Tuchel confirms Saka's Achilles concern leaves England sweating before World Cup opener

Bukayo Saka is carrying an Achilles problem into England’s World Cup preparations, with head coach Thomas Tuchel admitting the Arsenal winger is not at full fitness and will need careful management in the days before the tournament begins.

Tuchel made the disclosure ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Costa Rica, which he intends to use as a near-full dress rehearsal for England’s Group B opener against Croatia on June 17. Saka reported late to the England training camp after Arsenal’s Champions League final and has been working on individual fitness rather than training fully with the squad.

“Bukayo is still getting there, playing through discomfort at the end of the season, but obviously managing it and playing at a high level, but still not on his 100 per cent,” Tuchel said. “He is the one we are building and taking care of in training.”

The Germany-born coach drew a contrast with Saka’s Arsenal teammates also in the squad. “Declan is 100 per cent, Ebs is 100 per cent, Noni is 100 per cent. Bukayo is just not there yet. Some things are missing — consecutive training.”

Tuchel explained that Arsenal and Saka had jointly decided to manage the injury through the latter stages of the club season, a decision that allowed the winger to play a decisive role in the second leg against Atlético Madrid and then in the Champions League final itself. England will continue the same approach.

“The player and his needs and health are always first,” Tuchel said. “Yesterday he was not with us, today he was and did the full training session. He is available for tomorrow, but he needs management to be fully, fully 100 per cent, which he is not. I think it is very unlikely Bukayo starts and finishes all the matches from now on.”

Any England players who do not receive minutes against Costa Rica will feature in a behind-closed-doors match against Miami FC on Thursday, ensuring the entire squad gets game time before the tournament kicks off.

Saka has been one of England’s most consistent performers in recent years, making his fitness the most pressing concern for Tuchel as the squad finalises preparations in the United States.