Saka hat-trick helps England finish third at World Cup.

Three days can feel like an eternity in tournament football. On Wednesday night in Atlanta, Bukayo Saka watched from the substitutes' bench as England's World Cup dream slipped away. Despite being fit enough to play, the Arsenal winger remained an unused substitute as Thomas Tuchel's side surrendered a 1-0 lead in the closing stages to lose 2-1 to holders Argentina.

By Saturday evening in Miami, Saka had delivered his response in the only way he knows how. A superb hat-trick inspired England to a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off, earning the Three Lions their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966 and reigniting questions over whether one of England's key players should have featured when it mattered most.

Saka's reply could hardly have been more emphatic. He struck twice as England stormed into a 4-0 half-time lead against France, first reacting quickest after Marcus Rashford's saved effort before collecting Eberechi Eze's through ball and calmly firing into the bottom corner.

With France threatening an unlikely turnaround after the break, Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to restore England's two-goal cushion. It made him only the fourth England player to score a World Cup hat-trick - after Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane - and only the second to do so in the knockout stages after Hurst's famous treble in the 1966 final.

In England's dramatic World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, Tuchel opted to start Morgan Rogers on the right, and the Aston Villa forward initially justified his selection by setting up Anthony Gordon's opening goal early in the second half. The Three Lions looked on course for a first World Cup final in 60 years before Tuchel switched to a more defensive shape midway through the second half.

Argentina seized control, with Enzo Fernandez levelling in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed Lionel Messi's cross home in stoppage time to complete a remarkable comeback. Saka warmed up during the closing stages but never entered the contest - and the decision quickly became one of the tournament's defining talking points.

Yet Tuchel insists it should not be interpreted as a loss of faith. "He was excellent. Bukayo is a key player for me," the England manager said after the win over France. "He was ready to go in the World Cup. I felt still the responsibility as a coach, and with the history given where he came from to take it slow with Bukayo."

"He started quite some matches, it was a tough decision for me to leave him out of the semi-final. I had a feeling after the Norway match that Morgan Rogers had something special to give to us with his physicality and his body in the match against Argentina. We had him warm up several times against Argentina, we were ready to change but the game became so crazy that in the end we opted for a different option."

"But nothing has changed during this World Cup for me. Bukayo is a fantastic team-mate, a fantastic football player, a key player for us. That will not change. He showed it again today. I'm happy for him and happy for us. He's excellent."

Tuchel's cautious handling of Saka had been planned long before England arrived in North America. The 24-year-old entered the tournament managing a persistent Achilles problem after an injury-disrupted season with Arsenal. Tuchel repeatedly stressed before the World Cup that he would need careful management, explaining Saka was unable to train fully every day while still recovering from the issue.

As a result, his minutes were carefully monitored throughout the tournament, with the forward starting only three of England's eight matches. Saka admitted there was frustration at not playing more, but chose not to dwell on his omission after producing the performance of the match against France.

"Of course, I would love to have played more," he said. "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."

Despite his carefully managed workload, Saka finished the tournament with three goals and three assists from just 357 minutes on the pitch - averaging a goal involvement every 59.5 minutes.

Of course, one performance cannot rewrite the semi-final. Rogers created Gordon's goal against Argentina and Tuchel's decision was shaped as much by fitness management as tactical preference. But football often turns on fine margins, and Saka's display against France inevitably invited fresh scrutiny of one of England's biggest selection calls.

Saka arrived at the World Cup carrying an injury, left with a hat-trick and, in his manager's own words, remains "a key player" for England. If there was ever any doubt about his place in Tuchel's plans heading towards Euro 2028, Miami provided a clear reminder of the quality England have at their disposal.

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