In the world of tournament football, three days can feel like an eternity. On Wednesday night in Atlanta, Bukayo Saka watched helplessly from the substitutes' bench as England's World Cup dreams faded, losing 2-1 to holders Argentina despite having a 1-0 lead.

However, by Saturday evening in Miami, Saka responded spectacularly, leading England to a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off. This performance not only secured England's best World Cup finish since their triumph in 1966 but also reignited discussions about Saka's role in the tournament.

Saka's hat-trick was nothing short of emphatic:

• He scored twice in the first half, first reacting quickly to a saved effort by Marcus Rashford and later converting a through ball from Eberechi Eze.
• After France threatened a comeback, Saka sealed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, making him only the fourth England player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick, joining legends like Geoff Hurst and Harry Kane.

In England's semi-final against Argentina, Thomas Tuchel opted for Morgan Rogers on the right wing, a decision that sparked controversy as Saka remained on the bench. Tuchel later explained his choice, emphasizing that Saka is a key player and that the decision was a tough one.

He was excellent. Bukayo is a key player for me,