Saka says England still bear 'scar' from World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina

Bukayo Saka said on 23 September 2026 that England are still carrying the "scar" of their World Cup semi-final exit to Argentina, having started three of England's eight games at the tournament.

Thomas Tuchel's team were on the verge of becoming the first England side to reach a men's World Cup final since 1966 but were beaten 2-1 after two late Argentina goals in the semi-final. A 6-4 victory over France in the bronze medal match produced England's best World Cup finish in six decades, yet the country remains without a second major international trophy.

"Obviously, there is still a scar on us when you believed and everyone was so united and so confident we could do it," Saka said. "Not just us, but the whole country we felt. 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."

Saka said the squad are attempting to move on and concentrate on the new international season. "We are trying to draw a line under [the World Cup] now and focus on the new international season that we have coming up," he added. "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 backed his Arsenal team-mate Max Dowman, 16, as a future senior international. "I think so," Saka said. "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 agreed on Dowman's ability but preferred the player to remain with the under-19s for this window. "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 and 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. That is something I am keen to have a conversation with him and his parents, on the way we see his pathway going, because he is an amazing talent and someone we are very lucky to have."

England host world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday (19:45 BST) in the first of four Nations League matches over the next two weeks.