Manager Thomas Tuchel says Arsenal’s progress to the Champions League final is expected to affect England’s World Cup preparations.
Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice appear to have given Thomas Tuchel an England dilemma (Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images))
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are likely to miss the majority of England’s pre-World Cup training camp due to Arsenal’s appearance in the Champions League final. The Gunners are set to take on Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, May 30th, aiming for a place in the history books of European football.
Fellow Gunners Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have both received several call-ups from manager Thomas Tuchel this season and feel they are in a similar position. However, captain Harry Kane is expected to be available following Bayern Munich’s departure at the hands of PSG.
According to Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, the Three Lions are scheduled to fly to Miami for a warm-weather training camp on Monday, June 1, less than 48 hours after the Champions League final.
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Arsenal’s squad is expected to have at least six days of rest and will miss the friendly against New Zealand in Tampa Bay on Saturday, June 6. England will face Costa Rica over four days in Orlando, with Rice, Saka, Eze and Madueke potentially competing for a spot.
England begin their World Cup campaign next Wednesday against Croatia. Group stage matches against Ghana and Panama will take place in two weeks.
Tuchel’s side are favorites to top Group L and are scheduled to play in the round of 32, where they are likely to face Ecuador, Norway, Senegal, Saudi Arabia or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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The immediate priority for England and Tuchel is to prepare for the three group games scheduled, but Arsenal’s Champions League success means they won’t have everyone at their disposal right away. It also means Gunners players face a grueling schedule over at least the next seven weeks.
There will be little downtime, but Arsenal’s four regular English players – which could rise to six following the recent performances of Ben White and Miles Lewis-Skelly – may arrive in the US full of confidence having won the Champions League and Premier League titles.
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Mikel Arteta’s side are four games away from achieving that feat, with league games against West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace followed by a showdown with PSG.
Title challengers Manchester City currently trail Arsenal by five points. However, Josep Guardiola’s side have four games remaining, with the match against Crystal Palace, originally scheduled for the final weekend of the Carabao Cup, now scheduled for next Tuesday.
Before that, City host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, while Arsenal face West Ham United the following day.
Saka and Rice are both expected to feature in London, with their minutes in the final two games being closely monitored.
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