Bukayo Saka radiated joy as he reflected on England’s historic third-place finish at the World Cup, a milestone achieved with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the small final. The Arsenal winger’s smile said it all after he netted a crucial hat-trick against Les Bleus, a performance that etched his name into English football’s record books.
This wasn’t just another tournament for the Three Lions. Despite falling short of a second-ever World Cup final—a feat last accomplished 60 years ago when Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks led England to glory against West Germany—England’s campaign ended on a high note. Their previous small final appearances in 1990 (a 2-1 loss to Italy) and 2018 (a 2-0 defeat to Belgium) paled in comparison to this breakthrough, a 6-4 thrashing that saw them dominate early before holding on in a chaotic second half.
Saka, who has become a symbol of England’s attacking resurgence, shared his thoughts post-match. “It was an absolutely mad game,” he admitted, speaking to British broadcasters. Both teams were disappointed not to reach the final, but for us, this was about delivering the best World Cup result in six decades. We’re proud of how it ended.”
The match’s rollercoaster nature was evident in Saka’s description of the two halves. “The first 45 minutes were ours,” he explained. We controlled the game, they fought back in the second half, but we found those crucial late goals to secure the win.”
a penalty, a hat-trick, and a dream fulfilled
Saka’s pivotal moment came from the penalty spot. With Jude Bellingham—England’s usual taker—on the pitch, the Arsenal forward seized his opportunity to complete his hat-trick. “Jude never wanted to take it,” Saka revealed with a grin. He was the first to tell me to go for the treble. He held onto the ball, and I never lost focus. It was clear I’d be the one to step up.”
The winger also addressed his personal journey, having started five of England’s first seven matches on the bench before barely featuring in the semi-final loss to Argentina (1-2). “Of course, I’d have loved to play more,” he admitted. But this isn’t the time for regrets. I’ve made my impact now, and we’re moving forward.”
At 25, Saka is entering the prime of his career, and the future looks bright. With the Nations League just two months away—kicking off with a must-win clash against Spain on August 26—there’s no time to dwell on past setbacks. After all, Sunday’s final wasn’t meant to be for England… but their record-breaking third-place finish certainly will be remembered for generations.
