Saka says he's fit for England World Cup opener vs Croatia

England winger Bukayo Saka has declared himself fit and ready to play in the team's opening World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday, despite acknowledging he has been managing a persistent Achilles injury. Speaking from England's base camp in Kansas City on Monday, the 24-year-old Arsenal star said he is feeling better than he has in months and is prepared to "gamble" on his fitness for the tournament.

Saka sustained the Achilles injury in March following Arsenal's Carabao Cup final defeat. The issue caused him to miss the subsequent international break and several club matches, and he has been carefully managed by both Arsenal and England's medical staff since his return. Last week, England manager Thomas Tuchel noted that Saka was still being monitored and was not yet training on consecutive days to prevent further injury.

When asked about Tuchel's comments, Saka expressed confidence in his current condition. He credited the coordinated management between club and country for his recovery. Saka described the decision to play while not at peak sharpness as the "biggest gamble" a player can take, but stated he is happy to take that risk. He emphasized that external...