has been the same - He needed to be cautious about Saka, apparently. However, Saka's point of view was always starkly different.

Speaking after grabbing the match ball, and obviously the player of the match, Saka insisted that he's fit. What's more is that he wanted to play more at the World Cup, but Tuchel didn't let him.

"Of course, I would love to have played more," Saka told the BBC after England beat France. "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."

So, Saka doesn't want to fight the fight, but England and Arsenal fans do. The performance against Argentina in the semifinal was inexcusable; after the lead was taken, England sat back and invited pressure. You know it's bad when President Donald Trump mocks you for it - You know, someone who doesn't have the foggiest idea what football even is.

"[Saka] did everything right," Tuchel said. "I had just a feeling in the semi-final for Morgan Rogers that he would be involved in something special. That was it."

"The [Argentina] game was so in demand that we were forced into changes because of cramps and flow of the game."

Despite what Tuchel says, not many people are buying it. If Saka is fit, which he felt he was, then he starts. Simply put, you start your best players when they want to start. It's not rocket science.

Playing Saka, even when he is 50% fit, is what made Arsenal champions of England. Yes, those who don't watch him every week will peddle the same narrative that he had a poor season just because of his goal return, but Arsenal fans know better than to listen to such lazy rivalry narratives.

England had two standout players at the tournament - Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. We saw what happened when neither of them decided to show up against Argentina, and now we're left to imagine how different that could have been if Saka was given the license to step up in their absence.

Oh well, maybe in 2028, right?

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