Can England call up Bukayo Saka replacement after World Cup injury blow?

Need to know

1. Maximum squad size: FIFA regulations dictate a national team’s final World Cup squad must contain a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 26 players. To ensure adequate depth between the posts, at least three of those selected must be goalkeepers.
2. Provisional standby lists: Before finalising the tournament squad, every participating nation had to submit an expanded preliminary roster containing between 35 and 55 players. This provisional list effectively serves as the team’s standby pool, as any emergency injury replacements must be exclusively drawn from this pre-approved group.
3. Outfield player deadlines: For outfield players, FIFA rules strictly state injury replacements can only be made up to 24 hours before the team’s first match of the tournament. The window to bring in fresh legs has therefore closed completely for non-goalkeepers.
4. Goalkeeper exceptions: The regulations are notably more forgiving when it comes to the highly specialised goalkeeper position. A severely injured or ill goalkeeper can be legally replaced by another keeper from the provisional longlist at any time during the tournament.
5. The Bukayo Saka situation: Saka can’t now be replaced given the deadline has passed. If he or any other outfielder sustains a tournament-ending injury midway through the competition, Tuchel will just have to make do with the other options currently at his disposal.
6. Trevoh Chalobah call-up: The Chelsea defender was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Tino Livramento. That decision was made just in time before the opening match against Croatia.
7. READ MORE: Harry Kane set for England role only he saw coming due to Bukayo Saka injury troubles

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