Concerns are escalating over Bukayo Saka's fitness at the ongoing World Cup, with prominent football pundits Roy Keane and Gary Neville openly questioning the Arsenal forward's readiness for the tournament. Saka has been battling an Achilles problem for several months, an issue that notably hampered his performance during the latter stages of the domestic season. This persistent injury has severely restricted his involvement in England's World Cup campaign to date, with the 24-year-old making only one start – playing 63 minutes in England's 2-0 victory over Panama.
Roy Keane voiced strong opinions on the 'Stick to Football' podcast, suggesting that Saka should not be part of the squad if he is not performing at 100 per cent. "He doesn’t look sharp. Physically is he trusting his body? If he’s having all these issues and you’re looking at the bigger picture then he shouldn’t be here, should he?" Keane stated, adding, "He should be resting. If you know in your head you’re not your sharpest you’ll stop taking people on and stop playing your natural game." Aside from his single start, Saka has been limited to substitute appearances, featuring for 18 minutes in the opening win against Croatia and 25 minutes in the goalless draw with Ghana.
Gary Neville echoed Keane's sentiments, remarking that Saka "doesn’t look right at all" and labelling his situation a "big concern." He drew parallels with past tournaments where players like Wayne Rooney and David Beckham arrived not fully fit. "You can’t get your fitness in a tournament, this is not pre-season training. I do think he is going to have to be a sub player and he’s going to have to come off the bench," Neville commented. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright concurred, suggesting a bench role might be Saka's only viable option for now, expressing worry about when the player will receive the rest he appears to need, especially with the domestic season looming.
Adding to England's selection headaches, the right-back position has been plagued by a succession of injuries. Following Tino Livramento's earlier withdrawal from the squad, both Reece James and his replacement, Jarell Quansah – a central defender by trade – have subsequently picked up knocks. This precarious situation has reignited the debate surrounding Thomas Tuchel’s controversial decision not to include Real Madrid's specialist right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, in the 26-man squad.
Neville was particularly critical of the selection strategy, questioning how England arrived at a point where a central defender like Quansah is playing right-back, especially when robust, specialist options were seemingly overlooked. "I thought to myself, how have we got to a situation – and it can’t be what Thomas Tuchel planned – where he picked two players who are injury prone (Reece James and Tino Livramento), they have not been robust," Neville stated. Keane succinctly described the decision to omit Alexander-Arnold as a "head scratcher," highlighting the growing frustration among pundits and fans alike regarding England's squad composition and player fitness.