World Cup 2026: He struggled against PSG – Petit tells Tuchel to drop Arsenal star

Former France international, Emmanuel Petit, has urged England manager Thomas Tuchel to drop Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka from the Three Lions’ World Cup starting XI ahead of their opening match with Croatia on Wednesday.

Petit insisted that Saka struggled against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final last season.

According to him, the 24-year-old ‘doesn’t make an impact anymore’.

Asked if Saka deserves to start England’s opening match against Croatia, Petit told talkSPORT: “No; for me, no.

“We saw that in the Champions League final, he was struggling.

“He doesn’t make any impact anymore. I think there are better players who deserve to be in the first XI.

“And we’re not talking about Zidane or Messi, that kind of player, who even at 60 per cent, they should be on the pitch. Saka is not that kind of player.”