League: EPL Sport: Soccer Country: England Category: Scores & Results

Argentina players surprised by absence of Saka and Madueke in World Cup semi-final

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 9:00 AM

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

Argentina players surprised by absence of Saka and Madueke in World Cup semi-final

Summary

In the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, Argentina players expressed surprise that Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke did not play against them. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni prepared for their introduction, but England's Thomas Tuchel opted for defensive substitutions instead of using the Arsenal forwards. The match ended with Argentina defeating England 2-1, and Tuchel faced criticism for his tactical decisions. Saka and Madueke's participation in the upcoming third-place play-off remains uncertain, as they may be rested following a recent injury to teammate William Saliba.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Argentina surprised Saka and Madueke remained on the bench during the match.
•England's Thomas Tuchel made defensive changes after taking the lead.
•The semi-final ended with Argentina winning 2-1 against England.
•Saka and Madueke might be rested for the third-place play-off.
•William Saliba's injury adds to England's concerns about player fitness.

Latest Updates

9:00 AMYahoo Sports — Argentina players were stunned that Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke didn’t get to play against them

What they're saying

"
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was braced for the introduction of one of Arsenal attackers Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke or both on Wednesday night, according to The Independent. While they are key p...
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Arsenal EPL Soccer