adminBukayo Saka made the most of his first start in three matches for England by netting a hat-trick against France, yet the Arsenal winger admits the heartbreak of their semi-final loss to Argentina still lingers.
Despite the personal glory, Saka remains haunted by the defeat. His treble made him only the fourth English player—after Gary Lineker, Sir Geoff Hurst, and Harry Kane—to score three in a World Cup match, as England routed France to claim third place.
However, the 23-year-old confessed that the semi-final disappointment overshadows his individual success, and he wished he had seen more game time during the tournament.
“On a personal level, I’ve worked incredibly hard to be ready for this tournament and to produce moments like that,” Saka said.
“It’s an amazing achievement. Like you said, only three other Englishmen have done it, so it’s a nice record to have, and I’m proud of that.
“But honestly, nothing can lessen the pain from the other night. That one really hurt us. Today was about being professional, finishing strong, and showing the togetherness this group has.
“We’ve always had that mentality—it’s never been an issue—and we showed up today. We can be proud of finishing as high as we did. For the next major tournament, this will definitely drive us forward.
“It’s tough to take, but we showed belief, and I think we made the country believe too. That belief hasn’t gone away. We’ll be back at the next tournament to try and go all the way.”
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Meanwhile, Djed Spence described the World Cup as a “coming of age” moment for his career. The England full-back impressed throughout the tournament with brave displays, particularly in the third-place play-off against France.
When asked if the tournament marked a turning point, Spence replied: “Yeah, definitely. I’ve always backed myself, and I’m glad I could show it on a bigger stage. Finishing as England’s best since 1966 is something we achieved as a team.
“It’s not what we wanted, but it’s the World Cup, and I’m proud to be part of it. It shows the group’s mentality. We’re disappointed, but we have to move on and focus on what’s ahead. Credit to the lads today—we did that, and it reflects our character.
“This whole World Cup has been a blessing. It’s my first major tournament, and it’s an honour to share it with this team. Mexico was a great night with so many memories. I’ve always believed in my ability—tough moments don’t define you. I worked hard, and I can only thank God.”
Spence also voiced his support for Thomas Tuchel, insisting the team will return stronger, and expressed his desire for the German to remain in charge through to Euro 2028.
“Yeah, I’m very keen on that. He’s a top manager, and we’re building something special,” Spence added.
“It’s not the medal we wanted, but it’s a stepping stone. It’s our best finish since 1966, so it’s progress. Hopefully, at the next tournament, we can go one step further.
“We’ve learned a lot from this experience. We’ve done well, and now we need to carry that into the next tournament and the games ahead against other teams.”
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