Saka: Scars still remain from England's World Cup defeat to Argentina

Bukayo Saka believes England's players are still scarred from their heartbreaking defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals of this summer's World Cup. 

England were on the brink of reaching the World Cup final for the first time since winning the tournament in 1966, after Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute strike gave them the lead. 

However, a Lionel Messi-orchestrated comeback saw Argentina score two goals in seven minutes late on to end the Three Lions' dreams of lifting the trophy. 

Argentina were trailing until the 85th minute against England, the latest a team has been behind but gone on to win in normal time in a World Cup semi-final.

The Three Lions did, however, achieve their second-best finish at the World Cup after beating France in a thrilling third-place match, with Saka scoring a hat-trick in a 6-4 win. 

But Saka, who was an unused substitute in England's defeat to Argentina, said there were still feelings of regret within the squad about their shortcomings at the World Cup. 

"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 felt it. 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."

Argentina would go on to lose the final to Spain at MetLife Stadium, and Luis de la Fuente's side are up next for England in the first match of their Nations League campaign. 

England have won just two of their last 13 games against the reigning World Cup holders, losing nine times (D2). Those wins came at home to Spain in November 2011 (1-0) and away to Germany in March 2016 (3-2).

Spain have also won six of their last nine meetings with England across all competitions (D1 L2), most recently winning 2-1 in the final of Euro 2024.

Thomas Tuchel's side welcome Spain to Wembley Stadium in the first of four matches during the extended international break, with further matches against Croatia and Czechia (both home and away) to come. 

It will be the first time England have stepped out onto the pitch since their third-place finish, and Saka insists their full focus is on making a good start in the Nations League. 

"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."