Bukayo Saka finally ends England problem as Thomas Tuchel plan pays dividends
England are yet to see the best from their right flank at this World Cup but perhaps Bukayo Saka is now peaking at the perfect time for Thomas Tuchel
For all the talk about the right-back curse, right-wing has also been a real problem position for England at this World Cup.
Until now. This was the night Thomas Tuchel's masterplan finally came to fruition.
Bukayo Saka has effectively been wrapped in cotton wool all tournament but in this hard-fought, energy-sapping quarter-final victory against Norway in which England were pushed to their physical limit, the Arsenal winger showcased his class and just how important he could well prove to be over the course of the next week.
The inconsistency of England's wide forwards at this World Cup has been deeply frustrating but when Saka is this sharp and in full flow, he is one of the first names on the team-sheet alongside heroic two-goal Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane.
He was exceptional after replacing Noni Madueke at the break and must now start Wednesday's World Cup last-four clash in Atlanta after finally arriving in North America at long last.
Games like this, up against a full-back that is not blessed with pace, should really be music to the ears of Madueke but he just cannot seem to grab the bull by the horns whenever he is handed the opportunity of a lifetime.
Instead, his role seems to be about grinding down the opposition for Saka, who has the quality to inflict serious damage with his killer crossing, passing and final ball.
This is the kind of stage Madueke would have been dreaming about while on the playground at St Columba's College in St Albans or in his bedroom in the small Dutch village of Wintelre just outside Eindhoven during his five-year stint with PSV.
Yet still, he just cannot seem to escape going through the motions and he was withdrawn at the interval. Unfortunately for him, this was further proof and concrete evidence that Saka remains England's undisputed first-choice right-winger.
Madueke and Anthony Gordon were evidently instructed to hug the touchline and their selfless positioning created huge space for England's midfielders - notably Bellingham - and Nico O'Reilly to roam free.
But when Madueke received the ball, it would be an understatement to say that he blows hot and cold. His delivery is like a box of chocolates, you never quite know what you're going to get. More often that not, he clumps it behind and out of play.
Saka's varying range of whips and cutbacks are usually on the money and if they are not, they still cause major panic in crowded penalty areas.
Madueke is capable of executing dangerous crosses, just like the one that flashed across goal to O'Reilly before the first hydration break but the lack of consistency is alarming.
In a game of this magnitude, when you also consider the decisiveness of France's wide players Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola, England require more - and they got just that - as they simply cannot keep relying on the brilliance of Bellingham and captain Kane.
At times, Jarrod Bowen must have been tearing his hair out - just like supporters - on his sofa back home. Thomas Tuchel has shown immense loyalty to Madueke and so far, he is yet to repay that faith. Still, he could have an important role to play.
It's a crying shame that Saka has been hindered by a problematic Achilles injury as all the other top nations - France, Spain and Argentina - have utilised fire-power from the right.
Madueke, sadly, is not in the same class as Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal or Lionel Messi, who has tweaked his game in recent matches and looked devastating coming inside from the flank.
Saka is and showcased his cuteness and star quality five minutes from time when he wriggled past his full-back before feeding a teasing ball across the face of goal but nobody could convert.
He was a threat throughout extra-time, won fouls and generally was so smart in possession, linking up with Reece James, interchanging, probing and threatening from the right.
If he is able to build upon this, maybe, just maybe, he is peaking at the perfect time for England but question marks over his fitness remain.
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