FIFA World Cup 2026: Thomas Tuchel confirms no injury concerns for England ahead of Ghana clash
Foxborough, June 23
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that all players are available for selection ahead of their second FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Ghana on Tuesday, with midfielder Bukayo Saka recovering fully from an Achilles tendon issue.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Tuchel said the squad had no injury concerns and all players had trained without any restrictions.
"Everyone is available, everyone was in training," Tuchel was quoted as saying by Reuters.
He also provided an update on Saka's fitness, noting steady improvement in the Arsenal midfielder's condition.
"Bukayo is getting better and better. He's more and more free in his movements. He feels no more pain. He was able to do both our training sessions the last two days on the highest level," Tuchel said.
However, the England boss remained cautious about confirming whether Saka would start against Ghana.
"So he's ready to go without telling you if he will start on the bench," he added.
Earlier, Saka returned to full training with England after the winger rejoined group sessions in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday after training individually the previous day as England's medical staff carefully managed his workload ahead of the crucial stages of the FIFA World Cup.
Saka's fitness had been a point of concern after he was limited to an 18-minute substitute appearance in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas.
However, the 24-year-old looked comfortable during the latest training session, offering encouragement to head coach Thomas Tuchel and the Three Lions camp.
His return comes as a significant boost for England ahead of their second Group L fixture at Boston Stadium, with Saka expected to play a key role in the team's attacking plans.
England is currently top of Group L after the first round of matches and will face Ghana on Tuesday before concluding their group-stage fixtures against Panama.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, as someone who follows the Premier League closely, Saka is irreplaceable for England. His dribbling and creativity are world-class. But I'm a bit worried about Ghana - they have some talented players like Kudus who can cause problems. This match will be a good test for the Three Lions. 😊
Tuchel is playing it safe with the lineup info - smart move. But I think he'll start Saka if he's truly 100%. England needs to top the group and avoid a tough knockout opponent. Ghana is no joke though; they always show up for big tournaments. India needs to play more matches against such top teams to improve. 🌍
Great news for England! Saka is a matchwinner. But I wish Tuchel would be more transparent about the starting XI - it's just Ghana, not Brazil. Still, I understand the tactical secrecy. Looking forward to seeing how England dominates possession and creates chances. Hopefully they score early to settle any nerves!
I'm cautiously optimistic. Saka's fitness is crucial but Ghana's pace on the counter could be a problem. England's defense hasn't been tested much yet. Tuchel needs to ensure the midfield doesn't get overrun. Rice and Bellingham will have to work hard. Still, I fancy England to win 2-0. Come on, Three Lions! 🏴
It's good to see Saka back. He's such a humble and talented player -
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