Right-wing vulnerabilities—If Saka can't play, will England's attack be diminished?

England also has its own hidden concerns. The biggest uncertainty lies on the right flank—Saka.

Saka is affected by an old Achilles injury, and his playing time will be managed. Tuchel controlled Saka's workload in the warm-up matches. If Saka can't start or can only play half the game, England's right-side attacking threat will drop significantly, and their attacking options will become more one-dimensional.

Saka's importance lies not only in his breakthroughs and crosses, but also in his ability to pull the opponent's left-side defense. With Saka on the pitch, Croatia's left flank won't dare to push forward boldly to support attacks. Once Saka is absent, Croatia's Perišić gains more freedom to attack, and the pressure on England's right-side defense will surge.

The good news is that England's squad depth is strong enough. If Saka can't play, Maduæke can step in. Although he still has a gap compared with Saka, when facing Croatia's aging defensive line, Maduæke's pace remains an advantage. Also, right-back Reece James, known for his assists at Chelsea, can partly make up for the loss of Saka with his crossing ability.

Whether Saka can play may only be known as late as the final moment before kickoff. If Saka isn't listed in the starting lineup, England's attacking outlook will need to be discounted, and the score prediction should be adjusted accordingly.

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