World Cup 2026: Petit Urges Tuchel To Drop Saka From England Starting XI

Former France international Emmanuel Petit has called on England manager Thomas Tuchel to leave Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka out of the starting lineup ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Croatia.

Petit questioned Saka’s current influence and argued that other players deserve an opportunity ahead of the Arsenal star.

The former Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder made the comments while speaking to talkSPORT, where he assessed England’s attacking options before their opening fixture.

Asked whether Saka should start against Croatia, Petit responded negatively, pointing to the winger’s performance in last season’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

“No; for me, no. We saw that in the Champions League final, he was struggling,” Petit said.

The 54-year-old claimed that Saka has not been as impactful as expected and suggested that Tuchel should consider alternative options for England’s first XI.

“He doesn’t make any impact anymore. I think there are better players who deserve to be in the first XI,” he added.

Petit also compared Saka’s situation with legendary players who could still influence games even when not at their peak, insisting that the Arsenal forward does not fall into that category.

“And we’re not talking about Zidane or Messi, that kind of player, who even at 60 per cent, they should be on the pitch. Saka is not that kind of player,” he said.

Saka has been a key figure for both Arsenal and England in recent years, playing a major role in the Three Lions’ performances at international tournaments.

However, Petit’s comments have sparked debate over whether Tuchel should rely on established stars or make tactical adjustments as England begin their World Cup campaign.

The England manager is expected to make crucial decisions ahead of the Croatia clash as the team begins its pursuit of a first World Cup title since 1966.