Tuchel: England cannot rely on Saka for goals – but we need him desperately

England manager Thomas Tuchel has made clear that Bukayo Saka’s return cannot single-handedly resolve the national team’s World Cup goalscoring crisis, even as he conceded the Arsenal winger is now indispensable in top condition.

Speaking after England’s frustrating 0-0 draw with Ghana in Houston, Tuchel ruled out the idea that Saka’s arrival would immediately solve the Three Lions’ lack of cutting edge in front of goal. Yet the German coach simultaneously stressed how desperately the squad needs the 24-year-old to regain full fitness, with the Premier League champion having featured as a second-half substitute in both of England’s opening matches. Saka’s cameo against Croatia included an assist for Marcus Rashford’s fourth goal, but he was unable to influence the stalemate with Ghana after replacing Jarrod Bowen with 30 minutes remaining.

Tuchel insisted that Saka’s rehabilitation from an Achilles injury is progressing well enough that he could start against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday, but cautioned against viewing the winger as a panacea. “He seems to be more and more ready and will hopefully push,” Tuchel said. “We will then see.”

The England boss added: “It’s not like Bukayo comes back and everything is solved and I don’t want to put this on his back. He’s a top player, that’s why he’s with us, and he will get his minutes. We need him desperately, like every other player, in top shape.”

Saka’s role remains secondary to collective responsibility

Tuchel’s refusal to elevate any individual above the collective reflects a broader tactical dilemma: England’s inability to convert chances has already forced him to rethink personnel choices ahead of the must-win finale. The Ghana stalemate marked the second consecutive match without a goal from open play, extending a barren run that has seen the Three Lions register just one shot on target in their last 120 minutes of World Cup football. With Saka’s fitness now the least of Tuchel’s concerns, the manager must decide whether to persist with his current attacking structure or introduce tactical alterations to unlock stubborn defences.

Rotation plans collide with knockout urgency

England currently top Group L on goal difference, level with Ghana on four points after a goalless stalemate that leaves both sides tied on head-to-head criteria. Should both teams win their final group games—England against Panama and Ghana against Croatia—their group-stage meeting would be settled by a penalty-shootout tiebreaker to determine who advances as group winners. This scenario would mark the first time FIFA’s World Cup regulations have used a shootout to separate teams level on all criteria after the group stage, underscoring the tournament’s increasing reliance on high-pressure moments to break deadlocks.

Tuchel admitted the uninspiring draw against Ghana complicates his desire to rest key players before the knockout phase. “Yes, but I was not even sure we would do the full rotation. Maybe we would have,” he said. “But I’m still not shy to do some…”

The coach’s hesitation underscores the tension between squad management and tournament progression. While rotation remains on the table, the absence of a reliable Plan B in attack means Tuchel cannot afford to gamble on fringe players when the stakes rise. The Panama fixture, played in the early hours of Sunday UK time, presents an immediate test of England’s depth, with the manager already indicating that personnel changes will be made regardless of the outcome against Ghana.

Defensive reshuffle gathers pace

Tuchel also used his post-match briefing to praise the emerging Guehi-Konsa centre-back partnership, hinting that John Stones may face competition for a starting berth. The Ghana game marked the second consecutive outing for Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa at the heart of the defence, a combination Tuchel described as effective enough to potentially displace established names. “The partnership has given us stability and confidence,” Tuchel told reporters. “We’re seeing different qualities from both players that complement each other well.”

With England’s defensive record already under scrutiny—conceding their first goal of the tournament in the 89th minute against Ghana—the manager’s comments suggest a tactical shift is underway. The Guehi-Konsa axis has now played 150 minutes together, keeping one clean sheet while conceding just once from open play. Should Stones be dropped, it would represent the most significant defensive reshuffle of England’s World Cup campaign to date, with implications for the entire backline’s cohesion in the knockout rounds.

As the squad prepares for a high-pressure encounter against Panama, Tuchel’s message is unambiguous: Saka’s fitness is vital, but England’s World Cup fate will hinge on whether the entire group can finally deliver in the final third. The manager’s next squad announcement, due 48 hours before kick-off, will reveal how far he is willing to push his rotation strategy—and whether the defensive experimentation extends beyond the back four.