England winger Bukayo Saka admits the national team is still carrying the emotional “scar” of their heartbreaking 2026 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, even as they prepare to launch a new Nations League campaign.
Thomas Tuchel’s side came within minutes of reaching a first men’s World Cup final since 1966, before two late goals from Argentina condemned the Three Lions to a devastating 2-1 defeat.
Despite bouncing back to claim third place with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the bronze medal match, marking England’s best World Cup finish in six decades, the disappointment of missing out on the ultimate prize lingers.
As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, speaking ahead of England’s opening Nations League fixture against world champions Spain at Wembley, Saka reflected candidly on the aftermath of their World Cup exit.
“Obviously, there is still a scar on us when you believed and everyone was so united and so confident we could do it. Not just us, but the whole country, we felt,” Saka said.
“You try to move on as soon as possible, but you know a scar is a scar—it decides to heal when it heals itself,” the Arsenal winger added.
Despite the lingering pain, Saka emphasized that the squad is pivoting its focus to the immediate challenge of securing top spot in their Nations League group.
Saka said,
“We are trying to draw a line under [the World Cup now and focus on the new international season that we have coming up.
“We have got four massive, difficult group games to try and qualify us for the Nations League [knockouts] that we are really focused on.”
Saka also took time to highlight the meteoric rise of his 16-year-old Arsenal teammate Max Dowman, tipping the midfielder for a senior international call-up in the near future.
“I think so,” Saka said when asked about Dowman’s international prospects. “His talent is insane. It’s up to him how far he is going to go in football. His talent is crazy.”
England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley echoed Saka’s sentiments regarding Dowman’s ability, but explained that keeping the teenager with the Under-19 squad for the current international window remains the right developmental choice.
“He is more than capable of playing in the under-21s,” Carsley said. “What I do think will happen with the age group he goes to is that he can play the minutes. He can also have that time to consolidate where he is in his career, play with his friends again, and take that little bit of pressure off him.”
“I have no doubt that Max is going to be with the under-21s,” Carsley added. “That is something I am keen to have a conversation with him and his parents on, about the way we see his pathway going, because he is an amazing talent and someone we are very lucky to have.”
