England forward Bukayo Saka claims that his teammates are still “scarred” by the disappointment of being eliminated from the World Cup semi-finals against Argentina.
The squad led by Thomas Tuchel was just one step away from being the first England team to make the World Cup final since 1966 before losing 2-1 after conceding two late goals from Argentina.
Despite the disappointing loss against Argentina, England secured their best-ever finish at the World Cup in more than half a century with a 6-4 win against France in the battle for third place.
As quoted by BBC Sport: “Obviously, there is still a scar on us when you believed and everyone was so united and so confident we could do it,” Saka said.
“Not just us, but the whole country we felt.
“You try to move on as soon as possible, but you know a scar is a scar, it decides to heal when it heals itself.”
England will face World champions Spain on Saturday in the first of four Nations League matches over the next two weeks.
“We are trying to draw a line under [the World Cup] now and focus on the new international season that we have coming up,” Saka added.
“We have got four massive, difficult group games to try and qualify us for the Nations League [knockouts] that we are really focused on.”
Meanwhile, Saka believes it is only a matter of time before his Arsenal team-mate Max Dowman, 16, earns a senior England call-up.
“I think so,” Saka said. “His talent is insane. It’s up to him how far he is going to go in football. His talent is crazy.”
England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley also added his voice.
“He is more than capable of playing in the under-21s,” Carsley said.
“What I do think will happen with the age group he goes to is that he can play the minutes.
“He can also have that time to consolidate where he is in his career and play with his friends again and take that little bit of pressure off him.
“I have no doubt that Max is going to be with the under-21s.
“That is something I am keen to have a conversation with him and his parents, on the way we see his pathway going, because he is an amazing talent and someone we are very lucky to have.”
