bukayo saka says world cup pain lingers ahead of spain clash

England winger Bukayo Saka admits the team still feels the pain of their World Cup exit against Argentina.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 23 September 2026

Bukayo Saka has revealed that the squad still carries emotional scars from the recent World Cup semi final defeat. England held the lead against Argentina after an early strike from Anthony Gordon. However, a late comeback orchestrated by Lionel Messi shattered their dreams of lifting the trophy.

Painful memories remain

Saka watched that match from the bench as Argentina scored twice in the final moments to turn the result around. The Arsenal star noted that the disappointment felt by the players and the entire nation will take time to fully heal. England eventually secured a third place finish by defeating France in a high scoring match.

Tough test against Spain

Thomas Tuchel takes charge of the side as they return to action against Spain in the Nations League. Punters looking at the match markets should note England have struggled historically against the reigning World Cup holders. Spain also triumphed when these two nations met in the recent European Championship final.

Focus shifts to silverware

The squad is now trying to put the summer disappointment behind them and concentrate on upcoming fixtures. Winning this group requires strong performances against difficult opponents over the next few weeks. Punters must weigh this lingering psychological fatigue against the team's usual home advantage at Wembley.

What it means for a bet

Bookmakers might lengthen England odds for the Spain match due to lingering hangover effects from their recent tournament exit.

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