England manager Thomas Tuchel has offered an important update on Bukayo Saka’s fitness as the team prepares for their final World Cup warm-up match against Costa Rica. The Arsenal winger sat out the recent win over New Zealand after a demanding, title-winning season with his club, leading the England staff to carefully manage his workload to ensure he’s in peak condition for the tournament.

Keeping Saka fit

During his pre-match press conference, Tuchel confirmed that Saka’s condition is being closely observed ahead of Wednesday night’s friendly against Costa Rica. The forward did not feature in the 1-0 victory over New Zealand at the weekend, having joined the camp late following Arsenal’s participation in the Champions League final on May 30. Saka had previously pulled out of the March international fixtures due to a minor injury, making his fitness a top concern for the national setup. Discussing his approach to managing the player, Tuchel said, “We have to take care with Bukayo who had an injury in the March camp and carried it through to the club campaign.”

Arsenal players in good shape

Despite the careful handling of Saka, Tuchel commended the youngster’s attitude during what has been a physically taxing season. The 22-year-old recorded 11 goals and nine assists in 49 games for Arsenal. “He made himself available and was brilliant. He was managed between matches – we are also building him up. That continues right now,” Tuchel added. The coach also provided positive updates on other Arsenal players in the squad. Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are all fully fit and ready for selection. “No-one needs a break. Everyone is available which is very good news. No injury complaints after the first match,” the England boss assured supporters.

Improving match sharpness

With the World Cup drawing near, Tuchel explained that the coaching staff are gradually increasing the intensity of training sessions and match minutes. The plan for the Costa Rica fixture is to extend players’ time on the pitch. “We had one day of recovery and two strong training sessions. We’re ready to push tomorrow; that means more than 45 minutes. Players will play 60, maybe 70 minutes. We will make this decision in the afternoon,” Tuchel revealed. Looking ahead, he added, “Tomorrow, we expect a physical challenge. Physically, with intensity and style of play, we want to take the next step and we feel ready for it.”

England’s next steps

Following the friendly against Costa Rica, England will turn their full attention to the World Cup group stage. Saka and his teammates will open their campaign against Croatia on June 17, before facing Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 in Group L. The preparation focus remains on match fitness and tactical sharpness as Tuchel aims to lead England into the tournament in top form.