Bukayo Saka radiated satisfaction as he reflected on a milestone moment for English football. The Arsenal winger stood at the heart of a record-breaking performance, one that delivered the Three Lions their best World Cup outcome since the 1966 glory days.

England’s campaign reached its climax in a high-scoring battle against France, ending 6-4 in favor of the home side. Though the final whistle denied them a second-ever World Cup final berth—first achieved in 1966 with legends like Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks—they secured a first-ever bronze medal playoff victory. This followed previous near-misses, including losses to Italy in 1990 and Belgium in 2018.

«It was an absolute rollercoaster,» Saka admitted during a post-match interview. «Both teams were disappointed not to reach the final, but we wanted to give the nation something truly special—a World Cup performance it hasn’t seen in six decades. And we did exactly that.» He broke down the match’s unpredictable flow: «The first half was all ours—we controlled it completely. The second belonged to France. But we dug deep and found those final two goals to seal the win.»

«I’d have loved more minutes—but it’s time to move forward»

Saka also shed light on his unexpected penalty conversion, which sealed his hat trick. Jude Bellingham, usually England’s designated penalty taker, had just stepped off the pitch when the opportunity arose. «Jude didn’t want to take it,» Saka revealed with a grin. «In fact, he was the first to tell me to go for the treble. He held onto the ball, stayed calm, and I knew right away—I had to take it.»

He briefly touched on his own journey, acknowledging the challenges of limited playing time earlier in the tournament. «Of course I’d have loved to play more,» he said. «But now isn’t the time to dwell on that. My focus is on the pitch. We’ve achieved something historic—it’s time to turn the page.» At 24, Saka will celebrate his birthday in September, but the next chapter begins sooner than expected. The Nations League returns in two months, with a tough opener against Spain scheduled for August 26—though he won’t be facing them this time… not in a World Cup final, at least.