Saka Fit, Madueke Form: Tuchel Faces Selection Dilemma Ahead of Ghana Clash
With Noni Madueke’s strong metrics in the opener against Croatia, Thomas Tuchel must weigh the return of his star winger against the momentum of his current right flank options.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is fully fit and pain-free ahead of the team's second FIFA World Cup group stage match against Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. The England manager stated that Saka has completed both training sessions on the highest level in the two days prior to the match, marking a significant return for the Arsenal winger who has been nursing an Achilles injury throughout the tournament.
The fixture will be held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET. England aims to secure the top spot in Group L with a victory, provided Panama does not defeat Croatia. A win in Foxborough would effectively guarantee England advances to the knockout stage, potentially allowing Tuchel to rotate key players for the remainder of the campaign.
Saka’s return creates a notable selection dilemma for Tuchel, particularly regarding the right flank. Noni Madueke has performed well in Saka’s absence, providing significant ball-carrying value during England’s 4-2 opening victory over Croatia. Opta’s expected possession value (xPV) model attributed 0.56 of England’s total 1.04 xPV in that match to Madueke, highlighting his impact on advancing the ball.
While Madueke lacks some of the end product of his teammate, his explosive pace down the right flank was a weapon his teammates continually looked to exploit with quick passing. Anthony Gordon is also expected to compete for a starting spot, having been perceived as underwhelming in the opener against Croatia. Tuchel may choose to park these selection dilemmas until after the Ghana game to preserve energy for potential high-altitude and sweltering conditions in subsequent rounds.
England seeks to maintain its unbeaten record against African teams at the World Cup while advancing to the knockout stage. CBS Sports has published a prediction of 3-0 to England, noting that Ghana showed little threat against Panama in their previous fixture. The match lineups include Jordan Pickford for England and Benjamin Asare for Ghana, with the game broadcast on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish.
