Caution over Saka as Tuchel says England must dare to dream
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- Thomas Tuchel says Bukayo Saka, still recovering from a March Achilles injury, needs careful management and is not yet ready for a full 90‑minute effort.
- England will assess Saka and the squad before naming the starting XI for the final warm‑up against Costa Rica on Wednesday (21:00 BST).
- England will give players a longer run‑out after the 1‑0 win over New Zealand, where 11 half‑time changes were made, to build fitness before the World Cup opener versus Croatia on 17 June.
- John Stones is highlighted as a peripheral who could benefit from extra minutes, and Tuchel confirms he is fit and could start.
- England are framed by Tuchel as “challengers, not favourites,” needing luck, focus and belief to progress in the tournament.
- Thomas Tuchel thanks the FA for shielding the squad from political distractions, noting recent visa issues affecting a Somali referee and Iranian participants.
Why it matters: England’s cautious handling of Saka and the squad’s fitness plan directly affect the team’s ability to field a full‑strength XI in the opening World Cup matches, giving manager Tuchel a chance to balance risk and ambition; the FA’s shielding from political distractions also protects preparation.
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