Saka admits fitness gamble ahead of England's World Cup opener against Croatia

Bukayo Saka has admitted he is prepared to risk his fitness to play in England’s 2026 World Cup Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, declaring himself ready despite an Achilles injury that disrupted the final months of his domestic season.

The Arsenal winger picked up the injury in March, missed a month of action including an international window, and has since been managing the problem through the pain barrier. England head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged during the pre-tournament camp in Florida that Saka is not yet capable of playing a full 90 minutes.

“As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest,” Saka said. “You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same. At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that.”

Saka credited the medical teams at both Arsenal and England for helping him return to the pitch, saying he is in a significantly better place than he was in March. “Between Mikel and Arsenal’s medical team and England’s medical team, since March, they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team. I am feeling better than I have felt for the last few months. I am ready to go.”

Should Saka be deemed unfit to start, his Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke is expected to take the right-wing berth. The two players are close friends, and Saka acknowledged the unusual dynamic of competing for the same position with someone he regards as a brother.

“It’s quite unique because to have two players that play in the same position, to be as close as we are, I don’t really know how it works, but it works,” he said. “Noni is like my brother on and off the pitch. We push each other, we speak every day and we have that mutual respect and we want each other to do well.”

Saka was emphatic that he would back Madueke fully if the roles were reversed. “Of course, 100 per cent I’ll support him if he plays, and anyone else that plays, even if it’s not him, I’ll be behind them because we’re all here on behalf of England and to make England win.”